# AP European History: Darwinism and Social Darwinism 🧬 Hey there, future AP Euro rockstar! Let's break down Darwinism and Social Darwinism, two HUGE topics that often pop up on the exam. This guide is designed to make sure you're not just memorizing facts, but truly *understanding* the connections. Let's get started! ## Darwinism: The OG Theory 🐒 ### The Big Idea * **Charles Darwin**, a British naturalist, published *On the Origin of Species* (1859) after his travels to the Galapagos Islands. * He proposed the **Theory of Natural Selection**: species change over time because individuals with traits that are better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. * **Evolution**: The process of species changing over long periods of time as beneficial traits accumulate. * **Natural Selection**: The mechanism of evolution where the 'fittest' (best adapted) individuals survive and pass on their traits.
Remember: Darwin’s theory focused on *biological* change, not social or racial hierarchies.
### Key Concepts * **Heritable Traits**: Traits that can be passed down from parents to offspring. * **Survival of the Fittest**: Individuals best equipped to handle their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. * **Adaptation**: The process of becoming better suited to an environment.
Think of it like this: the peppered moth example. Darker moths survived better in industrial areas because they were camouflaged against soot-covered trees.
## Social Darwinism: A Twisted Application 😵‍💫 ### The Misinterpretation * In 1871, Darwin published *The Descent of Man*, applying natural selection to human societies. * **Social Darwinism** emerged as a misapplication of Darwin's ideas to justify social and economic inequalities. * It claimed that certain races or classes were inherently superior, and that inequality was a natural outcome of “survival of the fittest.” * This concept was used to justify racism, imperialism, colonialism, and eugenics.
Don't confuse Darwin's theory with Social Darwinism. Darwin focused on biological evolution, while Social Darwinism was a social theory used to justify discrimination.
### Key Ideas * **Racial Superiority**: The belief that certain races are inherently superior to others. * **Imperialism**: The practice of extending a country's power and influence through colonization. * **Eugenics**: The belief in improving the human race through selective breeding. * **"White Man's Burden"**: The idea that white Europeans had a moral obligation to "civilize" and "Christianize

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Darwinism and Social Darwinism

Benjamin Wright

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