What Was The Impact Of Immigration 1919-80?

Question 1

1920s immigration

Answer 1

Processed through Eillis Island
Most from Europe- Britain, Ireland, Germany
Because largely a Jewish population, Russian or polish

Question 2

Im migration pre and during 20s

Answer 2

1917 Immigration Act
1921 Emergency Quota Act
1924 Johnson Reed Immigration Act
Influenced by Red Scare and isolationism
Bombings by anarchists, communist workers strikes, riots: Gov’t try to calm with immigration and deportation

Question 3

Dillingham Commision 1907-1911

Answer 3

Investigate impact of immigration
Said threatens US society and culture
Distinguish ‘old’ immigrants from England, Ireland, Germany and ‘new’ ‘socially inferior’ immigrants from southern and Eastern Europe

Question 4

Immigration restriction league

Answer 4

Establish in 1984 to campaign to restrict immigration
Wrote books and pamphlets on dangers of the flood of immigrants from S and E Europe
Members included politicians in Senate and House of Representative
Bill of literacy tests and ‘undesirable’ immigrants rejected as against US traditions and values

Question 5

Southern American immigrants

Answer 5

Immigrants from South America, especially Mexico, increased rapidly in the late 20s to fill cheap labour
Some ‘official’ immigrants registered with Bureau of Immigration
Other cross illegal by border
Demand for workers (didn’t ask q) and fear of deportation
Began to deport after depression hit
Many went to California to search for work

Question 6

Effect of immigration

Answer 6

Different neighbourhoods for ethnicities and nationalities eg little Italy or china town
30s, many factories employ a majority of immigrants eg Ford motor factory
2nd generation immigrants move up the social ladder
Immigrants started to take part in politics- particularly democrats- Irish in Boston, Italians in NY

Question 7

Impact of WW2 on immigrants

Answer 7

Japanese Americans interned during WW2- grounds they may have been spies
‘Racism’ is termed in Supreme Court
War conditions meant govt could use internment
Italian/ German Americans treated more softly
Blame race phobia and war hysteria following pearl harbour

Question 8

Japanese internment order

Answer 8

Executive order 9066
1946 last camp closed
1988 Govt release apology

Question 9

Govt policy following WWII

Answer 9

Quota system
Didn’t allow for refugees
Wanted to replace with immigrant regulation

Question 10

Govt acts following WWII

Answer 10

1952 Immigration and Nationality Act
1953 Refugee Acts allowed certain number into US outside of the quota
After 60s, European immigration to US slowed and more people were accepting

Question 11

Cuba and immigration

Answer 11

Difficulty coping with large number
Castro seized power in Cuba 1959
US opposed Castro and over 3 years 200,000 Cubans fled to the US
Govt set up Cuban Refugees Programme

Question 12

Immigration and Nationality Act

Answer 12

1965 immigration and nationality act
Abolishes quotas and sets limits of 170,000 immigrants a year, allows more Asian immigration
Immediate family members of US citizens allowed in outside limit
Law doesn’t apply to Western Hemisphere

Question 13

Attitudes towards Hispanic immigrants change

Answer 13

1954: immigration and naturalisation service deports illegal immigrants from southern and western states- operation wetback
Hispanic immigrants moving to cities became concern: 83% of hisp population by 1980
Limit set in no entering, some cross border secretly to become ‘illegals’

Question 14

Illegal immigrants

Answer 14

No exact record, largest no from Mexico, length of border made it hard to control
1980: about 1 million illegal ‘aliens’ were found, arrested and deported
INS: Immigration and Naturalisation Service

Question 15

Details of operation wetback

Answer 15

1.3 million left (deported or voluntarily)
Increasing disease, unemployment, crime blamed on Mexican immigrants in media
Propaganda used to garner support for immigration control
News created buzz and border control viewed positively, perceived as success

Question 16

Acts 50s

Answer 16

1950s operation wetback, immigration and nationality (begins to favour north and west Europeans)
Refugee escapee: covers those escaping communist countries

Question 17

Acts 60s

Answer 17

Armed forces naturalisation (US citizenship to foreigners who had fought on the side of US)
Cuban adjustment: citizenship to Cubans entering country
Immigration and nationality: more Asian immigrants

Question 18

Acts 70s

Answer 18

Immigration Nationality: 1st time Western Hemisphere to be included

Question 19

Shifting attitudes 1941-80

Answer 19

Hostility among public 
Govt more likely to restrict 
Liberal politicians more likely to accept: vary/ diversify pop
Bad economy blamed on immigrants 
1980s: control immigration 'nativism'

Question 20

Mariel Boat Exodus

Answer 20

Mariel Boat Exodus: Cuban communist dictator allowed 1000s of Cubans to get on board and sail to Florida: Castro allowed jails to be emptied onto US boats