Advocacy of the American Eugenics Movement, 1880-1920

Abstract

This study examines writings of eugenics advocates to establish their motivations. Chapter one introduces the topic and discusses the historiography. Chapter two discusses factors that gave rise to eugenic thought. Chapters three, four, and five discuss the eugenicists' position regarding feeble-mindedness, industrial cities, immigration, race, and the family. Eugenics grew out of concerns for social deterioration in the new Urban-Industrial environment during the late-nineteenth century. Apprehensions created a crisis mentality and many Americans attempted gain stability by designating an "Other" whom eugenicists declared unfit to function in society and implemented a variety of programs aimed at reducing offspring with undesirable traits. Eugenics promised both a permanent solution to society's problems and a means of social control by giving unacceptable behaviors biological explanations. The desire to secure social order led eugenicists to enact measure of personal restriction that were at times unethical and resulted in few improvements.