Unit 4: The Gilded Age 11.29.18

Social Darwinism Definition & creation Use in the Gilded Age Dangers Racism Eugenics Anti-immigration Imperialism Why is it false?

Social Darwinism Term used to describe the practice of misapplying biological evolutionary language of Charles Darwin to politics, economics, & society.

Social Darwinism Evolution: Species with traits that succeed in a certain environment will survive to pass on those traits to offspring. Those who do not, do not survive, and therefore the species dies out.

“Survival of the fittest” Phrase coined by sociologists Herbert Spencer Sociologists adapted an incorrect interpretation of evolution to explain the growing gap between the rich and the poor

Laissez-faire 18th century economic theory, opposed any govt intervention in business affairs Driving principle behind laissez-faire (French - “leave alone”) is that the less govt is involved in the economy, the better off business (and society) will be Laissez-faire economics are a key part of free market capitalism

Social Darwinists Believed in Laissez-Faire capitalism Government should not regulate business Strong businesses will succeed, weak ones will die out – this is natural Government should not be providing aid to the poor or physically/mentally “unfit” Believed poverty was the result of natural inferiority, which should be bred out of the human population

Dangers of social Darwinism Language like this extended into theories on race & racism Eugenics Immigration law Nationalism & White Supremacy: claimed superiority of one people over another

Eugenics Movement 19th & 20th centuries, sought to improve health & intelligence of humans by sterilizing individuals it deemed “unfit” Eugenic sterilizations disproportionately targeted women, minorities, & immigrants, and continued until 1970s

Immigration Massive number of immigrants came to the US during 2nd Industrial Revolution White, Anglo-Saxon Americans viewed these newcomers (less likely to speak English & more likely to be Catholic/Jewish than Protestant) with disdain

Immigration Many believed these new immigrants from Eastern/Southern Europe were racially inferior & "less evolved" than immigrants from England, Ireland, Germany

imperialism Social Darwinism used as a justification for American imperialism in Cuba, Puerto Rico, & the Philippines many adherents of imperialism argued that it was the duty of white Americans to bring civilization to "backwards" peoples

Why is social Darwinism false? Sociologists = biologists; adapting & corrupting Darwin’s language for their own social, economic, and political explanations. Darwin’s theory remains a cornerstone of modern biology to this day, Social Darwinism no longer accepted

Why is social Darwinism False? Does not take into account the social environment, circumstances beyond a person’s control

Why is social Darwinism False? Biological evolution has nothing to do with "survival of the fittest". Note the difference between explanations: “Survival of the Fittest” theory: plants photosynthesize in order to survive Biological evolution: this plant is photosynthesizing plant species which photosynthesize have an increased likelihood of survival as a species

Why is social Darwinism False? Evolution is about survival of a species Social Darwinism is about success of individuals