USA- Changing attitudes to immigration. Topic 1

This will be the essay you answer at the end of this section… ‘Attitudes towards immigration changed in the 1920s mainly as a result of the effects of the red scare on the United States` How valid is this view? Racial Social Isolationism and WW1 Economic FACTORS

Britain joins WW1 4th August 1914 Do you remember how it started?

100% Americanism Isolationism

Today we will: Understand the first factor in changing attitudes to immigration, Isolationism. “A policy of remaining apart from the affairs or interests of other groups, especially the political affairs of other countries. ” Essential knowledge for essay

Introduction World War One began in 1914, but in the years before this, the USA had followed an ‘isolationist’ foreign policy. K

Recap Pre – war Immigration Control Laws 1882 Federal Immigration Act – convicts, lunatics and paupers restricted from entering 1913 Alien Land Law – ‘forbade ‘aliens’ owning agricultural land in California (then 11 other states followed). Pre – war Immigration Control Laws 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act –prevented Chinese people from entering California 1907 Gentleman’s Agreement –San Francisco authorities segregated Japanese and white American schooling –abandoned after anger in Japan after the agreement that Japanese labourers were denied passports that would allow them to emigrate to the USA

Isolationism Which immigration laws are already in place which support this policy? Why do you think the USA pursued this foreign policy before World War One?

America is isolated geographically from Europe by the Atlantic Ocean, so they did not want to get involved in European affairs.

Isolationism, Neutrality and WW1 America’s initial reaction to the outbreak of war = neutrality –as per the isolationist policy. American’ people were firmly on the side of neutrality, wanted to focus on America. President Woodrow Wilson (1913 – 1921) supported neutrality: He said America should not become involved in Europe’s ‘Civil War.’ He urged Americans to be “impartial in thought as well as action.” Got Wilson another term as president K

Historiography Choose a quote When the war broke out, “shock in the United States gave way to gratitude that an ocean stood between America and the battlefields.” – Historians Tindall and Shi. “Our isolated position and freedom from entangling alliances… inspire our press with cheering assurance that we are in no peril of being drawn into European conflict.” – Literary Digest – US magazine from the time.

America enters the war 2nd April 1917 K March 1917 – German submarines sank five American merchant vessels in the North Atlantic. This was on the back of the sinking of the Lusitania off the coast of Ireland in 1915 when 128 Americans died AND The Zimmermann Telegram in February 1917. A coded telegram sent from Germany to Mexico, intercepted and decoded by Britain. Germany offered an alliance and financial aid to Mexico in case of war between Germany and the USA. If Mexico attacked the USA, it would recover “lost territory” in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.

The End of the War 1918 K Most Americans wanted a return to isolationism, and to withdraw from world affairs.

The League of Nations K Was the idea of Wilson, contained in the 14 points for peace. It was the first permanent international security organisation whose principal mission was to maintain world peace. BUT Wilson faced opposition to the USA joining the League from US politicians. They were afraid that membership of the League of Nations would involve them permanently in the affairs of Europe, or it might soon get dragged into another European war.

The League of Nations Senator Henry Cabot Lodge (leader of the Republican opposition to President Wilson [Democrat]) successfully led the campaign against the League. They argued the decision to go to war should rest solely with the US Congress, not with the League. K Another Republican Senator Borah declared he would vote against the League, even if Jesus Christ returned to earth to argue in it’s favour! The USA did not join the League of Nations, and Wilson’s leadership floundered. K

Historians ask the question – Was immigration restriction a part of isolationism? It could be argued that American attitudes to immigration changed, as part of the larger desire of America to look inwards towards herself and to shun the problem of immigration.

Further emigration laws. The Emergency Quota Act, 1921 restricted immigration to 357,000 per year, also set down a quota - only 3% of the total population of immigrant group already in America in 1910 could come in after 1921. The National Origins Act, 1924 reduced the maximum number of immigrants to 150,000 per year and cut the quota to 2%, based on the population of the USA in 1890. The act was aimed at restricting southern and eastern Europeans immigrants. Also prohibited immigration from Asia. This angered the Chinese and Japanese communities already in America.

Summary Increasing immigration control prior to WW1. Why isolationism? Did not trust Europe – don’t want to be dragged into another war. Geography – the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean surrounding the USA Bad memories after the First World War How was isolationism possible? The USA did not join the League of Nations. Increasing immigration control prior to WW1. Policy escalated after WW1 further tightening immigration control.

Use the following words to create a paragraph using the heading Isolationism as a reason for changing attitudes to immigration.– challenge yourself to add historiography Isolationism was important in changing attitudes towards immigrants… 14 points isolationist President Wilson March 1917 WW1 Civil War

It can be argued that attitudes to immigration changed, as America wanted to isolate herself and as a result severely limit immigration. This policy was already in place prior to WW1 and several acts had already been introduced to limit immigration. When WW1 broke out, America’s foreign policy was isolationism, staying out of European affairs and consequently stay neutral in the war. President Wilson urged Americans not to get involved in Europe’s ‘civil war,’ and many Americans supported isolationism. However when America did enter the war in 1917, it created a lot of tension and resentment towards immigrants. Once the war ended, America was determined to retreated back into isolationism. Firstly they did not join the League of Nations, meaning they were kept out of European politics.

Historians Tindall and Shi argue that American attitudes to immigration changed in the 1920s, as they stated ““shock in the United States gave way to gratitude that an ocean stood between America and the battlefields.” Crucially Some historians argue changing attitudes to immigration were part of isolationism, and restricting immigration was another way to isolate America. Immigration control was increased with the bitter feelings towards immigrants after WW1 and restricted or removed American entry for groups such as Asians under the 1924 quota act. Therefore isolationism played a key role in changing attitudes towards immigration in the 1920s.