1830

1839-05-11: Ontario passes “An Act to Authorise the Erection of an Asylum within this Province for the Reception of Insane and Lunatic Person.”

1860

1865: First proto-eugenics articles by Francis Galton in MacMillan's Magazine

1866-02-20: Gregor Mendel publishes his paper, “Versuche über Pflanzenhybriden”

1867: Ugly Laws

1867: Canadian Constitution Act gives federal parliament legislative authority over "Indians, and Lands reserved for Indians"

1869: Galton publishes Hereditary Genius

1870

1870: Canadian Residential Schools in operation

1871: Charles Darwin publishes The Descent of Man

California Passes its First Sterilization Law

1909. The state of California passes and enacts the first of their sterilization laws while under the leadership of Governor James Gillett. This law remains in place, largely unchallenged, for the next 70 years. Between 1909 and 1964, 20 108 people are known to have been sterilized.

Update by Rob Wilson: 18 April, 2018: California is currently considering compensation legislation for sterilization survivors. The bill was introduced 15 February, 2018, by Senator Nancy Skinner; see the bill here.

-Amy Dyrbye

Kaelber, L. (2011). Eugenics: Compulsory Sterilization in 50 American States. Retrieved from http://www.uvm.edu/~lkaelber/eugenics/CA/CA.html

California Passes its First Sterilization Law

1909. The state of California passes and enacts the first of their sterilization laws while under the leadership of Governor James Gillett. This law remains in place, largely unchallenged, for the next 70 years. Between 1909 and 1964, 20 108 people are known to have been sterilized.

Update by Rob Wilson: 18 April, 2018: California is currently considering compensation legislation for sterilization survivors. The bill was introduced 15 February, 2018, by Senator Nancy Skinner; see the bill here.

-Amy Dyrbye

Kaelber, L. (2011). Eugenics: Compulsory Sterilization in 50 American States. Retrieved from http://www.uvm.edu/~lkaelber/eugenics/CA/CA.html