What Is Social Darwinism?

“Social Darwinism” is a term used to imply natural selection to humans. It generally means that some cultures or races were naturally “better” than others, and it was exploited greatly during the age of colonization to justify imperialism. The Europeans technology, economy and government were far more advanced than any other race at the time. They mass produced the arquebus, used to take over south America. Due to this, they used social Darwinism to tell everyone that it was the Europeans that first descended onto Earth, and it was they that established all colonies that exist nowadays. The Europeans also thought that they were let with “The White Man’s Burden”, that it was their duty, or “burden”, to bring sense to the other civilizations. Due to this, they also believed that it was their right and responsibility to colonize foreign countries; impose their belief and ways of life. …show more content…
Spencer tried to set specific rules for what survival of the fittest is, and how it led to what we are now. He saw society as a “social organism”, a highly complex being that evolved from lesser evolved creatures. However, due to the concept of social Darwinism, many people argued that the indigenous tribes of Africa were unable to compete in the race, against the Europeans due to inefficient farming methods, education, and weaponry. This colonial competition was supported by lots of pseudo-sciences, and belief that they were the best