The Origins of American Eugenics

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Starting in the late 1800s, forward thinking progressives embraced the idea that human evolution needed a little help in order to make sure that only the best (in their view) produced. Eventually, this idea became codified in legislation and even the Supreme Court of the United States supported it. Join Elizabeth as she examines the formulation of this idea and its impact. 

Podcaster:Elizabeth

Further Reading

G.E. Allen, “Eugenics and American social history, 1880-1950,” Genome 1989; 31(2):885-9. 

----, “The Social and Economic Origins of Genetic Determinism: a Case History of the American Eugenics Movement, 1900-1940 and its Lessons for Today,” Genetica 1997; 99(2-3):77-88. 

Douglas C. Baynton, Defectives in the Land: Disability and Immigration in the Age of Eugenics , University of Chicago Press, (2016).

Etienne Lepicard, "Eugenics and Roman Catholicism: an Encyclical Letter in Context: Casti connubii, December 31, 1930," Science in Context 11 (1998): 527-544.

M.S. Pernick, “Eugenics and public health in American history,” Am J Public Health 1997 Nov;87(11):1767-72. 

Christine Rosen, Preaching Eugenics: Religious leaders and the American Eugenics Movement, Oxford University Press, (2004). 

​Music: "Evening Melodrama" by Kevin Macleod (www.incompetech.com)