The Eugenics Education Society was founded Britain in 1907, in Galton's honour. Its stated objective was to improve the gene pool of humanity through the selective breeding of 'fit' individuals. Its influence spread rapidly to the United States, where the culture was particularly predisposed to theories that promised self-improvement through the application of scientific knowledge. Soon 'Fitter Families' contests were a common feature of American state fairs, with families vying for the kudos and medals that came with being chosen as the fittest. Eugenics also caught on throughout Europe, where a somewhat darker strain emerged in the form of German racial hygiene.
-The Journey of Man A Genetic Odyssey by Spencer Wells pg.12
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