how did the applications of social Darwinism affect nations such as Australia and Canda

Answer 1

The applications of social Darwinism had significant impacts on nations such as Australia and Canada during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Here are some specific ways in which social Darwinism affected these nations:

1. Eugenics and immigration policies: Social Darwinist ideas influenced the adoption of eugenics policies in both Australia and Canada. Eugenics aimed to improve the genetic quality of populations by promoting the reproduction of "fit" individuals and limiting the reproduction of those considered "unfit." This led to the implementation of immigration policies in both countries that aimed to restrict the entry of certain racial and ethnic groups, based on the belief that they were less evolved or inferior.

2. Forced assimilation of Indigenous populations: Social Darwinism contributed to the forcible assimilation policies imposed on Indigenous populations in Australia and Canada. Indigenous communities were seen as culturally and racially inferior, and efforts were made to "civilize" and assimilate them into the dominant culture. Indigenous children were often forcibly removed from their families and placed in residential schools, where they were forbidden from practicing their own languages, cultures, and traditions.

3. Discriminatory laws and policies: Social Darwinist ideas also influenced the formulation of discriminatory laws and policies against minority groups. In Australia, for example, the White Australia policy, which was in effect from 1901 to 1973, aimed to maintain the country's predominantly white population by restricting non-European immigration. Similarly, Canada implemented the Chinese Immigration Act of 1885, also known as the Chinese Head Tax, which imposed heavy fees on Chinese immigrants in an attempt to limit their entry into the country.

4. Justification for colonial expansion: Social Darwinism provided a justification for colonial expansion and the displacement of Indigenous peoples in Australia and Canada. Europeans saw themselves as racially superior and believed it was their duty to bring progress and civilization to the "less evolved" or "backward" peoples they encountered. This ideology led to the displacement, dispossession, and mistreatment of Indigenous populations in both countries during the colonial period.

It is important to note that these social Darwinist policies and ideologies have been widely discredited today due to their racist nature and the harm they caused to marginalized communities.