economic fears - changing atitudes towards imigration

Question 1

KU - what wereimigrants like pre and post war? were did they find work?

Answer 1

most imigrants were unskilled and found work in America’s growing industries which would become vital to the war effort
post war however, america suffered economic ressesion and unemployment rose to 10%

Question 2

KU - what were the stance of trade unions on imigration?

Answer 2

trade unions were prominant during americas economic concerns and held a strong anti-imigration stance
they resented the fact that low-paid/cheap work of imigrants hindered any effective strike action

Question 3

A - therefor economic fears were the main reason for changing atitudes towards imigration because..

Answer 3

imigrants were poor and in most cases desperate for work which meant that they would work for much cheaper.
thousands of americans were serching for work at the same time and anger was quickly directed towards imigrants for ‘stealing jobs’ as they were considered ‘iliterate’ and ‘unskilled’.

Question 4

A+ - however, economic fears was not the main reason for changing atitudes towards imigration because..

Answer 4

anger towards imigrants was, in reality, missplaced. Americans ignored the fact that the jobs imigrants were ‘stealing’ were in reality dangerous, dirty and SO low paid americans would never actually have done them.

Question 5

E - upon evaluation whilst economic fears were significant they were not is important as racism and prejudice…

Answer 5

The Chinese Exclusion Act, 1882 for example banned chnese imigrants from entering california and this had underlying prejudice because the restrictions were introduced following concerns about maintaning ‘white racial purity’.