AP European History Flashcards: Darwinism Social Darwinism

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Darwinism Social Darwinism, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP European History.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: What is the relationship between variation and natural selection?

Answer: Variation provides material for selection. Without variation, natural selection would have no differences to act upon.

Flashcard 2: Name a major publication by Charles Darwin.

Answer: 'On the Origin of Species'. Groundbreaking work that established the scientific basis for evolution.

Flashcard 3: What concept suggests that species evolve over time due to natural selection?

Answer: Evolution. The gradual change in species over time through natural selection.

Flashcard 4: Who is the author of 'On the Origin of Species'?

Answer: Charles Darwin. British naturalist who developed the theory of evolution by natural selection.

Flashcard 5: What did Social Darwinists believe about human competition?

Answer: It leads to societal improvement. Believed competitive struggle naturally eliminated weakness from society.

Flashcard 6: Which economic system is often justified by Social Darwinism?

Answer: Laissez-faire capitalism. Free-market system justified by claiming competition benefits society.

Flashcard 7: What is the fundamental principle of Darwin's theory of natural selection?

Answer: Survival of the fittest. Organisms with advantageous traits survive and reproduce more successfully.

Flashcard 8: Which economic system is often justified by Social Darwinism?

Answer: Laissez-faire capitalism. Free-market system justified by claiming competition benefits society.

Flashcard 9: What was Darwin's contribution to the understanding of human origins?

Answer: Humans evolved from common ancestors with apes. Demonstrated human evolution from shared ancestry rather than special creation.

Flashcard 10: What principle is often mistakenly attributed to Darwin but coined by Spencer?

Answer: Survival of the fittest. Spencer's phrase became wrongly associated with Darwin's natural selection theory.

Flashcard 11: Identify a key difference between Darwinism and Social Darwinism.

Answer: Darwinism is biological; Social Darwinism is sociopolitical. Darwin studied species; Social Darwinism misapplied this to human society.

Flashcard 12: What is the ultimate result of natural selection over generations?

Answer: Evolution of species. Accumulated small changes lead to new species formation over time.

Flashcard 13: Name a societal effect of Social Darwinism in the late 19th century.

Answer: Imperialism. Justified colonial domination as 'superior' nations conquering 'inferior' ones.

Flashcard 14: Which term refers to the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive?

Answer: Natural selection. Mechanism where environmental pressures favor certain advantageous traits.

Flashcard 15: What is the main idea of Social Darwinism?

Answer: Application of natural selection to human societies. Misapplied Darwin's biological theory to justify social and economic inequalities.

Flashcard 16: How did Darwinism influence the scientific community?

Answer: It provided a unifying theory for the life sciences. Explained biological diversity and connected all living organisms through common descent.

Flashcard 17: What effect did Darwin's theory have on religion during his time?

Answer: Challenged literal interpretations of creation. Contradicted religious doctrine of humans as specially created beings.

Flashcard 18: What is a criticism of Social Darwinism?

Answer: It promotes racism and inequality. Misused scientific theory to justify discrimination and social hierarchies.

Flashcard 19: What is the primary mechanism by which evolution occurs, according to Darwin?

Answer: Natural selection. The driving force behind evolutionary change in all species.

Flashcard 20: Which scientific concept did Social Darwinists believe justified laissez-faire economics?

Answer: Survival of the fittest. Misused to argue against government regulation of business practices.

Flashcard 21: Who is the author of 'On the Origin of Species'?

Answer: Charles Darwin. British naturalist who developed the theory of evolution by natural selection.

Flashcard 22: What effect did Darwin's theory have on religion during his time?

Answer: Challenged literal interpretations of creation. Contradicted religious doctrine of humans as specially created beings.

Flashcard 23: Which area did Darwin's theory of natural selection challenge?

Answer: Creationist views. Conflicted with biblical accounts of divine creation and fixed species.

Flashcard 24: How did Social Darwinism affect race relations?

Answer: Promoted racial hierarchies. Falsely claimed scientific support for white supremacy and racial rankings.

Flashcard 25: In what year was 'On the Origin of Species' published?

Answer:

1. This publication introduced Darwin's theory of evolution to the world.

Flashcard 26: What is the main idea of Social Darwinism?

Answer: Application of natural selection to human societies. Misapplied Darwin's biological theory to justify social and economic inequalities.

