USA HISTORY

AMERICAN IMPERIALISM(1890 1919)

AMERICAN IMPERIALISM

[SOURCES]
The theory that it was natural for stronger nations to dominate weaker ones is known as

(A) Berlin Conference

(B) ** Social Darwinism

(C) Sphere of Influence

(D) Scramble for Africa

EXPLANATIONS BELOW

Concept note-1: -Social Darwinists believe in “survival of the fittest”-the idea that certain people become powerful in society because they are innately better. Social Darwinism has been used to justify imperialism, racism, eugenics and social inequality at various times over the past century and a half.

Concept note-2: -Individuals with adaptive traits-traits that give them some advantage-are more likely to survive and reproduce. These individuals then pass the adaptive traits on to their offspring. Over time, these advantageous traits become more common in the population.

Concept note-3: -Many sociologists and political theorists turned to Social Darwinism to argue against government programs to aid the poor, as they believed that poverty was the result of natural inferiority, which should be bred out of the human population.

Concept note-4: -social Darwinism, the theory that human groups and races are subject to the same laws of natural selection as Charles Darwin perceived in plants and animals in nature.

Concept note-5: -The concept of Social Darwinism originated with English philosopher Herbert Spencer during the late 1800s. He based his ideas on the findings of scientist Charles Darwin, who developed the theory of evolution that species improved over time with the strongest triumphing over the weak.