Final answer:
In the early twentieth century, eugenics significantly influenced legal and health policies, aiming to create a genetically superior human population. The movement eventually became discredited due to its racist, xenophobic, and discriminatory practices, especially after its association with Nazi Germany's genocidal policies.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the early twentieth century, eugenics informed the legal and health policies in countries like Germany, the U.S., and Canada. The eugenics movement sought to improve the genetic quality of the human population by encouraging the procreation of people with desired traits and discouraging or preventing those with undesired traits from reproducing. This often led to forced sterilizations and other human rights abuses. While eugenics was once considered a legitimate science, it became discredited due to the racist, xenophobic, and ableist ideologies it perpetuated and its association with Nazi atrocities.
During the early twentieth century, the goal of creating genetically superior humans was quite prevalent, although it accompanied widespread criticism. The extensive eugenics program of Nazi Germany in the 1930s and 40s sullied the reputation of eugenics when it culminated in forcible sterilizations and genocides, aiming to develop a genetically superior Aryan race. Even though eugenic ideas have largely been shunned in contemporary society, certain elements endure, lurking in discussions about modern reproductive technologies and genetic engineering.