Darwinism, Social Darwinism - AP European History
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What is the main idea of Social Darwinism?
What is the main idea of Social Darwinism?
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Application of natural selection to human societies. Misapplied Darwin's biological theory to justify social and economic inequalities.
Application of natural selection to human societies. Misapplied Darwin's biological theory to justify social and economic inequalities.
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What term refers to the belief that human societies evolve through competition?
What term refers to the belief that human societies evolve through competition?
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Social Darwinism. Ideology that applied evolutionary principles to human social structures.
Social Darwinism. Ideology that applied evolutionary principles to human social structures.
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Identify a key difference between Darwinism and Social Darwinism.
Identify a key difference between Darwinism and Social Darwinism.
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Darwinism is biological; Social Darwinism is sociopolitical. Darwin studied species; Social Darwinism misapplied this to human society.
Darwinism is biological; Social Darwinism is sociopolitical. Darwin studied species; Social Darwinism misapplied this to human society.
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What is the role of 'fitness' in natural selection?
What is the role of 'fitness' in natural selection?
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Fitness determines survival and reproduction. Reproductive success depends on how well organisms match their environment.
Fitness determines survival and reproduction. Reproductive success depends on how well organisms match their environment.
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What is the ultimate result of natural selection over generations?
What is the ultimate result of natural selection over generations?
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Evolution of species. Accumulated small changes lead to new species formation over time.
Evolution of species. Accumulated small changes lead to new species formation over time.
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How did Darwinism influence the scientific community?
How did Darwinism influence the scientific community?
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It provided a unifying theory for the life sciences. Explained biological diversity and connected all living organisms through common descent.
It provided a unifying theory for the life sciences. Explained biological diversity and connected all living organisms through common descent.
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Name a major publication by Charles Darwin.
Name a major publication by Charles Darwin.
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'On the Origin of Species'. Groundbreaking work that established the scientific basis for evolution.
'On the Origin of Species'. Groundbreaking work that established the scientific basis for evolution.
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Name a societal effect of Social Darwinism in the late 19th century.
Name a societal effect of Social Darwinism in the late 19th century.
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Imperialism. Justified colonial domination as 'superior' nations conquering 'inferior' ones.
Imperialism. Justified colonial domination as 'superior' nations conquering 'inferior' ones.
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Which economic system is often justified by Social Darwinism?
Which economic system is often justified by Social Darwinism?
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Laissez-faire capitalism. Free-market system justified by claiming competition benefits society.
Laissez-faire capitalism. Free-market system justified by claiming competition benefits society.
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What principle is often mistakenly attributed to Darwin but coined by Spencer?
What principle is often mistakenly attributed to Darwin but coined by Spencer?
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Survival of the fittest. Spencer's phrase became wrongly associated with Darwin's natural selection theory.
Survival of the fittest. Spencer's phrase became wrongly associated with Darwin's natural selection theory.
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What is the main idea of Social Darwinism?
What is the main idea of Social Darwinism?
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Application of natural selection to human societies. Misapplied Darwin's biological theory to justify social and economic inequalities.
Application of natural selection to human societies. Misapplied Darwin's biological theory to justify social and economic inequalities.
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Which economic system is often justified by Social Darwinism?
Which economic system is often justified by Social Darwinism?
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Laissez-faire capitalism. Free-market system justified by claiming competition benefits society.
Laissez-faire capitalism. Free-market system justified by claiming competition benefits society.
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What is the implication of Social Darwinism for social policy?
What is the implication of Social Darwinism for social policy?
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Justification for inequality. Used to argue against helping the poor or disadvantaged groups.
Justification for inequality. Used to argue against helping the poor or disadvantaged groups.
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Name a societal effect of Social Darwinism in the late 19th century.
Name a societal effect of Social Darwinism in the late 19th century.
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Imperialism. Justified colonial domination as 'superior' nations conquering 'inferior' ones.
Imperialism. Justified colonial domination as 'superior' nations conquering 'inferior' ones.
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What is a criticism of Social Darwinism?
What is a criticism of Social Darwinism?
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It promotes racism and inequality. Misused scientific theory to justify discrimination and social hierarchies.
