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Group 4B
DBQ: Immigration
Prompt: For the years 1880 to 1925, analyze both the tensions surrounding the issue of
immigration and the United States government’s response to these tensions.
The 1880’s through 1920’s was a period known as the Progressive Era for its economic
expansion and political reform. During this time, there was a huge influx of immigration in the
United States due to the post-WWI business boom and promise of freedom. These factors
attracted crowds of Europeans immigrating to America in hopes of escaping their home country
for a better life (Doc. A). While the benefits of sailing the harsh voyage included free education,
land, and the ability to have a say in the political process of democracy, their presence yielded
anti-immigrant movements throughout the North Eastern United States. With the Progressive
era representing a time of economic prosperity, it also marked a period of tension surrounding
the large influx of immigrants eager to participate in the American dream. Increased competition
for jobs, xenophobic nativism, and the criminal stigma attached to immigrants all led to
reactionary laws to limit the influence of these foreigners.
Due to the prominent presence of immigrants, Americans developed a sense of
xenophobia, or the fear of new things. They became increasingly intolerant of foreigners and
continually discriminated against them through political and economic exclusion. Specific cases
included biases against Irish or British when it came for job selection; “No Irish Need Apply”
signs could be seen posted in shop windows to discourage the alcoholic paupers from
contaminating the American workforce. This discrimination gave the Irish reason to become a
part of political machines at Tammany Hall for the purpose of political as well as economic
mobility. Eventually, the United States government passed the Immigration Act of 1924 which
allowed only 3% of the potential immigration population in to America. This illustrates the title
of Document H because limiting the amount of immigrants by such a large percentage seemed
to be “the only way to handle it.”
The immigrants of the late 19th century and early 20th century predominantly came from
Southern and Eastern Europe as well as Asia. This contrasted the “old immigration” of 1776
through 1880 which consisted mostly of Western and Central Europeans. These “new
immigrants” lived in ethnic bubbles within large cities, reinforcing the salad-bowl theory in
which immigrants maintained their culture as opposed to becoming Americanized. In these
isolated establishments, such as Little Italy or Chinatown, cultures continued the practices of
their home countries furthering nativism in surrounding Anglo-American neighborhoods.
Document G provides author Madison Grant’s opinion of the new races in comparison to the
native “blue-eyed, fair-haired” people of Northern Europe. Although other races may have
contributed to society to the best of their abilities, the Anglo-Saxons were still the ones the
majority should’ve relied on for “leadership…courage…[and] unity.” The persistence of these
unfamiliar cultures gave rise to Americans’ fears about immigrant loyalties; this represented a
failure to employ the assimilation technique of transforming immigrant cultures in to a collective
American one.
The division based on cultural differences became solidified when the government
intervened in directly restricting immigration through the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act
(1882). However, immigration policy changed when home countries began to cooperate, such as
Japan, who formed the other half of the “Gentlemen’s agreement” (Doc E). This agreement
restricted the migration of laborers from Japan, in exchange for President Roosevelt to allow the
wives of the Japanese men already living in the U.S. to join them. This settlement along with
Roosevelt’s Great White Fleet improved relations with Japan. Such change resulted from the
segregation of Japanese children in San Francisco schools under California’s strict antiimmigration laws. Despite the cultural and ethnic differences of immigrants, they still wanted to
contribute to American society and participate in the American enterprise.
A constant flow of new immigrants entering the United States fostered competition.
These immigrants sought new jobs and a new life but were welcomed with nativist prejudices.
The National People’s Party expressed their concern for this influx of immigrants by stating in
their platform that they “demand further restriction of undesirable emigration” (Doc C). They
believed this surplus of labor created by the immigrants would challenge the American wageearners. The Foran Act was one of many laws passed to reduce this newfound immigrant labor. It
prohibited American employers from contracting skilled workers from other countries in order to
leave more jobs available to native Americans.
These nativist prejudices also contributed to the early Red Scare and anti-communist
movement as demonstrated in the case of Sacco and Vanzetti. These two Italian anarchists were
accused of committing robbery and murder; despite liberals protests that they were convicted
based on their origins and beliefs, the pair was still executed in 1927. This was just one incidence
that showed the growing animosity and fear of immigrants. Even though these immigrants were
flooding the United States, many immigrants did not reside in the United States forever like the
Italians and Slovaks who returned to their native countries after developing a small fortune
during their stay. Additionally, the large, unskilled and unmarried labor supplied “a volume of
cheap…labor when unemployment [was] brisk” (Doc B). As a result, the United States had a
constant work force contributing to the pre-Depression economic growth.
The majority of immigrants came over from already impoverished backgrounds and
could typically only send one family member at a time. For this reason they became part of the
lower working class in the slums of large cities, furthering anti-immigrant sentiments from
nativists who claimed the immigrants were simply filthy foreigners bringing down the morality
of white American society. Leading African-American figure Booker T. Washington took this
opportunity to appeal to these nativists by comparing the immigrants to the hard-working
African Americans of the rural south. In his Atlanta Compromise speech he emphasized how
white Americans already knew the “habits” of the black workers who were “without strikes or
labour wars” (Doc D). Comparing the two furthered Booker T. Washington’s mission for civil
rights but was slightly ineffective since the majority of immigrants resided in the north and the
majority of African Americans lived in the South.
