Eugenics Essay

Charles B. Davenport created the Eugenics Record Office at Cold Spring Harbor on Long Island, New York on October 1, 1910 (Adams, 2005, p. 232-233). The Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Anthropology was created in Berlin, Germany in 1927 (Adams, 2005, p. 232-233). These organizations were developed in the United States and Germany to improve the human population as a whole. The theory of eugenics, under which these organizations were created, was "to pursue the theoretical study of human genetics with the aim of using the findings for eugenic purposes, namely, the improvement of the hereditary makeup of the human gene pool through the wide spread control of reproduction" (Adams, 2005, p. 233). The eugenics movement peaked in popularity during the early 1900's, as much of the population was concerned that the human population was deteriorating (Adams, 2005, p. 233). As crime, alcoholism, and violence increased, it seemed make sense to the people of this era that if society was free of all mental and physical ailments, which would in turn decrease violence and crime, then it would be worth trying to stop those with these traits from breeding. The idea of eugenics began with Sir Francis Dalton, who coined the term and he defined eugenics as, one who is "good in stock, hereditarily endowed with noble qualities" (Adams, 2005, p. 234).

Another major influence in field of eugenics was Charles B. Davenport. Davenport stated eugenics is, "the improvement of the human race by better breeding" (Adams, 2005, p. 234). He suggested that the rising problem of the decline of the human population could be eliminated at the source. He believed that mentally ill, insane, and criminal people are the way they are because of the genetics that have been p...

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... temperature and pressure testing, and deliberate infection with numerous deadly diseases" (Kaufman, 2008, p. 647 ). It is believed that one reason the Japanese were conducting these experiments was to advance biological weapons technology for use in attacking the United States (Kaufman, 2008, p. 647).

The organizations were developed in the United States and Germany to improve the human population as a whole. The acts of the organizations in America and Germany were not justified, although it's easy for someone to see how people of this era would think they are. These institutions had good intentions but performed inhumane acts. The organization created in Japan performed horrible experiments on human citizens. Unit 713 was murdering citizens to try to develop biological weapons to use in war and it's hard to see how anyone can be in favor of this organization.