Paper 1: USA Issue 1

Question 1

In evaluation for social fears

Answer 1

Eric Hobsbawn:

socio-economic change “provided a firm lodging for the British working classes within industrial society”

Question 2

why did hostility towards immigrants grow after 1918?

Answer 2

racism and prejudice, impact of WW1 and isolationism, social fears, economic fears and political fears

Question 3

introduction

“the most imporaant reason for the growth of hostility towards immigrants was WW1 and isolationism”. how far do you agree?

Answer 3

Between the late 18th and early 20th century the population of America exploded as people from all over the world arrived to improve their lived in pursuit of the American Dream. The “Old Immigrants” of Northern and Western Europe who dominated society socially, politically and economically noted with concern the increases in numbers of “new immigrants” arriving from southern and Eastern Europe. Increasing hostility resulted in immigration restrictions escalating from 1917 to 1920s. Historians argue that this was due to a number of factors such as prejudice and racism, social and economic fears, WW1 and fear off revolution. This essay will argue that whilst the effects of the Great War were important, it was in fact prejudice and racism that was the most significant factor to the increased hostility towards immigrant during the 1920s.

Question 4

ww1 and isolationism

Answer 4

• war brought to attention the German-American community after usa joined war in 1917. measures were taken to victimise the community and suppress foreign culture, eg “Sauerkraut” renamed to Liberty Cabbage
  > brought into sharp focus the threat of divided loyalties in a country housing European immigrants
• usa regretted participating in war so entered period of isolationism where it distanced itself from European democracy, ed failure to sign Treaty of Versailles or join League of Nations
  > increased hostility and “100% Americanism” became a popular slogan which demanded universal conformity through total national loyalty

A*: was a crucial catalyst and cannot be considered the most important reason for increased hostility, as argued by Higham

E: war escalated nativist calls for immigration restriction, 1917 Literacy Test was passed. however, nativist calls for immigration restriction were supported decades before the war; was merely brought into sharp focus the threat of divided loyalties and immigration restrictions were seen as a means of self-defence.

Question 5

prejudice and racism

Answer 5

• 1907, Dillingham Commission published that from 1880s immigrants predominantly came from south and east Europe; often unskilled and illiterate
  > caused a soar of nativism as WASPs joined organisations which campaigned for the protection of American purity, eg American Protection Association (aimed to reduce influence of Catholics on public schools)
• many new immigrants were Jewish or Roman Catholic by religion; were perceived as a threat to the Protestant population of America
  > in fear or protestantism becoming inferior religion many joined white supremacist organisations like KKK who re-emerged in 1915, were very popular as indicated by membership of 5 million of 1925

A*: changing public attitudes had a limited effect, at least until the 1920s, when harsher restrictions were passed

E: racism and prejudicie was more important than ww1 because immigrants were seen as a threat to American values. it could be argued that pseudoscientific findings such as those of Kenneth Roberts merely reinforced an already established racist rhetoric that had been emerging in the early 20th century. many Americans found comfort in such findings as they proved their concerns were valid, further increasing hostility towards immigrants.

Question 6

social fears

Answer 6

• many processed immigrants arriving from Elis Island congregated to rapidly growing cities to reunite with family and friends: the Irish settled in Boston, Italians in Brooklyn, poles and Czechs in Chicago
  > created ethnically-dominated cities that contradicted the idea of a Melting Pot; cities lacked a common language or thread that could connect them; as a result, these ghettoes were often crime ridden and poorly maintained
• new immigrants were unskilled and knew little English
  > they were seen as a burden to WASPs, often ignored and scapegoated for the ills of society, spreading the idea of immigrant criminality

A*: this was a myth as real causes of crime were poverty and poor conditions. most of the crimes for which immigrants were arrested were petty theft and lousiness

E: important: politicians and journalists utilised crime rates to falsely blame them for having a disastrous effect on American society to uphold the myth of immigrant criminality and increase hostility towards immigrants. however this was done with a racism mind, thus racism was the foundation for the social fears towards immigrants