Since the publication of Charles Darwin’s book, On the Origin of Species in 1859, people had used Darwin’s biological concept of evolution and applied it to the modern human realm. This concept became known as social Darwinism. Social Darwinists, such as Herbert Spencer and William Graham Sumner argue that only the strongest, and most capable can succeed in society. Social Darwinism promotes “survival of the fittest”, and rejects government regulation of businesses. According to Sumner, “Persons who possess the necessary qualifications obtain great rewards. They ought to do so. It is foolish to rail at them,” and millionaires “are the product of natural selection.” Social Darwinists believe that poverty is the result of lazy and weak people
