Final answer:
Darwinism and eugenics significantly impacted U.S. immigration policies through the belief in 'survival of the fittest' and selective breeding. Nativist sentiments influenced legislation in the 1920s to preserve racial purity. Forced sterilization programs targeted minorities and were bolstered by pseudo-scientific eugenic research, perpetuating discriminatory immigration practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
Impact of Darwinism and Eugenics on American Immigration Policies
The ideologies of Darwinism and eugenics had a significant impact on America's historical immigration policies. Social Darwinists applied the concept of 'survival of the fittest' to human societies, often resulting in discriminatory attitudes towards certain ethnic groups. The eugenics movement, which emerged in the late nineteenth century and gained momentum in the early twentieth century in the United States, pushed for selective breeding and sought to prevent those deemed 'unfit' from reproducing. This not only included people with disabilities, but also targeted racial and ethnic groups, influencing policies that restricted their immigration to the United States.
The influence of nativism, which includes a preference for native-born inhabitants over immigrants, was clearly visible during the 1920s. Nativist sentiments played a crucial role in shaping the Emergency Quota Act of 1921, the Immigration Act of 1924, and the National Origins Act. These pieces of legislation were heavily influenced by a desire to preserve what some Americans believed was the racial purity of the nation. They were driven by a belief that immigrants from certain regions, particularly southern and eastern Europe, were biologically inferior and posed a threat to the American way of life.
Forced sterilization programs, particularly targeting people of color, were justified within this context as an effort to improve society by preventing the reproduction of those with undesirable traits. These programs were supported by leading scientists, funded by prominent organizations, and upheld by legal verdicts such as the Supreme Court case of Buck v. Bell in 1927. Thus, the pseudo-scientific research that back these eugenic policies also fueled discrimination in America's immigration policy, reinforcing prejudices and shaping public perception.