Which individual would be most likely to argue that the government should not intervene to improve the tenement?

The individual most likely to argue that the government should not intervene to improve the tenement is Herbert Spencer. As a proponent of Social Darwinism, Spencer believed in the application of natural selection to social and economic issues, positing that society should allow individuals to compete freely without government interference. He viewed social welfare efforts and government interventions as detrimental, believing that such actions interfered with the natural order and hindered societal progress. Spencer contended that allowing the fittest to survive would lead to the improvement of society as a whole.

In contrast, Andrew Carnegie, while advocating for philanthropy, recognized the need for societal improvement through voluntary efforts rather than government action; he believed in "lifting oneself up." Jane Addams was a social reformer who actively sought to improve living conditions for the urban poor and supported government intervention to help communities, especially through her work with Hull House. John Dewey, as an educational reformer, emphasized the role of democracy and social change in education, often advocating for societal reforms. Thus, the context of Spencer's beliefs aligns most closely with the idea of minimal government intervention.