William+Graham+Sumner+-+F08

=**William Graham Sumner**= Sumner was born in New Jersey to parents of modest social background and English Ancestry. His family moved to Connecticut where he attended public schools. He then went onto Yale college. After he graduated he studied ancient languages and history at a school called Gottingen. Then onto Oxford to study theology and philosophy. He was then appointed as a tutor at Yale. He left Yale to be rector of churches in New York. Three years later he went back to Yale to become the first professor of political and social sciences at Yale. He remained here for awhile. William was considered one of the most influential professors there. He himself, was greatly influenced by Herbert Spencer's essays on human society. Through folkways he became well known and also concluded that attempts at government forced reform were useless. He was against imperialism and was an advocate for free markets and believed strongly in laissez- faire. He was also a supporter of the gold standard and was the president of American Sociological Association from 1908 to 1909. He strongly criticized socialism/ communism, hence opposing Edward Bellamy. Along with many liberals Sumner opposed the Spanish- American War. He and many others also wanted nothing to do with the Philippines and their rebellious character. William Graham was also the vice president of the anti-imperialist league. This league was formed after the war with the sole purpose in mind of rebel against the annexation of territories. He made a speech about how America was being taken over by Spain. This speech bashed imperialism and called it a "betrayal of the best traditions, principles and interests of the American people". William Graham Sumner also wrote many books and essays on his views of the government. Many of the books were well read across the country and gave a new view of imperialism.

Works Cited:
"William Graham Sumner: Biography." __Answers.com__. 13 Nov. 2008 .

"William Graham Sumner." __Wikipedia__. 13 Nov. 2008 .

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