Darwinism, Social Darwinism, and eugenics had an impact on the American society and immigration in numerous ways. They classified races and played a role in shaping the immigration experience in the 19th a 20th century. Darwinism refers to the belief of evolution of people from natural selection rather than believing in the biblical creation. Social Darwinism presents an idea that some human beings are superior to others due to the process of natural selection made them. It leads to a belief that the white races were superior to other races because of the success that they have achieved. The American society has been trying to deal social Darwinism, eugenics and fundamentalist Christians confronting the evolution theory ( Dixon, 2009) .
The social Darwinism justified the power imbalances experienced between the different races and individuals in the American Society, with some people appearing to be superior and privileged over others. According to this concept, some inherent attributes such as diligence, ingenuity, temperance, and industriousness makes certain people superior and more likely to survive. This theory on social Darwinism was responsible for the laissez-faire capitalism in America and justified the idea of imperialism and hereditarianism. It believes some racial groups such as the white Americans are naturally superior which is why they have more wealth and have instruments of power ( Bannister, 2010) .
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Social Darwinism and Eugenics influence on the immigrant experience
The concept of social Darwinism is that there is a possibility to apply the evolutionary theory to the human society since people are also subject to “survival of the fittest.” The idea on social Darwinism can be deployed to suggest that the immigration was fueled by the need to improve the well-being of people through gaining access in the new world ( Bannister, 2010) . The “survival of the fittest” notion became the basis of a pseudo-scientific movement called eugenics which believed that the human race could be improved or rehabilitated using a process of selective breeding and sterilization.
Eugenics rationalized scientific racism that contributed to shaping state policies of immigrant restriction as it affected the American immigration policies in the 19th and 20th centuries ( Paul, 2003) . The eugenics movement played a role in passing the Immigration Restriction Act of 1924 which created quotas for immigration to the United States. This law allowed immigrants from northwest Europe and Scandinavia to enter in large numbers while restricting those from eastern and southern Europe. The eugenics movement and social Darwinism was also responsible for restricting the immigration of the Chinese into the United States in 1882. During this period, the law did not allow Chinese laborers to enter America and had to obtain certificates of residence or be deported back to their country.
Americans understood Social Darwinism by people being destined to survive. They looked down upon Chinese immigrants as being inferior and viewed immigrants from eastern and southern Europe as a source of menial labor for factories. They wanted to preserve the “American Identity” and ensured that immigrants from other areas do not outnumber them. For example, individuals from the northern European were said to be superior regarding intelligence, physical endurance, and emotional stability, and eugenicists believed America should only admit immigrants of European descent ( Paul, 2003).
Darwinism and scientific racism
Darwinism was responsible for the scientific racism that categorized people into different classes to control them. Some sections of people were considered inferior and were mistreated because of having inferior characteristics. The concept of social Darwinism was used to justify the scientific discrimination and classify people into different races depending on the color of their skins among other factors ( Bannister, 2010) . The theory was also used to defend eugenics by sterilizing those people considered inferior mentally or physically. For instance, Americans thought the Chinese had inferior characteristics regarding physical endurance, intellectual ability or emotional stability. Other people were deemed to be inferior because they did not have money or resources that can benefit the Americans
The proponents of this concept believe that people, like other biological organisms, follows a particular behavioral pattern that occurs naturally in the fight for survival. This social Darwinism has given scientific sustentation to imperialism and racism. Through it, Americans started perceiving the white people as superior and with the right to control other inferior races in justifying the segregation and exploration. The Americans believed the white Americans are wealthier and successful because they are biologically superior compared to other racial groups ( Jackson, Weidman & Rubin, 2005) .
These beliefs of social Darwinism shaped the relationship between Americans and people of other nations, as they viewed the immigrants with disdain. They saw immigrants especially from Eastern and Southern Europe as racially inferior as compared to the immigrants from west Europe because they were less likely to speak English. The black people were also victims of the eugenics in the United States as they saw them as inherently inferior based on their Intelligence quotient (IQ). This hindered the extension of educational opportunities beyond the white population.
As a result of the racism, Americans developed the capitalist economy that supported successful businesses accumulating vast profits and flourishing in the American economic system. As such, the proponents of social Darwinism believe people who are naturally fit are economically and socially successful while those who are naturally weak and unfit are poor. Therefore, the government should not interfere in this natural process by helping the poor. Instead, the poor should not be allowed to breed so that their race dies down ( Jackson, Weidman & Rubin, 2005) .
Why fundamental Christians oppose Darwinism
The impact of Darwinism on the American society brought about much controversy with the fundamentalist Christians who have troubled the relationship between religion and Darwinism. In fact, the controversy between Darwinism and the fundamental Christians played a vital role in the split between liberal and fundamentalist Protestantism. The public education system was the cause of the struggle between Christianity and Darwinism. Christian evangelists were concerned that the Darwinian Theory might lead to the decline of morals and calls for outlawing the teaching that humans evolved from lower animals in schools. Things have remained rocky for Darwinism in the American educational system with some states passing anti-evolution laws and refusing to purchase books that included the evolutionary theory ( Keas, 2010).
The feud between religion and Darwinism arises from the definition of the meaning of life. Religion describes a world of order and purpose while Darwin world is pretty chaotic. Christians thus oppose Darwinism mechanism of natural selection that goes beyond contradicting the biblical creation story and the Jewish concept of an active and living God who cares for his creation. As such, fundamental Christians argue that Darwin’s ideas are socially and politically dangerous with the notion of “survival of the fittest” in particular being used by dictators and social thinkers to justify heinous crimes ( Keas, 2010) .
References
Bannister, R. (2010). Social Darwinism: Science and myth in Anglo-American social thought . Temple University Press.
Dixon, T. (2009). America's Difficulty with Darwin. History Today , 59 (2), 22.
Jackson Jr, J. P., Weidman, N. M., & Rubin, G. (2005). The origins of scientific racism. The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education , (50), 66.
Keas, M. N. (2010). Darwinism, Fundamentalism, and RA Torrey. Perspectives on Science & Christian Faith , 62 (1).
Paul, D. B. (2003). Darwin, social Darwinism, and eugenics. The Cambridge Companion to Darwin , 214 .
