Eugenics and Immigration. Early Immigration Laws in the US

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Eugenics and Immigration
Introduction
Eugenic practices aimed at preserving the sanctity of ‘model’ human beings or social groups deemed superior to others were common occurrences in the late 19th to the early 20th century before the Second World War broke out. Invented by Francis Galton, an English scientist, eugenics endeavored to preserve the inherent qualities of members of the elite class in Britain by encouraging reproduction among within the ruling class and prohibiting the biological mixing of races. According to the scientist, maintaining the ruling class at the helm of the country’s leadership could only be achieved through biological restriction or controlled breeding within the various social constructs. However, Galton’s principles of eugenics formed the basis upon which both social, physical, and mental problems would be deemed as hereditary and, more so, emanating from a particular group of people or region. The increased immigration of Europeans from the East and Southern Europe fuelled fears among the native Americans who saw the new group of immigrants as unfit for the enlightened society. Additionally, the culture associated most cases of social disorder and unrest with the group of immigrants burdening the nation with their criminal activities, poverty, and insanity. The increasing number of immigrants coming to North America coupled with their adverse economic effects led to the formulation of restrictive immigration policies seeking to preserve the model or desired class and status the native Americans who originated from Northern Europe.
Early Immigration Laws in the US
The first immigration-related law to be enacted in the US was the Naturalization Act of 1790. This law outlined the requirements for any person who wanted or was to be recognized as a US citizen. However, when it comes to immigrants, this law limited naturalization to a select few. Only white people who were deemed to be of good character were to become American citizens. This law laid the foundation for other immigration laws which would also continue the trend of limiting citizenship rights to a select few.
After the enactment of the 1790 law, the US moved fast to enact more laws which would restrict or prevent the immigration of people from specific countries. One such law was the Page Act of 1875 which Ewing (3) notes was enacted to “exclude particular classes of immigrants as “undesirable” including immigrants from a particular country.” He continues to note that this particular law “targeted criminals, prostitutes, and Chinese contract laborers, or “coolies” (who worked under near slave-like conditions of indentured servitude).” The government wanted to keep America free from those who did not fit the profile of an able-bodied and acceptable character white person. Another law that was passed later one was the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act which restricted or put on hold the immigration of Chinese nationals for ten years. Ewing goes further to say that this Act “barred Chinese immigrants from becoming US citizens, and provided for the deportation of Chinese immigrants unlawfully present in the country.&...