Introduction
Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution sparked innovation in anthropology and biology. Unfortunately, it was also followed by some controversies, being used by bigoted scientists and politicians to justify their atrocious views. This raises the reasonable question as to whether Darwinism contributed to the formation of the prejudiced racial hierarchy of the 19th and 20th centuries. The following text will review this issue in great detail.
Why Darwin’s Theory of Evolution Helped Construct a Racial Hierarchy
I agree with the statement that Darwin’s theory was used as a means of promoting racism. While it was not the intent, and Darwin believed that there were no fixed divisions between races, many scientists used it to promote racial prejudice. The concept of heredity was actively being used by people like Francis Galton, Harry Laughlin, Vacher de Lapouge, and the Nazis. Galton, Laughlin, and Lapouge viewed black people as inferior to white ones and were strongly opposed to race mixing, as they viewed it as a violation of purity.
What makes the situation more atrocious is that Lapouge and Laughlin were even more extreme and delinquent in their bigoted views, as they supported the elimination of those they deemed inferior. The latter was responsible for the Model Sterilization Law and received a doctorate award in Nazi Germany (Jackson & Weidman, 2005). The Nazis eventually became notorious for the genocide of those whom they viewed as undesirable. To make matters worse, American eugenicists praised the country’s laws, as they perceived it as a perfect example of ensuring “eugenic purity”.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the views on race would change after WWII, making amends for the prior bigotry, the impact Darwinism had on the racial hierarchy was strong and undeniable. Although it may not have been Charles’s intent, other scientists would later use his views as a ground to divide people into inferior and superior, based on race. This resulted in one of the most ominous chapters of Western history, mainly German, as genocide and sterilization were being promoted in the country.
Reference
Jackson, J. P., & Weidman, N. M. (2005). The origins of scientific racism. The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, (50), 66-79. Web.