Controlling Population: Eugenics and Genocide Answers

Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information: The struggling German economy was the largest contributing factor to the rise of the theory of eugenics in the 1930s. Germany faced enormous debt, widespread inflation, and massive unemployment. In this economic climate, people with physical and mental illnesses were viewed as a burden to the “healthy” population who made greater economic contributions. Therefore, both the Weimar Republic and the Nazi regime pursued a policy informed by the theory of eugenics, the belief that the development of the human race can be controlled by selective breeding. Their goals were to prevent illnesses from being passed on to future generations and to create a more economically robust workforce. The Nazi regime pursued a more aggressive version of this policy by mandating sterilization. The Weimar Republic, which had preceded them, sterilized people on a voluntary basis only.

Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information: Rwanda faces significant challenges to rebuilding as a nation in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide. The genocide left over one million Rwandan children orphaned or acting as the head-of-household for their younger siblings. The genocide also resulted in a massive loss of population, with long-term negative social and economic consequences. The disaster destroyed significant economic infrastructure, as well as schools and healthcare facilities. All of these facilities require rebuilding if Rwanda is to become an economically and socially viable nation. Rwanda has been assisted in its efforts to rebuild by millions of dollars in international aid as well as development assistance from nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).

Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information: Germany’s initiation of World War II made the Nazi plan to exterminate European Jews far more deadly. German invasion and occupation of multiple European nations allowed the Nazi government to arrest, detain, and ultimately kill many more European Jews than they would have been able to otherwise. The social climate of fear and extreme nationalism created by the war also allowed the Nazis to violate human rights with the support of the majority of their population. Although the legal persecution of German Jews began before the war, the scale of the persecution and extermination of Jews across Europe was much larger because of German involvement in the war.

Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information: A policy of genocide is most often pursued in the context of economic depression, political upheaval, or social unrest. Charismatic or powerful leaders may exploit the fear created by unstable economic, political, and social environments. Often, a leader or group pursues a policy of genocide in order to gain power or control. By targeting a racial, ethnic, or religious minority, a leader may obtain the support of a national majority.

Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information: The international community did little to intervene in the Rwandan genocide. When the Interahamwe Hutu militia began killing Tutsis in April of 1994, foreign governments came to the rescue of their own citizens living in Rwanda but did little else to halt the killing. By the end of May of 1994, half a million Tutsi were dead, and neighboring nations faced a serious refugee crisis as Rwandans flooded across the borders. The United Nations stopped short of referring to the crisis as a full-scale genocide, referring to the killing as “acts of genocide” instead. The United Nations also made the decision to withdraw 90% of the troops in Rwanda, a clear indication of their unwillingness to intervene.