The American Eugenics Movement

1
The American Eugenics Movement

• By Alyssa Johnson, Andrew Ronbeck, Meghan Hamre,
  and Leah Hargraves

2
Eugenics

• Definition
• Science concerned with improving the human
  species by such means as influencing or
  encouraging reproduction by a person presumed to
  have desirable genetic traits.

3
The History of Eugenics
4
Origin

• Francis Galton.
• 1883.
• Moral Philosophy.
• 20th Century.
• Takes a negative turn.

5
The Growth of Eugenics.

• Arranged Marriages.
• Marriage-Restriction Laws.
• Institutionalization.
• Sterilization.
• 1907-1930.
• Johnson Restrictive Immigration Act.
• 1924.
• Positive Eugenics.

6
The Spark of Change WWII
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German Influences

• Late 19th Century.
• Racial Hygiene.
• Rapid Industrialization.
• Social Darwinism.
• 1929
• Euthanasia.

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German Influences Contd

• 1939
• Committee is created.
• 1941
• Can exterminate lt17yr. olds.
• 1943
• Expansion of who is exterminated.

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Decline of Eugenics.

• Negative eugenics.
• Eugenics becomes controversial.
• Genocide association.

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Eugenics Today

• Benefits of Eugenics.
• Pre-natal care.
• Birth control.
• Sexual Education.
• Better Babies Movement.
• Artificial Insemination.

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Controversy of Eugenics
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Why do people support eugenics?

• Positive eugenics.
• Better breeding.
• Scientific advances.
• Better informed Americans.
• Healthier society.
• Less disease.
• Less poverty.

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Why are people against eugenics?

• Genocide correlation.
• Religious values.
• Negative effect on society.
• Designer babies.
• Infringement of Human Rights.
• Defers diversity.

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Discussion

• Do you think we should utilize our eugenic
  capabilities? Why or why not? to what extent?
• What are some forms of eugenics that we still see
  today?
• Do you support or oppose eugenics? Why?

15
Bibliography

• American Philosophical Society. "Promoting
  Eugenics in America." Treasures of the APS. 14
• Nov. 2007.lthttp//www.amphilisoc.org/library/exhi
  bits/treasures/aes.htmgt.
• Carlson, Elof. "Scientific Origins of Eugenics."
  Image Archive on the American Eugenics
• Movement. 14 Nov. 2007. lthttp//www.eugenicsarc
  hive.org/html/eugenics/essay2text.htmlgt
• Garver, Kenneth L. "Feature Article/Historical
  Perspectives." Eugenics Past, Present, and the
• Future.49 (February 04 1991) 1109-1118.
• Herring, Richard. "Eugenics Online." Eugenics
  Online. 4 Nov. 2007.
• lthttp//www.eugenicsonline.netfirms.com/issues.h
  tmgt.  
• Hunt, John. "Perfecting Humankind A comparison
  of progressive and Nazi views on eugenics,
• sterilization and abortion." 30 Oct. 2007. PBS
  Institute. "Eugenics movement reaches its height
  1923." A Science Odyssey. 11 Nov. 2007.
  lthttp//www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/dh2
  3eu.htmlgt.
• Platt, Tony. "The Frightening Agenda of the
  American Eugenics Movement." 24 Oct. 2007.
• lthttp//www.hnn.us.articles/1551.htmlgt.  
• Vassy, Carine. "The diffusion of Down's Syndrome
  prenatal screening and diagnostic techniques in
  France." Social Science Medicine. 63 (June 23
  2006) 241-251.
• Westport, Conner. The Eugenics Movement.
  Greenwood Press, 2005.