Question 1 (Document-Based Question): 55 minutes
Suggested Reading period: 15 minutes
Suggested writing period: 40 minutes
Directions: Question 1 is based on the accompanying documents. The documents have been edited for
the purpose of this exercise. You are advised to spend 15 minutes reading and planning and 45 minutes
writing your answer.
Write your responses on the lined pages that follow the question.
In your response you should do the following:
 State a relevant thesis that directly addresses all parts of the question.
 Support the thesis or a relevant argument with evidence from all, or all but one, of the
documents.
 Incorporate analysis of all, or all but one, of the documents into your argument.
 Focus your analysis of each document on at least one of the following: intended audience,
purpose, historical context, and/or point of view.
 Support your argument with analysis of historical examples outside the documents
 Connect historical phenomena relevant to your argument to broader events or processes.
 Synthesize the elements above into a persuasive essay that extends your argument, connects it to
a different historical context, or accounts for contradictory evidence on the topic.
1. Compare and Contrast the extent of nativism in America and the views against immigrants by
American citizens in the 1840’s-1850’s to the 1910’s-1920’s
Document 1
Source: City of Unbrotherly Love: Violence in Nineteenth-Century Philadelphia
(The Historical Society of Philadelphia), published after 1975
“Our whole community was excited to an ungovernable pitch, by a most bloody and terrible
riot, which occurred in the district of Kensington. We have never heard of a transaction in
our city in which so much savage feeling and brutal ferocity were displayed.” So declared
one of the pronativist pamphlets circulated after the riots of 1844, in which anti-immigrant
and anti-Catholic forces engaged in violence against Irish residents and burned two
Catholic churches in the neighborhoods of Southwark and Kensington.1 Describing an
“indiscriminate fight” involving the throwing of brickbats and stones, the writer declared,
“We have never heard of a transaction in our city in which so much savage feeling and
brutal ferocity were displayed.”
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE.
Document 2
Source: Know-nothing Party Platform (1856) American Platform of Principles adopted at
Philadelphia, Thursday, February 21, 1856
“3. Americans must rule America, and to this end native-born citizens should be selected for all State,
Federal, and municipal offices of government employment, in preference to all others. Nevertheless,
…
7. The recognition of the right of native-born and naturalized citizens of the United States, permanently
residing in any Territory thereof, to frame their constitution and laws, and to regulate their domestic
and social affairs in their own mode, subject only to the provisions of the Federal Constitution, with the
privilege of admission into the Union whenever they have the requisite population for one
Representative in Congress: Provided, always, that none but those who are citizens of the United States,
under the Constitution and laws thereof, and who have a fixed residence in any such territory, ought to
participate in the formation of the Constitution, or in the enactment of laws for said Territory or State.”
Document 3
Source: Foreign Miners Act of 1853 license, 1853, U.S. Government
FOREIGN MINERS LICENSE
… County … 1853
This Certifies that
Has this… day of… paid the
Sheriff of … County FOUR
DOLLARS, which entitles
him to labor in the mines of
this states for One Month from
date
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE.
Document 4
Source: Columbus Dispatch, reprinted in Billy Ireland, Billy Ireland, March 4, 1919.
“I.W.W.
Red Flag
Bolshevism
The mad notions of Europe
Anarchy
Un-American Ideals”
Document 5
Source: Advertisement in New York Times, 1851
“GROCERY CART AND HARNESS FOR SALE – In good order, and one chestnut horse, 8 years
old excellent saddle horse; can be ridden by a lady. Also, young man wanted, from 16-18 years of
age, able to w…No Irish need apply. CLUFF & TUNIS, No. 270 Washington st. Corner of
Myrtle-av., Brooklyn”
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE.
Document 6
Source: Hiram Wesley Evans “The Klan’s Fight for Americanism”, Speech,
The North American Review, March 1926
“…And we deny that either bigotry or prejudice enters into our intolerance or our narrowness. We are
intolerant of everything that strikes at the foundations of our race, our country, or our freedom of
worship. We are narrowly opposed to the use of anything alien race, loyalty to any foreign power or to
any religion whatever as a means to win political power. We are prejudiced against any attempt to use
the privileges and opportunities which aliens hold only through our generosity as levers to force us to
change our civilization, to wrest from us control of our own country, to exploit us for the benefit of any
foreign power religious or secular and especially to use America as a tool or cat’s paw for the
advantage of any side in the hatreds and quarrels of the Old World. This is our intolerance; based on
the sound instincts which have saved us many times from the follies of the intellectuals. We admit it.
