Final answer:
Social Darwinists held three significant beliefs: the rich deserved their wealth, minimal government involvement in the economy, and racist views regarding race and ethnicity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Social Darwinists held three significant beliefs:
- They believed that the rich deserved their wealth and that the poor deserved their poverty. They argued that success and power were the result of superior breeding and inherent traits. According to Social Darwinism, those who were rich were considered more fit to survive.
- They believed in minimal government involvement in the economy. Social Darwinists believed that competition for resources would naturally eliminate the weaker individuals and allow the strongest to thrive. They opposed financial assistance and charity for the poor, as they saw it as interfering with the natural course of survival.
- They held racist views and believed that certain races and ethnicities were more fit for survival than others. They saw conquest as a sign of superiority and believed that the conquered would benefit from the influence of more powerful nations.