Third Quarter Research: Eugenics

According to the Harvard Law review, eugenics in the progressive era, were viewed by people as “A cure for mediocrity.” You may wonder, “what are eugenics and how did they play a key role in the progressive era?” This quarter in History, I dove deeper into the study of eugenics in America and the role they played in 1880’s-1920’s. Although most originally relate eugenics to Nazis, Germany and the atrocities that occurred in that time period, many people are unaware of the Eugenics Movement in America. I was not aware of the fact that Eugenic ideals originated in the United States, set forth by Francis Galton.

Eugenic ideas date back centuries, and scientists have proved that these ideals first elaborated during the Darwinian Revolution of the late 19^th century. Charles Darwin, as studied previously this year, was the father of the theory of evolution based on the “natural selection of the fittest organisms through their greater reproductive success (Harvard Law Review)” or their ability to simply “exist (Harvard Law Review).” Darwin was also the founder of the idea that selective breeding of human beings could be applied, to create more intelligent or successful future generations. But this is where his cousin, Francis Galton comes into the picture. After introducing this idea of selective breeding, Darwin simply did not act upon it, but Galton did.

Galton saw an opportunity to change the future, and to rid them of people who did not offer anything “positive” to his community, or at least this is how he saw it. Francis Galton then became the true father of eugenics and brought forth this idea, urging human beings to deliberately attempt to create a superior genetic makeup for their offspring and future generations. One of Galton’s most famous quotes, proves his views and ideas towards the creation of eugenics; “I conclude that each generation has enormous power over the natural gifts of those that follow and maintain that is a duty we owe to humanity to investigate the range of that power, and to exercise it in a way that, without being unwise towards ourselves, shall be most advantageous to future inhabitants of the Earth (Harvard Law Review).” Galton communicated the ideas of eugenics as a positive step for the future of mankind, although the circumstances of eugenics were harsh and harmful to humans, who were not genetically perfect. 

The definition of eugenics is, “the science of improving a human population by controlled breeding to increase the occurrence of desirable heritable characteristics. Developed largely by Francis Galton as a method of improving the human race, it fell into disfavor only after the perversion of its doctrines by the Nazis (Wikipedia).” In the beginning, eugenics were warmly welcomed by Americans who had previously been influenced by the Social Darwinist ideas of Herbert Spencer. Welcoming eugenic ideas was also welcomed by wealthier American citizens because they feared that the lower class was reproducing faster than the rest of the population, and the lower class citizens were viewed as “undesirable.” Lower class citizens were viewed as “undesirable” citizens and “mutations” to mankind because they did not specifically bring anything positive and helpful to the community.

Eventually, the government ruled the citizens they believed to be undesirable, such as lower class citizens, mentally handicapped or people different in any way than the “norms,” and sterilized them or forbade “undesirables from marrying.” The “Eugenical Sterilization Law,” came into play during the eugenics movement in America. American citizens, those who were not considered “undesirable,” looked at the eugenic laws of sterilization and the forbadement of undesirables marrying as an optimistic hope for the future of the United States. America citizens and government viewed Eugenic laws as hope for the future generations of the US, ideas that were put forth by Galton. These ideas being so optimistically communicated, overlooked one small problem, what about the people who were viewed as “undesirable”? They were human too, but they were being treated as animals that the government would run tests on, and viewed as people with “mutations” of the human race. Harvard Law Review, described the opinion of the American people as “an intelligent and enlightened public opinion.”

I think the way that eugenics was originally communicated as an idea, had a major effect on the way American citizens viewed the Eugenics movement. Galton’s persuasion of his view and explanation of eugenics, gave it a positive view until the improper way the Nazis used eugenics. If the American people wouldn’t have cooperated with the eugenic ideals, the American Eugenic movement wouldn’t have had as big of an impact on the United States. The new ideas introduced by Galton, were an innovation in itself in the late 19^th century, the basis of al American Eugenic movements. Persuasion, communication, collaboration and innovation all played a key role in the way eugenics were viewed in the late 19th century.

Secondary sources:

Eugenics: Compulsory Sterilization in 50 American States

·      This source gave me a broad idea and look into what eugenics were on the surface, teaching me how many states adopted these laws, and how these practices came to be.

Written by: Lutz Kaelber, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Vermont

History News Network: Roots of Eugenics

·      This source gave me valuable information in understanding why eugenics became such a huge and controversial thing in the United States, as well as the knowledge that eugenics did not begin in Nazi Germany in the holocaust, but here in the United States. Eugenic views and ideas began in the United States.

Written by: Edwin Black; he is the author of “IBM and the Holocaust” and “War Against the Weak: Eugenics and America’s Campaign to Create a Master Race,” from which the following article is drawn.

Eugenics Popularization

·      This source gave me an interesting and knowledgeable timeline into the events of the American Eugenics Movement, creating more understanding of how and why things happened when they did.

Written by: Steve Selden, University of Maryland; Professor

PBS- Eugenics movement reaches its height

·      This source gave me many names to place along with Eugenic Movements and dove deeper into the eugenics within specific areas of the United States. Learning names of people involved was very useful so I could research them to learn more. 

Provided by: This article was provided by PBS which is a very credible history website.

Primary sources:

Eugenic Artificial Insemination: A Cure for Mediocrity?

·      This source provided complex and deep information into the formation of the American Eugenics movement, providing names, supporters and the view of the American people.

The Day Book; Chicago Illinois 1911-1917

·      This source provided me with a first hand Chicago newspaper from the American Eugenics Movement, with first hand knowledge of the way Americans viewed the movement and its circumstances.

This board found in the United States, proves the view that American eugenists have towards unique people, who are not seen or viewed as normal. These people in America were viewed as burdens and an embarrassment for the United States to have in our country.

This picture of a newspaper in times of American Eugenics shows that eugenics were an experimentation to create perfect families that were not ethnic or had any type of family “mutation,” such as down syndrome or mental diseases.

This is a cartoon from the eugenic movement in America and the thought and vision that eugenics was simply “self direction of human evolution.”

This photograph shows protestors against the sterilization of mothers, which prevented the reproduction of people who are viewed as “mutations” such as, mental diseases and handicaps as well as ethnic appearances.

In the 1920’s, state fairs were often used as recreational places to educate people on eugenics and their importance. This photo shows men, women, and children gathering around to learn more about eugenics.