Despite Washington’s call to abstain from the integration of immigrants in society, they
were still able to find their niche. In some cases they were even able to become part of major
offices, such as the Irish immigrants and “exiles administering the affairs of the metropolis of
New England” (Doc F). However not all immigrants were able to reach such a socioeconomic
status. Many relied on the help of groups such as the YMCA and Salvation Army whose belief
stemmed from the Social Gospel, as opposed to the Social Darwinist view of “every man for
himself.” In addition, Jane Addam’s Hull House offered immigrants a place to live instead of the
usual cheap, claustrophobic tenements. While in its early stages immigration contributed to an
increase in the lower class, it eventually created a melting pot of diverse citizens all eager to
participate in the American way of life.
The immigration of the 1880’s through 1920’s represented a period of economic
prosperity parallel to the struggle of immigrants. The persecution of these immigrants based on
differing cultures furthered the prejudice mentality of white nativists who reaped the economic
benefit of this cheap labor flooding the offices of Ellis Island. The tension created between the
Anglo-Saxons and immigrants who failed to “assimilate” into American culture will continue on
in to the later period of the 20th century with the continuation of the National Origins Act and
other nativist laws. With the Great Depression and WWII around the corner, America will have
to decide whether or not it will finally fight for liberty and justice for all.
Thesis: With the Progressive era representing a time of economic prosperity, it also marked a
period of tension surrounding the large influx of immigrants eager to participate in the American
dream. Increased competition for jobs, xenophobic nativism, and the criminal stigma attached to
immigrants all led to reactionary laws to limit the influence of these foreigners.
Intro
A. Progressive Era economic boom attracts European immigrants
i. Hoped to escape non-democratic home lands and poverty
ii. Document A
I Cultural/Socioeconomic differences
A. Xenophobia: fear of new things applied to immigrants
B. Job discrimination against Irish
i. Resulted in the Irish becoming a part of political machines at Tammany Hall
C. Immigration Act of 1924 set 3% limitation on immigrants
i. Document H
D. “New immigrants” from Southern and Eastern Europe and Asia
i. Resided in ethnic bubbles such as Chinatown and Little Italy
ii. Failed to assimilate in to Americanized culture
E. Caused nativism from surrounding Anglo-Saxons who claimed to be the superior race
i. Document G
II Immigrants taking economic opportunities
A. Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 to limit Chinese workers
B. Gentlemen’s Agreement between Teddy Roosevelt and Japan
i. Ended Japanese immigration except for wives of those already in America
ii. Sparked by segregation of Japanese in San Francisco schools
iii. Document E
C. Surplus of workers increases competition
i. National People’s Party demands restrictions
ii Document C
iii.Foran Act limits number of workers that can enter US, despite previous labor contracts
D. Nativism contributed to early Red Scare
i. Execution of Sacco and Venzetti
E. Immigrants did provide cheap labor and some didn’t stay long
ii. Document B
III Immigrants typically part of the lower, criminal class
A. Booker T. Washington pleads the case for African Americans as loyal workers
ii. Document D
B. Some immigrants found niche in civil service
i. Document F
C. Majority of poor immigrants relied on outside help
i. YMCA, Salvation Arym, and Jane Addam’s Hull House all aided immigrants
Conclusion
A. 188-1920’s a period of economic prosperity parallel to the struggle of immigrants
B. White nativism benefitted from influx of immigrants
i. Nativist attitudes continued well into the 20th century
C. America will have to decide whether or not it will fight for liberty and justice for all.
SFI List (Bolded used)
Bosses
Chinatowns
Americanization
Chinese Exclusion Act
Communists
Red Scare
Ellis Island
Eugenics
Gilded Age
Palmer Raids
Progressive Era
Prohibition
Little Italy
National Origins Act
Jacob Riis
“How the Other Half Lives”
Robber barons
Theodore Roosevelt
Sacco and Vanzetti
Salvation Army
Upton Sinclair
National People’s Party
Foran Act
Social Darwinism
Social Gospel
Tammany Hall
Tenements
“Boss” Tweed
Xenophobia
YMCA
Melting Pot Theory
Salad Bowl Theory
Assimilation
Tuskegee Institute
Atlanta Compromise
Jim Crow
Immigration Act of 1924
Haymarket Square Massacre
Hull House
Nativism
New Immigration
Old Immigration
Document
Category
Significance
A
Lack of tension
surrounding immigration
The United States provided a refuge for immigrants that had
experienced oppressive taxes, compulsory military service,
and tyrant kings.
B
Lack of tension
surrounding immigration
Immigrants, most of whom were young men, offered cheap
unskilled labor in America. There was no threat in this
because most of them returned to their native countries.
Government response
The National People’s Party accused immigrants of harming
American workers, and that criminals could potentially
migrate to the U.S. under policies in 1892.
Tensions surrounding
immigration
Booker T. Washington appealed to nativists in his Atlanta
speech by promoting African-Americans as loyal laborers.
C
D
Government response
Japan cooperated with the United States in the Gentlemen’s
Agreement. The U.S. benefitted by reducing immigrants,
while Japan also benefitted by maintaining their laborers.
F
Lack of tension
surrounding immigration
Immigrants were active participants in government, such as
the Irish in Boston.
G
Tensions surrounding
immigration
Beliefs of Anglo-Saxon superiority led to discrimination of
immigrants.
Government response
The government began to substantially control the large
influx of immigrants from Europe with the “3% gate”
E
H