Darwin+&+Natural+Selection

Introduction
Natural Selection is the theory created by Charles Darwin that states that the life-forms that can survive and adapt to the changing environment will be able to pass on the traits used to survive through reproduction. This theory comes from Thomas Malthus' idea about survival of the fittest in nature. This was a truly revolutionary idea that caused many people to doubt it because of its contradiction with previously existing theories. Because of Charles Darwin and Natural Selection science in the 19th century was conducted and followed a different idea than in the 19th century.

Background/Inspiration
In order for Charles Darwin to form his theory he had to have inspiration and background information. Charles Darwin takes Thomas Malthus' idea and extends it further to create his theory. In 1798 Thomas Malthus published a book on population growth which stated that life-forms produce more offspring than the food supply can allow for. Charles Darwin took this idea and expanded it to explain how species make it through this cycle. Previous to the forming of Charles Darwin's theory embarked on a 5 year voyage aboard the HMS Beagle around the world surveying and charting the oceans. On this Voyage Charles Darwin's job was to collect and record samples of rocks, animals, insects, fossils, and plants. By studying these specimen Darwin was able to begin forming his theory. Charles Darwin based his conclusion on the fact that the similarities between humans and lower animals are too similar to mean nothing, intriguing him to investigate and research into in order to form his theory.

Natural Selection
Natural selection is the theory that when beings produce more offspring than the food supply can support it forces species to fight among themselves for food and survival. Those who survived had the "selected" physical traits that enabled them to survive allowing them to pass the "selected" traits on to their offspring to benefit the next generation. Along with this theory Charles Darwin proposed that humans are descendant from a lower animal and that we are simply more highly developed. Charles Darwin used this theory to explain why different breeds or types of the same species look different. They are different because of where they are best suited. For example, there are multiple types of moths. A dark moth works best in dark habitats and would most likely not survive in a light environment while a light moth works well in a light environment and would not survive in a dark environment.

Reception
People were very hesitant to accept this new theory because it was different that what had been seen before and it forced them to rethink many already established theories. People also had a problem with grasping the concept that people were descendants from a lower form of life. Although it was originally not accepted after people started to realize ho much it made sense it was accepted and used as the bases for many science research projects in the 19th century

Impact on the 19th Century
Once people accepted the theory they used it as a basis for most natural science. People were forced to reevaluate and debate previously formed theories and change the structure that natural science research was done.

Primary Source
My primary Source is Charles Darwin's book on his evolution theory which was groundbreaking to science and changed the way that science was done in the rest of the 19th century and now.