Question

Examine how the thoughts of Social Darwinism impacted legislative issues(politics) and society throughout the Gilded Age

 

Answer 1

Social Darwinism involves the diverse theories that emerged in North America and Western Europe in the 1870s; the theories championed applying the biological concepts of survival of the fittest and natural selection in politics, sociology, and economics. Social Darwinism exemplifies that the strong can see their wealth and power alleviate while the weak have their power and wealth decrease. Social Darwinism's thoughts significantly impacted legislative issues in the Glided Age in various ways; first, embracing laissez-faire racism and capitalism gave the view that the government would not interfere with the fittest's survival government.

 

 The idea that some races were superior was enhanced, resulting in the colonization of inferior races. Second, the ideas affected American society, influencing public health, immigration, and imperialism. The ideas championed by Darwinism brought together the sociologist and political theorists to oppose the government to attain aid to the poor. They believed that poverty was the cause of natural inferiority and, if not curbed, would affect the larger human population. After the Spanish-American War, Social Darwinism's ideas justified American imperialism in the Philippines, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. It was argued that the White Americans had the sole role in civilizing the races the inferior races.

Social Darwinism involves the diverse theories that emerged in North America and Western Europe in the 1870s; the theories championed applying the biological concepts of survival of the fittest and natural selection in politics, sociology, and economics.