Though the idea that human characteristics were somehow passed on had existed for years, it wasn't until Charles Darwin published On the Origin of the Species that the nature vs. nurture debate fully matured. Soon after it's publication Francis Galton expanded on Darwin's ideas. The idea that moral or mental traits have little to do with social and environmental conditions but rather are inherited in the same way that physical traits are, became the ultimate basis of eugenic arguments. Many of the events on this timeline relate moments in history when certain peoples' views contributed to the nature as opposed to the nurture argument, thereby adding fuel to the eugenics debate.

Darwin makes public his findings regarding evolution in On the Origin of Species. 1859

 

 

 

 

 1869
Francis Galton releases his work Hereditary Genius.
Social Darwinism is on the rise in the U.S. and social welfare policies that benefit the poor are attacked as dangers to the future health society. 1870’s and 80’s

 

 

 

 

 1877 Study of the Juke family released in the U.S.
The U.S. implements the Chinese Exclusion Act. 1882

 

 

 

 

 1885-1923 White policy makers in the Britain and North America warn of “racial suicide”, fearing the rapid growth of immigrant peoples, deemed intellectually inferior, would displace their own populations.
Henry Goddard publishes The Kallikak family: A study in the heredity of feeble-mindedness. 1912

 

 

 

 

 1924 The U.S introduces the National Origins Act
The American Food and Drug Administration is set up. 1927

 

 

 

 

 1931 At this time, over thirty American states, as well as parts of Canada, have compulsory sterilization laws in place. People diagnosed as alcoholic, epileptic, mentally ill, sexually deviant or feeble minded where potential candidates.
Aldous Huxley publishes Brave New World. 1932

 

 

 

 

 1933-1934 The Nazi party rises to power in Germany and begin implementing eugenic laws.
The eugenics craze peaks in the U.S. as opponents become more numerous and increasingly outspoken. late 1930’s

 

 

 

 

 1945-1948 The rise of human genetics as a scientific discipline in the West. There is a distinct move away from the study of eugenics as people realize the extent to which certain eugenic ideas had been invoked in Nazi Germany.
People of South Asian and Chinese origin are given the right to vote in Canada. 1947

 

 

 

 

 

 1948 The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is introduced. “Men and women of full age, without limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have a right to marry and found a family.”
Chinese and Japanese Canadians are given the right to vote. 1947-1949

 

 

 

 

 1967-1968 Anti-miscegenation laws are finally overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. Soon after, some blatantly racist aspects of immigration laws are amended.
The rise of sociobiology (sociality in animals) opens up the eugenics debate again. 1970's

 

 

 

 

 1975 Edward O. Wilson publishes Sociobiology: The New Synthesis which argues that genetics are ultimately more responsible for our beings than the social environment.
The rise in molecular biology points to the possibility of mapping a variety of genomes, including the human genome.
1980's

 

 

 

 
1994		 The publication of The Bell Curve by Herrnstein and Murray rekindles the debate about race and intelligence.
China’s Maternal and Infant Health Protection Law is introduced. 1995