HIS-144-RS-Darwinism and American Society Worksheet.docx Assignment

1. Name: Tiffany Lewis
HIS-144
Professor Cummins
09/25/2022
Put your name on the top of this paper. Answer the questions in this worksheet in your own
words, keeping quoted material to a minimum. You must cite the source you used to answer each
question, and you need a references page at the end, with sources from the class. The assignment
generally focused on the impact of evolutionary thought on American society during the nation's
industrial revolution.
1. How was Darwinism generally and eugenics specifically used to impact America's
immigration policies? (125-300 words)
The concept of fitness, competition, and biological justifications of inequality was prevalent
throughout the late 19th century social Darwinism movement, which served as the foundation for
eugenics. Eugenics and Darwinism significantly impacted American immigration and were
deeply ingrained in American culture. Darwinism allowed for the modification of genes to stop
the spread of diseases and disorders (Keas, 2010). However, Darwinism profoundly changed the
way many people thought because it was based on a concept that Darwin held that he assumed
others should also hold, such as the idea that humans, animals, and other species developed
through natural selection. He also thought that troglodytes and modern humans descended from
apes. Darwin is a fascinating figure with his peculiar beliefs. There are different types of
plants, animals, and microorganisms today.
2. How did the popularity and acceptance of Social Darwinism lead to the classification of
some people as inferior? Who were the superior, and who were the inferior? How were
the inferior people treated differently? (125-300 words).
Due to their acceptance and attraction, social Darwinism classified low-ranking and high-
ranking people. White people held positions of authority, and if a person from a
lower class did anything wrong, they were whipped or hanged. The powerful could get away
with anything regarding the second-class residents. Black and white pupils could not attend the
same school. People that were Black or African American made up the lower class. African
Americans were prohibited from using drinking fountains, bathrooms, or other amenities.

2. African Americans were treated as interior and treated as enslaved people more
freely than superior. African Americans could not participate in school, which prevented them
from learning to read and write (Hedden, 2003).
3. Who were Fundamentalist Christians? What were some specific reasons that
Fundamentalist Christians opposed Darwinism? (75-200 words).
The church consisted of fervent Christians. For a variety of reasons, including the opposition
to his evolutionary theory, members of the church resisted Darwinism. The Darwinist theory,
according to which humans descended from monkeys, was rejected by the church. Christians
who follow strict doctrine claimed to believe in God. People who attended church also believed
God atoned for sins by sending his one and only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross. The sky and the
universe, in their view, were the work of God. Hence, they did not embrace Darwinism or his
theories and viewpoints regarding evolution (Sandeen & Melton, 2016).
4. What were the most impactful ways Darwinism affected American society? (125-300
words).
According to social Darwinists, the concept of "survival of the fittest" holds that some people
rise to prominence in society because they are fundamentally superior. In many contexts over the
past 150 years, social Darwinism has supported racism, eugenics, imperialism, and
Socioeconomic Inequality. Darwinism, among other things, questioning conventional
beliefs, significantly were impacted. Darwinism regarded natural selection as a valid
scientific theory. Darwin comes from a line of people who reject slavery. Although Darwin
opposed slavery, he thought that certain people were born into it since, in his view, the red ants
we're harboring the black ants as their slaves. Darwinism aimed to defend eugenics, racial
prejudice, and social injustice. Furthermore, Darwinism attempted to defend imperialism by
claiming that all imperial powers were inherently superior. He set out to demonstrate that people
benefit the most from ruling the globe. Due to the Nazis and racism, Darwin lost many
supporters during World War 2. 2013 (Fuller).

3. References

4. American Eugenics Society-Controlling Heredity: The American Eugenics Crusade-University
of Missouri Libraries (2012). Retrieved April 22, 2019, from Missouri.edu website:
https://library.missouri.edu/exhibits/eugenics/aes.htm
Fuller, M. (2013). Darwinism and the divine: evolutionary thought and natural theology.
Ecclesiology, 9(3), 367-369.
Hedden, K. R. (2003). Social Darwinism [MS Word document].
Keas, M. N. (2010). Darwinism, Fundamentalism, and R.A. Torrey. Perspective on Science &
Christian faith, 62(1), 25-51. Retrieved from http://search-ebscohost-
com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=48110481&site=ehost-
live&scope=site
Sadeen, E. R., & Melton, J. G, (2016). Christian fundamentalism | American Protestant
movement. In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Christian-fundamentalism