Regarding immigration and "feeblemindedness," which of the following statements characterizes national opinion in the early 1900s?
A) the feebleminded reproduced at an alarming rate
B) newer immigrants were mentally inferior to traditional immigrants
C) immigration threatened the nation's overall biological fitness
D) all of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In the early 1900s, there was widespread belief that "feeblemindedness" was hereditary and that the feebleminded reproduced more rapidly than the mentally fit, that newer immigrants (especially from southern and eastern Europe) were mentally and biologically inferior to older waves of immigrants (from northern and western Europe), and that this influx threatened the nation's biological fitness. These beliefs were part of the eugenics movement, which influenced immigration policies and led to restrictive immigration laws.

Regarding Immigration and "Feeblemindedness," Which of the Following Statements Characterizes