This lecture will help you understand Social Darwinism. Social Darwinism was used to justify the new imperialism of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The racist ideology of Social Darwinism led to the imposition of colonial rule, institutionalized racism and the destruction of native cultures in Africa, Asia and Oceania. Understanding how this ideology developed and was used to justify colonial expansion is key to understanding this period overall. Moreover, the impact of Social Darwinism continues to reverberate around the world today.