More and worse, we are proud of it…”
Document 7
Source: Statistic of number of immigrants entering the United States between 1820-1950
END OF DOCUMENTS FOR QUESTION 1
DBQ Notes
Prompt: Compare and Contrast American’s views toward immigration and the extent of Nativism
against immigrants into the United States in the 1840’s-1850’s to the 1910’s-1920’s
SCORING NOTES
Thesis: Possible thesis statements could include the following.
 A large feeling of Nativism felt during these two eras, but targeted toward different racial
groups (1840’s-1850’s directed toward Germans and Irish and out West the Chinese, and the
1910’s-1920’s against Germans, Communist leaning-foreigners, radicals, anarchists, fascists,
Italians, and anyone who seemed “Unamerican”)
 A larger group of people targeted in the 1910’s-1920’s opposed to the 1840’s-1850’s
 A prevailing sentiment of racism and nativism in both eras
 A large influx of immigration because of the need of laborers and conflict abroad
 Link to economic, political, and social pressures and the types of people who felt these
Nativist sentiments
Analysis of Documents
As explained in the scoring notes, to earn full credit for analyzing documents, responses must include
at least one of the following for all or all but one of the documents: intended audience, purpose,
historical context, author’s point of view. Although examples of these elements are listed below,
these examples of analysis must explicitly be used in support of a stated thesis or a relevant
argument.
Document 1
Source: City of Unbrotherly Love: Violence in Nineteenth-Century Philadelphia, an article published
by The Historical Society of Philadelphia, published after 1975
·
Intended Audience: Readers of the article, American public in the contemporary era
·
Purpose : To inform on the hatred and poor treatment Catholics and Irish experienced during
the mid-1800s
·
Historical Context: Due to the Potato Famine in Ireland, there was an influx of Catholic Irish
Immigrants. They were welcomed by factory owners because of the growth of industry during this
time, but clashed with Protestants in America because of their religious differences. Such religious
conflicts are seen by the Philadelphia Nativist Riots.
·
Authors POV: The author introduces an account of anti-Irish sentiment by introducing an
event described by both the Nativists and Irish's point of view. The author describes the riots and
fights with a sense of surprise, shock, and disgust. It portrays the reality of hatred felt during the mid1800s. Author does not place the blame of the riots towards any specific group or race, thus making
the author unbiased.
Document 2
Source: Know-nothing Party Platform (1856) American Platform of Principles adopted at
Philadelphia, Thursday, February 21, 1856
·
Intended Audience: American public considering joining the new offshoot of the Whig party
in election of 1856
·
Purpose: Explain party platform as well as state their ideals for what is best for America.
·
Historical Context: The Know Nothing party was a nationalist party that was in favor of
preserving the idea that “America is for Americans” and should only be run by Americans. Strong
nationalism was felt among American citizens especially after The United States had begun to
acquire more land and more immigrants began to immigrate to the U.S. In the election of 1856 the
Know-Nothings received 23% of the popular vote speaking toward their popularity.
·
Authors POV: This was written by white Americans with a strong sense of nationalism and
resented immigrants because there were so many immigrants coming to cities in search of jobs. The
author most likely is Anti-Catholic and finds that Irish in politics will be influenced by the Catholic
Church and the pope, for Temperance, and a large supporter of Nativism.
Document 3
Source: The United States Government, a picture of the Foreign Miners Act of 1853 license, 1853.
·
Intended Audience: Foreign miners seeking work within the United States
·
Purpose: To inform the county in which the foreign miners are working that the miners are
certified to work in their area for a certain amount of time and are protected from deportation.
·
Historical Context: The Chinese were one of the first groups of foreigners to migrate out
west and many worked in mines. This migration of Chinese to the west caused California to pass the
Foreign Miner's Tax in 1852. This tax aimed for the Chinese made them pay a high price to work,
driving them out and reflect the growing competition and opposition to Chinese from Whites
migrating out West in search of Manifest Destiny and looking for fortune in events such as the Gold
Rush of 1849. The Chinese usually ran successful small businesses that increased white racism and
hatred.
