How did racism affect SA
Discuss the extent to which the application of eugenics and
Social Darwinism threatened the continued existence of the
indigenous people of Australia and indicate whether this
amounted to genocide or not.
Theories of Social Darwinism brought the disaster to indigenous Australians. Most of the indigenous
Australians were isolated from the rest of world before Europe settled in Australia. After the
settlement of British, population of indigenous Australians reduced by 90%, which is also influenced
by Social Darwinism.
Social Darwinism is theory of natural selection of human society: short background on eugenics: the
science of controlled breeding. Britain began to colonise Australia in 1788. Large numbers of poor
people in Britain were convicted of minor crimes and sent to Australia – therefore creating a large
prison population.
The British encountered the indigenous Aborigine population who were large in numbers and who
lived in a widespread area. The British authorities failed to recognise the Aborigines as human beings
and the introduction of their racial policies led to a significant decrease in their numbers.
Relations between the Aborigines and the British turned hostile. Aborigines were forced from their
land and forced into reservations where many died of starvation. They were treated in a very
inhumane manner. Aborigines were hunted for sport or poisoned.
Many of them killed in wars, massacres, or due to diseases introduced by the Europeans. Australian
authorities justified their actions in terms of pseudo-scientific race theories. Aborigines were
believed to be biologically inferior and did not need to be treated as humans. Australian colonial
policy allowed Aborigines to be treated like animals.
Many were subjected to ‘scientific’ research to establish if they were closer to apes than humans.
Overall, they were viewed as unfit, and unworthy members of society and endured a lot of
discrimination. Interracial marriages were forbidden; segregation was introduced and in some cases
women were sterilised.
White immigration policies became very strict after World War II to keep the population of Australia
white. Many British children were sent to Australia after the war, especially orphans to increase the
number of white immigrants. Australian authorities also removed ‘mixed’ children from their
parents and gave them to foster families to try and ‘breed’ out the indigenous characteristics. These
children were later referred to as the ‘stolen generation.’
Influenced by the theories of Social Darwinism, many indigenous Australians were treated cruel and
populations of indigenous Australians were reduced very much.
Discuss the extent to which the application of eugenics and
Social Darwinism threatened the continued existence of the
indigenous people of Australia and indicate whether this
amounted to genocide or not.
Theories of Social Darwinism brought the disaster to indigenous Australians. Most of the indigenous
Australians were isolated from the rest of world before Europe settled in Australia. After the
settlement of British, population of indigenous Australians reduced by 90%, which is also influenced
by Social Darwinism.
Social Darwinism is theory of natural selection of human society: short background on eugenics: the
science of controlled breeding. Britain began to colonise Australia in 1788. Large numbers of poor
people in Britain were convicted of minor crimes and sent to Australia – therefore creating a large
prison population.
The British encountered the indigenous Aborigine population who were large in numbers and who
lived in a widespread area. The British authorities failed to recognise the Aborigines as human beings
and the introduction of their racial policies led to a significant decrease in their numbers.
Relations between the Aborigines and the British turned hostile. Aborigines were forced from their
land and forced into reservations where many died of starvation. They were treated in a very
inhumane manner. Aborigines were hunted for sport or poisoned.
Many of them killed in wars, massacres, or due to diseases introduced by the Europeans. Australian
authorities justified their actions in terms of pseudo-scientific race theories. Aborigines were
believed to be biologically inferior and did not need to be treated as humans. Australian colonial
policy allowed Aborigines to be treated like animals.
Many were subjected to ‘scientific’ research to establish if they were closer to apes than humans.
Overall, they were viewed as unfit, and unworthy members of society and endured a lot of
discrimination. Interracial marriages were forbidden; segregation was introduced and in some cases
women were sterilised.
White immigration policies became very strict after World War II to keep the population of Australia
white. Many British children were sent to Australia after the war, especially orphans to increase the
number of white immigrants. Australian authorities also removed ‘mixed’ children from their
parents and gave them to foster families to try and ‘breed’ out the indigenous characteristics. These
children were later referred to as the ‘stolen generation.’
Influenced by the theories of Social Darwinism, many indigenous Australians were treated cruel and
populations of indigenous Australians were reduced very much.
