David Starr Jordan publishes "The Blood of the Nation"

May, 1901. David Starr Jordan, a prominent American eugenicist, publishes a thesis entitled "The Blood of the Nation: A Study in the Decay of Races by the Survival of the Unfit" in Popular Science magazine. The article was intended to promote eugenics among the general public, and saw publication in book form in 1902 and again in 1910.

David Starr Jordan's research was considered authoritative and accessible by non-academic audiences. The book contains anti-war messages mixed with its pro-eugenics beliefs (Engs, 2005). Jordan theorizes that wars cause the fittest to dies. As a result, the weak and "unfit" stay home and have more children, leading to an overall disintegration of society (Engs, 2005). Jordan argues that this theory explains the decline of both the Greek and Roman Empires (Engs, 2005).

Jordan also explores the "superiority" of the British "race," which he believes was created through inheritance to oldest sons. As a result, younger sons and daughters integrated into the "masses," and society was established by the "strongest" (Engs, 2005). The noble birth tied to Britain allows colonialization of North America and the spread of democracy (Engs, 2005).

Jordan also feared reduced birth rate among the educated, and the possibility therefore of race suicide (Engs, 2005).

The thesis was met with positive reviews upon its publication (Engs, 2005).

This work has entered the public domain. The 1910 edition may be read in full here.

-Colette Leung and Amy Dyrbye

David Starr Jordan publishes "The Blood of the Nation"

May, 1901. David Starr Jordan, a prominent American eugenicist, publishes a thesis entitled "The Blood of the Nation: A Study in the Decay of Races by the Survival of the Unfit" in Popular Science magazine. The article was intended to promote eugenics among the general public, and saw publication in book form in 1902 and again in 1910.

David Starr Jordan's research was considered authoritative and accessible by non-academic audiences. The book contains anti-war messages mixed with its pro-eugenics beliefs (Engs, 2005). Jordan theorizes that wars cause the fittest to dies. As a result, the weak and "unfit" stay home and have more children, leading to an overall disintegration of society (Engs, 2005). Jordan argues that this theory explains the decline of both the Greek and Roman Empires (Engs, 2005).

Jordan also explores the "superiority" of the British "race," which he believes was created through inheritance to oldest sons. As a result, younger sons and daughters integrated into the "masses," and society was established by the "strongest" (Engs, 2005). The noble birth tied to Britain allows colonialization of North America and the spread of democracy (Engs, 2005).

Jordan also feared reduced birth rate among the educated, and the possibility therefore of race suicide (Engs, 2005).

The thesis was met with positive reviews upon its publication (Engs, 2005).

This work has entered the public domain. The 1910 edition may be read in full here.

-Colette Leung and Amy Dyrbye