·
Authors POV: To create a license targeted specifically for foreigners. The fact that the US
Governments made this license reflects that it is not supportive immigrant labor in America, since the
license states that the miner is to only work in the state for only one month and targets people who
are not Americans. However, the author recognizes the importance of the foreign working force with
the establishment of this license.
Document 4
Source: Columbus Dispatch, reprinted in Billy Ireland, Billy Ireland, March 4, 1919.
·
Intended Audience: the “100% Americans” (e.g. Anglo Protestant Native-Born Americans)
who oppose foreigners and the radical ideals they bring with them, nativists.
·
Purpose: To convince natives and the “100% Americans” to oppose foreigners in legislature
and in society. Targets and vilifies European immigrants.
·
Historical Context: America foreign policy at the time was isolationism due to the
devastation of World War 1 and its destruction (Anarchist, Radicals, Assassination of Franz
Ferdinand, German Kaiser Wilhelm, Russian Bolshevism and Revolution of 1917, “Axis of Evil).
The Author represents Americans reaction to the conflict in Europe and its possible side effects of
the radical union of the I.W.W., the “Red Flag” of Communism and the Bolshevist Revolution, its
“Anarchy”, “Un-American Ideals”, and “the mad notions of Europe”. America was considered “the
world’s melting pot” with the largest influx of immigrants ever in history to the US.
·
Authors POV: Anti-foreigners and immigrants, an isolationist and most likely oppose to
entering World War 1 and for legislature (e.g. National Origins Act of 1921 & 1924) restricting
immigration. The author most likely opposes the “World’s Melting Pot” idea of the United States and
hopes to rid the “scum” (foreigners) from America.
Document 5
Source: An advertisement in the New York Times, 1851.
·
Intended Audience: The readers of the New York Times, young men laborers also looking
for a labor horse.
·
Purpose: To advertise a horse and a young man needed for labor, but specifically a man who
is not of Irish descent.
·
Historical Context: Irish and German immigrants experienced hostility because of religious
and political differences. Most immigrants in cities supported the Democrats because they supported
rights for commoners, while many Protestant upper-class whites favored Republicans. Furthermore,
the competition for low paying jobs also contributed to the hatred, which resulted in riots in NorthEastern Industrial Cities.
·
Authors POV: Looking for business unless of Irish descent. Is against people of Irish or
German descent because Anti-Catholic and Nativist. A business owner looking for labor of
American-natives. Most likely Republican leaning. Probably for Temperance.
Document 6
Source: Hiram Wesley Evans “The Klan’s Fight for Americanism”, Speech, The North American
Review, March 1926
·
Intended Audience: Northerners opposed foreigners due to the increase of foreigners in
wartime jobs for WW1 and immigrants escaping conflict in Europe. Also people who are in favor of
the nationalistic ideology of the KKK
·
Purpose: To spread the KKK’s ideals and influence people in the North to support or even
join the KKK. To persuade the audience.
·
Historical Context: The KKK experienced a rebirth during the 1910’s-1920’s and began to
influence the North as well as the South, where it had much influence during the Reconstruction. The
KKK usually gains the most support when minorities push for more rights (e.g Reconstruction, WW1
rights and increase jobs for minorities, Civil Rights movement). During this era blacks as well as
catholic foreigners, Jews, communist and anyone not “100% American” were targeted.
·
Authors POV: Previously, the Klan was more secretive and shunned by the public. A public
speech given shows more public support, thus this author is publicly supported. North American
Review shows new support in North.
Document 7
Source: United States Government, a statistic of the number of immigrants entering the United
States, 1820-1950
·
Intended Audience: American public looking to find information based on statistical fact on
immigration to the US
·
Purpose: to show the trend of immigration and the change in the numbers of immigrants over
time between 1820-1950 in the United States using statistics
·
Historical Context: An increase of immigration the years between 1840s-1850s due to
increase need for industrial laborers due to The Industrial Revolution and mechanization and
conflicts in Europe such as the Revolutions of 1848 and the Potato Famine in Ireland. Then from this
a reaction by American society to cut off immigration resulting in a sharp decline in immigrants to
the United States due to Nativism in religion, politics, and in jobs. Also the largest increase in
immigration between the 1900’s-1910’s due to conflict and economic turmoil in Europe and a sharp
decrease due to Isolationist sentiments after the horrors of World War 1 and the increase fear of
communism reflected in the Red Scare. A sharp decrease of immigrants to the US during the 1910’s1920’s continuing until the 1940’s because of a reaction toward the largest ever recorded amount of
immigrants in the U.S. with the passage of the Immigration Restriction Act of 1921 and Immigration
Act of 1924.
