How far do you agree that anti-communism was the main influence on immigration policies, 1920-54? Flashcards
argument
agree that anticommunism was the main influence on immigration policies
criteria
longevity - played large role all throughout timeframe
agree - extent of anti-communism
1st red scare went into the 1920s - largely paranoia but held a lot of weight
Sacco and Vanzetti (1920) - judge republican and extremely prejudice against Italian anarchists
highlights the prevailing views of republicanism at the time (held all throughout the 1920s)
1921 Emergency Quota Act - restricted immigration to 357,000 a year (3% of current population in America)
quota system favoured immigrants from western and northern Europe (away from communism)
carried on through cold war - refugee acts kept immigrants to a minimum
Truman - main focus cold war (satellite states, Truman Doctrine)
1947 2nd Red Scare - held more weight due to the basis of fear having deeper evidence and explanation
McCarthyism - fear of internal subversion
increased immigration from south and Eastern Europe threat to American political and social mobility
1952 - immigration and nationality act retained 150,000 limit (85% from northern and western Europe)
counter - WW2
had intense impact during 1930s and 40s - strong hostility grew towards Japanese and German
seen as ‘enemy aliens’
worsened overtime (shops boycotted, smashed windows)
German (10% population) saw restrictions that had to be followed
especially strict policies towards Japanese influenced by this hostility
less than 1% of population yet treated most harshly (bombing of Pearl Harbour 1941)
creation of internment camps (75% of Japanese population in America sent)
under suspicion of disloyalty and kept in segregated units
abandoned following war
however - nearly 33,000 fought in war for USA (highly decorated)
Johnson provided support and concessions for Japanese immigrants impacted by these policies
didn’t have long term impacts on immigration policies - anti-immigration was seen as a larger threat
counter - Republican economic policies, especially during 1920s with isolationism
throughout 1920s - republican ideology focused on boosting America as a superpower through economic policies that created the 1920s boom
Harding brought in ideas of isolationism to bring focus back to America ‘Buy American’
Tariffs like Fordney McCumber tariff (1922) - raised American tariffs on imported goods (isolated America from the rest of the world)
Hoover rugged individualism - emphasised importance of self-sufficiency for American dream
immigration thought to weaken this - people not coming to bring wealth only to improve lives - not helping the economy
1924 immigration act changed the 1921 quota system to increasingly favour Northern and Western Europeans - those not seen as fleeing the likes of communist rule
these economic policies brought to a halt by the great depression - republican economic policies, although had a significant impact throughout the 1920s, weren’t able to have a significant influence past this, anti-communism stayed as a constant influence on policies towards immigration
conclusion
agree to a large extent that it was anti-communism was the main influence on immigration policies throughout this time period, as although WW2 and Republican ideas had a significant impact during the time they were at their peak, they didn’t have a long term effect on policies like anti-communism did.
