Explain how social Darwinism legitimized the economic development of the late 19th century and how it presented itself in the self-help literature of the time.

Social Darwinism was a belief system that emerged in the late 19th century, which applied Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection to human society. It suggested that the most successful individuals and societies were those that were the fittest and most adapted to their environment, and that those who were less successful were simply not fit enough to survive. This idea was used to justify the economic development of the time, as it suggested that the wealthy and successful individuals and businesses were simply the most fit and deserving of their success, while those who were struggling were seen as less fit and therefore less deserving.

This belief system was often reflected in the self-help literature of the time, which promoted the idea that individuals could improve their own lives through hard work, determination, and self-reliance. This literature often emphasized the idea of "survival of the fittest" and encouraged individuals to strive for success and wealth, while also suggesting that those who were not successful were simply not working hard enough or were not fit enough to succeed. This served to legitimize the economic development of the late 19th century by promoting the idea that success was a result of individual effort and ability, rather than external factors such as exploitation or inequality.

Overall, social Darwinism legitimized the economic development of the late 19th century by promoting the idea that success and wealth were a result of natural selection and individual effort, and this belief was often reflected in the self-help literature of the time, which encouraged individuals to strive for success and self-improvement.