·
Authors POV: unbiased, a statistical representation
Analysis of outside examples to support thesis/argument: possible examples of information not
found in the documents that could be used to support the stated thesis or a relevant argument could
include the following.
 Revolutions of 1848
 Economic Depression in Europe, mid-19 Century
 Industrial Revolution in United States, 19 Century
 Potato Famine, 1849
 Chinatowns
 Communist Regime, and Bolshevik Revolution of 1917
 National Origins Act of 1921 and 1924
th
th
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
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
No Irish Need Apply signs, 19 Century
The addition of American territory in the 19 Century attracting immigrants
Radicalization of Europe
World War 1 and Americas revert to isolationism
Gentlemen's Agreement
Immigration Restriction League
Contextualization: Students can earn a point for contextualization by accurately and explicitly
connecting historical phenomena relevant to the argument to broader historical events and/or
processes. These historical phenomena may include, but are not limited to, the following.
 Rise of racism/discrimination rooted from racial differences
 Political policies favoring white Americans were created in fear of immigrants influence and
fear of sharing status with immigrants
 Rise of isolationist feelings
 Rise of hate groups specifically the KKK in the United States against immigrants
 Fear of foreign influences such as Communist and totalitarian ideas affecting American
society and citizens - The Red Scare, Cold War
 Continuation and enforcement of the “white supremacy” image within society
Synthesis: Essays can earn the point for synthesis by crafting a persuasive and coherent essay. This
can be accomplished providing a conclusion that extends or modifies the analysis in the essay, by
using disparate and sometimes contradictory evidence from primary and/or secondary sources to
craft a coherent argument, or by connecting to another historical period or context. Examples could
include, but are not limited to, the following.
 Link first Red Scare of early 20 Century after World War I to the Second Red Scare after
World War II
 Large influx of immigration in late 20 Century to the 21th Century
 Compare KKK animosity towards foreign immigrants in the 1840s -50s to the clans
animosity towards the African Americans who took part in the great migration during the
early 1900s
 September 11, 2001 terrorist attack caused the Rights to have an anti-immigrant stance. In
fear of Islamists and Arabs.
 Link the restriction of immigration from Mexico into the U.S. through Arizona in 2011 in
fear that jobs and opportunities for Americans would be taken to the Immigration Act of
1924
 Link the passage of the passage of California’s Proposition 187 in 1994, which denied
schooling and medical care to all illegal immigrants, but specifically aimed towards illegal
Mexicans and Latin Americans.
th
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available, and thus riots such as the Philadelphia Riot which were frequent on attacks on
immigrants that were “savage” and “brutal”, reflecting the excessiveness of nativism and
violence against immigrants especially because they were Catholic unlike the majority of
Americans that were Protestant (Doc. 1) . This momentum in influence along with their religious
affiliations and use of alcohol caused the rise of nativist parties such as the “Know-Nothing”
party that felt “Americans must rule America” and supported protestantism and temperance
(Doc. 2). The “Know-Nothing” Party acquired almost 25% of the American popular vote in the
election of 1856 which emulates their wide popularity especially due to their exclusion of
immigrants. The “Know-Nothing” Party platform recognizes, with events such as the acquisition
of territory by the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo in the Mexican-American War and the
exponential settling of the Louisiana Territory with movements such as Manifest Destiny that
pushed Americans to the unknown West in search of monetary success, that they should address
the new governments set up in new territories and how immigrants should not be incorporated
into these new governments. The large group of Americans that settled out West and interacted
with new types of immigrants brought their nativist inclinations out with them. For example, the
California Gold Rush of 1849 attracted both American natives and immigrants, such as the
Chinese, in search of success. With Chinese competition, among other foreigners, native-born
citizens used legislature such as the Foreign Miners Act of 1853 that required all foreigners to
acquire a license to work as a miner to target non-Americans (Doc. 3). Chinese especially had
fared well out in the West with their specialist small business, but were ultimately exiled due to
their competition and success and thus retreated in their own communities called Chinatowns.
The feeling of nativism and racism was omnipresent in American Society. During the 1840s-
1850s the United States experienced one its largest influx of immigrants and the American public
reacted to that with violence, ostracization, and legislature to combat immigration (Doc. 7).
