The Rise and Fall of the Eugnics Movement

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Recommended: Essays in eugenics

Introduction

According to Merriam-Webster.com, eugenics is defined as “the theory dealing with the production or treatment of a fine, healthy race.” Despite this seemingly innocent representation, eugenics is an extremely controversial science. Some even debate whether or not it is worthy of the label of science, or if it’s just a form of intellectual racism. Nevertheless, eugenics was greatly embraced and was behind a scientific and social revolution during the late 19th century through the Second World War. This essay will explore the topic of eugenics which has disappeared from today’s science textbooks. This includes a thorough history of the origin of eugenics, the people behind its movement, as well as its application in society.

Sir Francis Galton

Sir Francis Galton first coined the term ‘eugenics’ in 1883. Under his definition, eugenics was the “study of agencies under social control that may improve or impair the racial qualities of future generations, either physically or mentally.” (Newman, 441) Galton was born in 1822 into a rich English family. From an early age he was put under incredible pressure to follow in the footsteps of Erasmus Darwin, Galton’s medically famed great-uncle. However, this pressure had little impact as he transferred from King’s College Medical School to Cambridge University due to an intense dislike of the study of medicine. At Cambridge he attempted to receive an honors degree in mathematics until during his third year he suffered a nervous breakdown. After taking a semester off, he returned and eventually received his degree although it was not an honors degree but rather a pass-degree. Once again Galton attempted the study of medicine, but with the death of his father in 1844 he f...

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...rbor Laboratories which Charles Davenport helped start. This web site contains a massive archive of all of the information ever tabulated by the laboratory, including pictures, essays, and an overall picture of the American eugenic movement. If you’re looking for great web information on eugenics start your research here. You’ll be able to spend days looking through their archives.

[4] http://www.rethnkingschools.org/Archives/13_03/eugenic.htm

This article was written to review the aspects of eugenics in light of recent public support for standardized testing and IQ testing. The article does a good job of presenting the material in a way that the reader can understand how the eugenics movement came about. Unfortunately, this site only deals with the aspects behind eugenics in the United States. But what information it does present is very accurate and insightful.

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