In 1911, Davenport published Heredity and Eugenics, writing, “The fundamental fact [is] that all men are created bound by their protoplasmic make-up and unequal in their powers and responsibilities.”43 From this conclusion grew a movement dedicated to the removal of unequal protoplasm, achieved by marriage restriction, quarantine during reproductive years, or sterilization. All of these were considered preventative medicine. In addition to protecting future generations from “imbeciles” (scientific term) eugenicists felt that such “morons” (scientific term) needed our help, simple-minded as
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