Question

The quote below was written by a Social Darwinist in the late 1800s: "The law of competition may be sometimes hard for the individual, [but] it is best for the race, because it insures the survival of the fittest in every department." Based on this quote, how might Social Darwinists respond to the immigration restrictions of the late 1800s and early 1900s?

Answer 1

Social Darwinism was a theory that was popularized in the late 1800s, and which was taken from the ideas of Darwin on evolution (although interpreted in an inaccurate way). Social darwinists believed that there were different classes of people, and that some were superior to others. This justified inequality, as the best would rise to the top in a manner similar to the "survival of the fittest" that takes place in the natural world.

It is likely that Social Darwinists believed immigrants to be an inferior class. They most likely believed that their inability to rise to the top were evidence of their inferiority, and might have supported restrictions as a way to ensure healthy competition.