Question

What role did Social Darwinism play in 19th century imperialism and colonialism?

A. It was used to justify the preservation of native cultures and languages.
B. It was used to justify the destruction of animal habitats to make room for colonists and businesses.
C. It was used to explain the historical significance of tribal differences.
D. It was used to justify imposing European control and culture on "weaker" indigenous populations.

Answer 1

D. It was used to justify imposing European control and culture on “weaker” indigenous populations.

Step-by-step explanation:

Social Darwinism played a significant role in 19th-century imperialism and colonialism. It was a sociological theory popular in late nineteenth-century Europe and the United States, merging Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection and Herbert Spencer’s sociological theories.

Social Darwinists believed in “survival of the fittest”—the idea that certain people become powerful in society because they are innately better. This concept was used to justify various political, social, and economic views, including imperialism, racism, and social inequality.

In the context of imperialism and colonialism, Social Darwinism was used to rationalize the domination and control of European powers over “weaker” indigenous populations. The ideology suggested that “white civilized” industrial nations had the moral right to conquer and “civilize” the “savage blacks” of the world. It was also used to argue against welfare policies that would help the poor by redistributing resources from the most fit members to the least fit.

So, the correct answer to your question is: D. It was used to justify imposing European control and culture on “weaker” indigenous populations.

Answer 2

D. It was used to justify imposing European control and culture on "weaker" indigenous populations.

Step-by-step explanation:

Social Darwinism was a philosophy that was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which attempted to apply the principles of Darwin's theory of evolution to human society. It was often used to justify imperialism and colonialism, as it suggested that some races were inherently superior to others and therefore had a right to dominate them. This belief was used to justify the conquest and control of "weaker" indigenous populations by European powers. It was also used to justify the destruction of native cultures and the imposition of European culture, language, and values on colonized peoples.