Question

The film attributes _______________ as first putting forth the idea that there were genetic differences between blacks and whites.

a) Andrew Jackson
b) George Washington
c) Abraham Lincoln
d) Thomas Jefferson

Answer 1

Thomas Jefferson is attributed as the historical figure who first put forth the idea of genetic differences between blacks and whites, specifically in his 1805 book 'Notes on the State of Virginia'.

Step-by-step explanation:

The film attributes Thomas Jefferson as first putting forth the idea that there were genetic differences between blacks and whites. Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and third President of the United States, held views that reflected the racism of his time. In his book 'Notes on the State of Virginia' (1805), Jefferson suggested that blacks were inferior to whites, both physically and mentally, and provided a pseudo-scientific rationale for slavery and racial inequality. This was indicative of the larger racist ideologies that existed and were later bolstered by individuals such as Louis Agassiz with the theory of polygenism in the 1850s.