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Immigration and Middle Class. By: Gabriella Siefert , Alisa Mathes , Bethany Bonocorsi. Introduction to Eugenics. Biggest misuse of science during the progressive era. Eugenics- The control of reproduction to alter the characteristics of a plant or animal species
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Immigration and Middle Class By: Gabriella Siefert, Alisa Mathes, Bethany Bonocorsi
Introduction to Eugenics • Biggest misuse of science during the progressive era. • Eugenics- The control of reproduction to alter the characteristics of a plant or animal species • Eugenicists in 1900’s believed that society would be improved through genetic control
Immigrants • More than 17 million immigrants from 1900-1917 • Influx mainly from Europe, but also from Japan, China, and Mexico • Fled because of economy, persecution and revolutions. • City life was harsh. They stayed in crowded slums, row houses, and triple deckers
Urban Middle Class • Vast expansion of native born middle class. • Many jobs were taken over by the middle class which grew with the population. • Population went from 5 million to 10 million. • New professional groups emerged • Wanted their influence known- many formed organizations.
Eugenics in 1900’s • In 1904 a genetics research plant was put on Long Island. • Director- Charles B. Davenport • Charles was a racist anti- semite • Due to Charles, many states were ordered to “sterilize” criminals like sex offenders, along with the mentally ill. • These laws were even upheld in Supreme Court cases.
Eugenics in the 1900’s • Madison Grant- was another supporter of the study of Eugenics. • He wrote a book called “The Passing of the Great Race” • Grant was a very active progressive, but his book spewed a lot of evil against Jews, African Americans,
Immigration Restrictions • Citizens tried to fight immigration a number of ways— • Prominent Bostonians formed the Immigration Restriction League. • They enacted the Literacy test under Woodrow Wilson. • Powerful Progressives spoke against immigrants. • Scientists tried to prove racial inferiority using science.