A movement emerging in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it applied Christian ethics to social problems. It advocated for improved living conditions, fair labor practices, and an end to poverty. An example of its application is the establishment of settlement houses that offered education and social services to immigrant communities.
The significance of this reform effort lies in its promotion of social justice and its challenge to the individualistic ethos prevalent at the time. It contributed to legislative reforms addressing child labor, worker’s compensation, and other social welfare issues. Historically, it provided a moral and religious justification for addressing societal inequities.