The 20th Century experienced another surge of new immigrants which gave rise to
another era of American nativism (Doc. 7). The United States experienced the largest entrance of
immigrants in the 20th Century before 1950 and with events such as World War 1, which
erupted in 1914 in Europe, the American public retreated to isolationism, conservatism feeling
that reflected in nativism. The citizens of the United States had throughout its history
experienced a large amount of immigrants and was considered “the World’s Melting Pot”
however during this time with the apparent dismemberment of European society - with events
such as assassinations like Duke Franz Ferdinand, World War I, and the Bolshevik Revolution America decided to isolate themselves and ultimately isolate immigrants that could possibly
bring radical ideals and the “mad notions of Europe” (Doc. 4). American citizens truly felt that
these immigrants with strange customs and language were the “scum” of the “World’s Melting
Pot” which is America. Additionally, during the Mid-19th Century the Industrial Revolution was
in its infancy and in World War 1 people were needed to make war supplies. Even
establishments such as the Klu Klux Klan who in the beginning targeted African American but
then increased their attacks on any people that are not 100% American and were of alien race
(Doc. 6). The KKK experienced more support in the North and actually had its highest number
of supporters in Indiana. With the entrance of World War I, the rise of the number of immigrants
and their movement into wartime jobs, the KKK began to target Catholic Foreigners, Jews,
Communists, and anyone not “100% American”. The fact that the a klansmen was giving a
public speech shows that the KKK and their ideals had wide, public support, thus showing that
people agreed with their Nativist views. Additionally during World War 1, people began to the
communist influence with the Bolshevik Revolution which instigated the First Red Scare in the
1920’s. Many Americans began to introspectively find comfort and sought this with the passage
of legislation such as the National Origins Act of 1921 and 1924 that decreased immigration to
as low as 2%. With the shock and horrors of the arduous war of attrition, people became
disillusioned with foreign influence thus creating drastic Nativism in the 1910’s-1920’s.
Both eras were marked by an augmentation of immigration that other eras of lesser Nativism
had not experienced. Although the first era directed its nativist inclinations to primarily the
Chinese, Germans and Irish, and the second era directed its racism to a multitude of different
races due to the technological advances of larger communication and better transportation into
the United States, they both felt inclined to target Germans and Catholics. German immigration
was predominant in the 1840’s-1850’s and Catholic Irish were singled out in jobs by “NINA”
(No Irish Need Apply) signs (Document 5). In the 1910’s-1920’s, Catholics were targeted by the
KKK and Germans were especially ostracized because they were seen as the primary enemy of
World War 1. Both eras found a heightened amount of immigrants because of the industrial jobs
that were accessible to them. Additionally, both eras experienced an influx of immigration due to
hardships back in Europe, although both periods of immigration ended for separate reasons. The
1840’s-1850’s was a time of political, economical, and social turmoil that differed for the United
States’ atmosphere at the time, and the 1910’s-1920’s also experienced that same parallel
structure.
American is a country built on immigration, but time and time contradicts itself with its
nativist inclinations although all Americans are essentially immigrants. During the period
between 1840’s-1850’s the United States suffered one of its bouts of nativism due to the surge of
new immigrants, and their political and social differences from an “average” Anglo-Protestant
American and their economic competition with “native” Americans. At this time Germans and
Irish Catholics were severely targeted. During 1910’s-1920’s nativism reached another peak due
to the turmoil of Europe, especially with World War 1, the large surge of immigrants.
Americans reacted by being an isolationist country and any “non-Americans” were targeted by
such institutions as the KKK. Immigrants have always been a topic of discussion in America and
nativist inclinations have always been suggested by some even in the current age. The United
States experienced a Second Red Scare and feeling of aversion to anyone not “American” after
the Second World War that reflected similarly to these two eras discussed. Similarly to the mid19th Century and the early 20th Century, there was a tremendous increase of immigrants, mostly
Latinos and Asians that pooled from new sections of the globe, to the United States in the late
20th Century to 21th Century which far surpassed both eras combined. Although in more modern
times there was much a large amount of immigrants than before, there was more legislature such
as the Immigration Reform Act of 1965 and political movements such as the United Farm
Workers which fought for immigrants labor conditions that greatly decreased, but did not end,
discriminations and feelings of nativism in the United States. Nonetheless nativism has had a
strong influence in American society, especially in these two eras that share commonalities and
stark differences.