Eugenics In California

1. Look up the definition of eugenics. Eugenics is the desire to improve the human gene pool by discouraging, or in some cases forcefully controlling, the reproduction of the unfit (Wellerstein pg. 29). The people branded to be "unfit", were seen as recipients of undesirable heritable characteristics. The act of forcefully restricting people of reproduction is a form of negative eugenics. 2. What are the historical facts about sterilization in California? (time period, numbers, comparison with other states/countries, laws)

To start, California’s sterilizations began to be recorded proficiently in 1907. California sterilized a total of 20,108 individuals between the years of 1907–1964, this was out of 63,643 total sterilizations
Certain hospitals were sterilizing exponentially greater than other hospitals. “By 1950, the last year in which hospital- by- hospital sterilization rates are available, three institutions alone accounted for 68 percent of all sterilizations performed” (Wellerstein pg. 36). These institutions were mental health hospitals. One would assume that this was due to the population differences in the areas surrounding the hospitals, but this discrepancy was not large enough to make up for the number of sterilizations. The reason why mental institutions had such greater numbers of sterilizations than other institutions was because of the laws that were implemented. Specifically the laws concerning consent. Consent was not needed from the patient, because they were mentally unstable, and consent wasn’t necessary from a relative it was not easily available to the
The turbulent economic and social conditions following the civil war, formulated the perfect storm to create American eugenics. While the working class increased its population and organizational skills, the rich saw this as a problem that needed to be dealt with appropriately. The traditional approaches to solving this problems seemed to not work. Labor unions and the rise of American socialist party's only added to the "problem". This is when the upper class turned to the “science” of eugenics. In Europe, eugenics seemed to be a possible way to blame their immigration problem at the time with it being a problem with the emigrant's genes. In my opinion this eugenic view of society has not entirely left the minds of contemporary politicians or upper class citizens. The idea that people can be grouped and targeted through their genes or race isn't a new view. Eugenics was only a new form of racism and prejudice. Many ideals of eugenics can still be seen when politicians discuss immigration and the civil rights of different