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Advocates of Social Darwinism believed that __________.

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Final answer:

Social Darwinists believed that the poor were naturally inferior and unsuited for survival, viewing charity as useless and encouraging policies that let 'unfit' individuals die out without assistance.

Step-by-step explanation:

Advocates of Social Darwinism believed that the poor were naturally inferior and destined to die out. They saw attempts at charity and moral uplift as futile because the poor's hereditary traits made them unable to succeed. Herbert Spencer, the British sociologist, was a major proponent of this view, opposing financial assistance to the poor. Social Darwinism argued that human advancement would be facilitated if those unable to compete in society were not artificially supported, thus preventing the passing on of their inferior traits. Similarly, it targeted various social groups considered 'unfit' and supported the idea that these groups should not be aided, as this would lead to the survival of the unfit and a subsequent decline in societal health.

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