What Impact Did The Second World War Have On Immigrants?

Question 1

When USA entered WW2, who were classed ‘enemy aliens’?

Answer 1

• Italians (14% of foreign-born immigrants)
• German (10%)
• Japanese (1>%)

Question 2

Which nationality was treated harshest during WW2?

Answer 2

Japanese because Japan had bombed the US fleet at Pearl Harbour

Question 3

How were immigrants treated during WW2?

Answer 3

• Shut in internment camps (however were not persecuted, primarily for labour)
• Property was confiscated and could only take what they could carry
• Some businesses with Italian or German sounding names had their windows broken or customers decided to shop elsewhere

Question 4

How many Japanese were shut in internment camps?

Answer 4

120,000 (75% were US citizens)

Question 5

Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882?

Answer 5

Repealed in 1943 due to American sympathy over Japanese brutality in China

Question 6

Positive impacts of WW2 on immigration

Answer 6

• Assimilation decreased resentment
• The government and media promoted national unity
• Immigrants were forced to assimilate in American culture for example Russian Serge Nicholas said being in the army forced him to speak the language, whilst some were forced to of fear of punishment

Question 7

The Second World War led to a considerable number of immigrants entering the US because:

Answer 7

• 100,000 war brides (and grooms) whom the US personnel had met and married overseas as ‘non-quota immigrants’, with half coming from Britain, Germany and Italy
• In 1943, Chinese and Filipino efforts against the Japanese in the war led to repeal the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and gave Filipinos a quota
• Between 1945 and 1948, Truman allowed 413,000 displaced persons