It promotes racism and inequality. Misused scientific theory to justify discrimination and social hierarchies.
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What social policy did Social Darwinism influence in Europe?
What social policy did Social Darwinism influence in Europe?
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Colonial expansion. Justified European imperialism as civilized nations improving primitive societies.
Colonial expansion. Justified European imperialism as civilized nations improving primitive societies.
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How did Social Darwinism affect race relations?
How did Social Darwinism affect race relations?
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Promoted racial hierarchies. Falsely claimed scientific support for white supremacy and racial rankings.
Promoted racial hierarchies. Falsely claimed scientific support for white supremacy and racial rankings.
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Which area did Darwin's theory of natural selection challenge?
Which area did Darwin's theory of natural selection challenge?
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Creationist views. Conflicted with biblical accounts of divine creation and fixed species.
Creationist views. Conflicted with biblical accounts of divine creation and fixed species.
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Which phrase did Herbert Spencer coin to describe Darwin's concept?
Which phrase did Herbert Spencer coin to describe Darwin's concept?
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Survival of the fittest. Spencer popularized this interpretation of Darwin's natural selection mechanism.
Survival of the fittest. Spencer popularized this interpretation of Darwin's natural selection mechanism.
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In what year was 'On the Origin of Species' published?
In what year was 'On the Origin of Species' published?
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- This publication introduced Darwin's theory of evolution to the world.
- This publication introduced Darwin's theory of evolution to the world.
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What concept suggests that species evolve over time due to natural selection?
What concept suggests that species evolve over time due to natural selection?
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Evolution. The gradual change in species over time through natural selection.
Evolution. The gradual change in species over time through natural selection.
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Which term refers to the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive?
Which term refers to the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive?
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Natural selection. Mechanism where environmental pressures favor certain advantageous traits.
Natural selection. Mechanism where environmental pressures favor certain advantageous traits.
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What effect did Darwin's theory have on religion during his time?
What effect did Darwin's theory have on religion during his time?
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Challenged literal interpretations of creation. Contradicted religious doctrine of humans as specially created beings.
Challenged literal interpretations of creation. Contradicted religious doctrine of humans as specially created beings.
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What was Darwin's contribution to the understanding of human origins?
What was Darwin's contribution to the understanding of human origins?
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Humans evolved from common ancestors with apes. Demonstrated human evolution from shared ancestry rather than special creation.
Humans evolved from common ancestors with apes. Demonstrated human evolution from shared ancestry rather than special creation.
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What concept did Social Darwinism erroneously promote as scientific?
What concept did Social Darwinism erroneously promote as scientific?
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Racial superiority. Falsely used evolution to justify racism and ethnic discrimination.
Racial superiority. Falsely used evolution to justify racism and ethnic discrimination.
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Who is the author of 'On the Origin of Species'?
Who is the author of 'On the Origin of Species'?
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Charles Darwin. British naturalist who developed the theory of evolution by natural selection.
Charles Darwin. British naturalist who developed the theory of evolution by natural selection.
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What is the fundamental principle of Darwin's theory of natural selection?
What is the fundamental principle of Darwin's theory of natural selection?
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Survival of the fittest. Organisms with advantageous traits survive and reproduce more successfully.
Survival of the fittest. Organisms with advantageous traits survive and reproduce more successfully.
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What is the primary mechanism by which evolution occurs, according to Darwin?
What is the primary mechanism by which evolution occurs, according to Darwin?
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Natural selection. The driving force behind evolutionary change in all species.
Natural selection. The driving force behind evolutionary change in all species.
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Which ideology uses the concept of 'survival of the fittest' to justify social hierarchy?
Which ideology uses the concept of 'survival of the fittest' to justify social hierarchy?
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Social Darwinism. Misapplied evolutionary concepts to defend existing social inequalities.
Social Darwinism. Misapplied evolutionary concepts to defend existing social inequalities.
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What controversial application did Social Darwinism support in the 19th century?
What controversial application did Social Darwinism support in the 19th century?
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Eugenics. Pseudoscientific movement promoting selective human breeding programs.
Eugenics. Pseudoscientific movement promoting selective human breeding programs.
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