Defining Eugenics
Since expansionism started in Europe, the idea of racism has existed. This is the idea that certain ethnicities of people are inherently better than others because of their physical appearance. This entry from the Atlas of the World, 1894 edition reveals this ideology in full. Darwinist ideologies of the late 1800's drove the idea that black people were simply less evolved than their white counterparts. Not only were the racial tensions so often taught about in school fueled by the technological advances of the Europeans, but they were powered by the core idea that white people were fundamentally better than any other race. Though white people were at the top of the hierarchy, intersectionality
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problems existed, too. Anglo-saxon blood was favored above all other and those of Italian, Greek, Spanish etc. ethnicities were often shunted societally in comparison to their northern peers. Any problems that occurred in Latin America, Africa, Asia, or in Australia were due to the inherent ineptitudes of the indigenous peoples. These Darwinist ideas set a precedent for not only racially charged inequality but biological inequality. This is a cycle which is almost impossible to break out of.
Furthermore, in the early 1900's in the USA, many things were changing. This was a time of prosperous economic growth and industrialization. This meant that more people moved to the cities and more people immigrated to the United States. Overpopulation and poor infrastructure created a social problem which the progressive ideals of the time fostered into eugenics. It was accepted in the early 1900's that racial, mental, and criminal inferiors were the cause of the social problems America was facing. A cleansing and elimination of groups was thought to be a positive way of cleansing the nation as well as moving it forward. Eliminating groups of inferiors was thought to produce a better, more future-ready population of Americans while using science!
Furthermore, in the early 1900's in the USA, many things were changing. This was a time of prosperous economic growth and industrialization. This meant that more people moved to the cities and more people immigrated to the United States. Overpopulation and poor infrastructure created a social problem which the progressive ideals of the time fostered into eugenics. It was accepted in the early 1900's that racial, mental, and criminal inferiors were the cause of the social problems America was facing. A cleansing and elimination of groups was thought to be a positive way of cleansing the nation as well as moving it forward. Eliminating groups of inferiors was thought to produce a better, more future-ready population of Americans while using science!
The White Picket Fence
Not only were the racial tensions so often taught about in school fueled by the technological advances of the Europeans, but they were powered by the core idea that white people were fundamentally better than any other race. Though white people were at the top of the hierarchy, intersectionality problems existed, too. Anglo-saxon blood was favored above all other and those of Italian, Greek, Spanish etc. ethnicities were often shunted societally in comparison to their northern peers. Any problems that occurred in Latin America, Africa, Asia, or in Australia were due to the inherent ineptitudes of the indigenous peoples. These Darwinist ideas set a precedent for not only racially charged inequality but biological inequality. This is a cycle which is almost impossible to break out of.
While people of color struggled to find a place in society, those who fit the American ideal were able to thrive. Though the idea of controlling the races--eugenics in its purest form--began in the late 1800's along with Darwinian ideas about race, the first true movement against racial, criminal, and mental inferiors really began in the mid 1900's. It was during this time that the 'white picket fence' idea of an American family came into play. This idea supported the growth of the eugenics movement in the 1960's.
Many other countries had eugenics movements of their own. However, it is certainly American society which made the American eugenics movement one of the most successful. The idea of an 'ideal American family' and the deeply instilled national racism and discrimination for neuro-divergents pushed this movement forward. American society was also very effective in keeping the movement quiet. It was so accepted at the time when the first legislation was written that the majority of the pro-eugenics laws that were passed have not been reformed. |
Though eugenics have changed and shifted towards a more positive and individual scope, they are still highly present in our society today.