Social Darwinism Concept and Influence Quiz

Social Darwinism

• A theory that applied Darwin's ideas of natural selection to human society.
• It argued that individuals and groups are subject to the same laws of natural selection as plants and animals.
• This theory suggests that the "fittest" individuals and societies will succeed, while the "unfit" will fail.

Social Darwinism and Government

• Social Darwinism suggested that the government should not interfere in the natural order of society.
• Advocates believed that government intervention, such as welfare programs or regulations, would hinder the survival of the fittest.

Social Darwinism and Economic Policies

• Social Darwinism influenced economic policies like laissez-faire capitalism.
• It was used to justify economic inequality, arguing that the wealthy were successful due to their "superior" qualities.

Misconception of Social Darwinism

• A common misconception was that Social Darwinism promoted racial superiority, which was not always the case.
• However, the theory was used to justify racial discrimination and imperialism by some.

The Homestead Act

• Passed in 1862 by the US government, the Homestead Act encouraged westward expansion and settlement.
• It granted 160 acres of public land to any citizen who would cultivate it for five years.

Requirements for Homestead Act

• Applicants had to be at least 21 years old.
• They had to be a US citizen or have filed for citizenship.
• They had to build a dwelling and cultivate the land.

Impact of Homestead Act

• The Homestead Act led to the settlement of millions of acres of land across the US.
• It played a significant role in developing the West and transforming the US into an agricultural power.

Significance of Homestead Act

• The Homestead Act symbolized the American ideal of opportunity and self-reliance.
• It contributed to the westward expansion of the United States and the creation of a new agricultural economy.