Flashcard 27: What controversial application did Social Darwinism support in the 19th century?

Answer: Eugenics. Pseudoscientific movement promoting selective human breeding programs.

Flashcard 28: What social policy did Social Darwinism influence in Europe?

Answer: Colonial expansion. Justified European imperialism as civilized nations improving primitive societies.

Flashcard 29: What is the fundamental principle of Darwin's theory of natural selection?

Answer: Survival of the fittest. Organisms with advantageous traits survive and reproduce more successfully.

Flashcard 30: Which term refers to the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive?

Answer: Natural selection. Mechanism where environmental pressures favor certain advantageous traits.

Flashcard 31: What does natural selection act upon?

Answer: Variations in traits. Individual differences that provide raw material for evolutionary change.

Flashcard 32: What was Darwin's contribution to the understanding of human origins?

Answer: Humans evolved from common ancestors with apes. Demonstrated human evolution from shared ancestry rather than special creation.

Flashcard 33: What concept suggests that species evolve over time due to natural selection?

Answer: Evolution. The gradual change in species over time through natural selection.

Flashcard 34: What is the relationship between variation and natural selection?

Answer: Variation provides material for selection. Without variation, natural selection would have no differences to act upon.

Flashcard 35: Which ideology uses the concept of 'survival of the fittest' to justify social hierarchy?

Answer: Social Darwinism. Misapplied evolutionary concepts to defend existing social inequalities.

Flashcard 36: What is the primary mechanism by which evolution occurs, according to Darwin?

Answer: Natural selection. The driving force behind evolutionary change in all species.

Flashcard 37: What is the implication of Social Darwinism for social policy?

Answer: Justification for inequality. Used to argue against helping the poor or disadvantaged groups.

Flashcard 38: What is the ultimate result of natural selection over generations?

Answer: Evolution of species. Accumulated small changes lead to new species formation over time.

Flashcard 39: What was a societal impact of Social Darwinism in the United States?

Answer: Justification of economic inequality. Used to argue wealth gaps reflected natural superiority and inferiority.

Flashcard 40: What controversial application did Social Darwinism support in the 19th century?

Answer: Eugenics. Pseudoscientific movement promoting selective human breeding programs.

Flashcard 41: What is the role of 'fitness' in natural selection?

Answer: Fitness determines survival and reproduction. Reproductive success depends on how well organisms match their environment.

Flashcard 42: In what year was 'On the Origin of Species' published?

Answer:

1. This publication introduced Darwin's theory of evolution to the world.

Flashcard 43: Name a societal effect of Social Darwinism in the late 19th century.

Answer: Imperialism. Justified colonial domination as 'superior' nations conquering 'inferior' ones.

Flashcard 44: What term refers to the belief that human societies evolve through competition?

Answer: Social Darwinism. Ideology that applied evolutionary principles to human social structures.

Flashcard 45: What term refers to the belief that human societies evolve through competition?

Answer: Social Darwinism. Ideology that applied evolutionary principles to human social structures.

Flashcard 46: How did Social Darwinism affect race relations?

Answer: Promoted racial hierarchies. Falsely claimed scientific support for white supremacy and racial rankings.

Flashcard 47: What principle is often mistakenly attributed to Darwin but coined by Spencer?

Answer: Survival of the fittest. Spencer's phrase became wrongly associated with Darwin's natural selection theory.

Flashcard 48: What concept did Social Darwinism erroneously promote as scientific?

Answer: Racial superiority. Falsely used evolution to justify racism and ethnic discrimination.

Flashcard 49: Identify one misuse of Darwin's ideas in social theories.

Answer: Justification of colonialism. Using evolutionary theory to support European expansion and racial domination.

Flashcard 50: What was a societal impact of Social Darwinism in the United States?

Answer: Justification of economic inequality. Used to argue wealth gaps reflected natural superiority and inferiority.

Flashcard 51: Which phrase did Herbert Spencer coin to describe Darwin's concept?

Answer: Survival of the fittest. Spencer popularized this interpretation of Darwin's natural selection mechanism.

Flashcard 52: How does Social Darwinism interpret social progress?

Answer: Through competition and selection. Believed societal advancement occurs through competitive struggle and elimination.

Flashcard 53: What did Social Darwinists believe about human competition?

Answer: It leads to societal improvement. Believed competitive struggle naturally eliminated weakness from society.