What is Eugenics and what were the goals and policies of the American Eugenics movement?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenics_in_the_United_States
Eugenics is a social philosophy and a pseudo-science that originated in the late 19th century. It advocated for improving the genetic quality of the human population by promoting selective breeding and sterilization to eliminate undesirable traits and encourage the propagation of desirable ones.
The American Eugenics movement emerged in the early 20th century and gained significant influence in academic, political, and medical circles. Its goals were focused on creating a "better" society by controlling human reproduction and preventing the reproduction of individuals considered "unfit" or "undesirable."
The movement had several specific policies and objectives, including:
1. Sterilization: The American Eugenics movement strongly supported the compulsory sterilization of individuals deemed "unfit" or "unworthy" of procreation, as a means of preventing the transmission of undesirable traits. These policies targeted various groups, including the mentally ill, criminals, the impoverished, and people with disabilities. This led to the forced sterilization of thousands of individuals in many states.
2. Immigration restriction: Eugenicists advocated for strict immigration laws to prevent the entry of individuals considered racially or genetically undesirable. They argued that certain racial and ethnic groups were genetically inferior and posed a threat to the genetic quality of the American population.
3. Marriage and breeding restrictions: Eugenicists promoted the idea of discouraging or preventing individuals with "undesirable" traits from marrying or reproducing. Some states enacted laws that prohibited marriage or reproduction for certain individuals based on criteria such as mental illness, disability, or criminal history.
4. Promoting "positive" eugenics: In addition to focusing on sterilization and prevention, the American Eugenics movement also sought to encourage "fit" individuals to reproduce and increase the birth rate of those considered superior. They promoted the idea of marriage between individuals with desired traits and encouraged the reproduction of educated, economically successful, and racially "pure" individuals.
It is important to note that the goals and policies of the American Eugenics movement were based on flawed and biased scientific theories, driven by social prejudices, racism, and a belief in the existence of a genetic hierarchy among human beings. These views have since been discredited, and the movement is widely regarded as unethical and a dark chapter in the history of science.