The United States had no immigration laws at all until the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. That law was passed in response to a specific set
BOOK EXAM—One Mighty and Irresistible Tide; The Epic Struggle over American Immigration, 1924-1965.
Answer each of these Five Questions in proper English paragraphs of at least 175 words. (That’s an average sized American-English Paragraph) There are no “formatting” requirements as such. Standard English Paragraphs are the format. If you use a quotation from the book a simple page number citation is fine. “(Pg. 92)” You don’t need to cite the author because all of your answers should come from material related to ONLY THIS BOOK. It’s not a research paper and I do not want material from other sources. I don’t care what some other historian, or editor says about this book I want YOUR answers to the questions.
1) The United States had no immigration laws at all until the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. That law was passed in response to a specific set of circumstances and attitudes toward Chinese workers. This book focuses on the second big immigration law in U.S. history; The Immigration Act of 1924. What was the perceived need for this law? And what was the framework which it incorporated in order to lower immigration numbers? How does this law fit in with everything else you know about the 1920s? Does it?
2) The rise of Nazi Germany spurred many European Jews to leave their homelands. The issue of Jewish immigration into the United States was controversial in the Nazi era from 1933-1945. Chapter Three: “A Tragic Bottleneck” discusses the efforts of American Jewish leaders to help people enter the United States. It also discusses the problems, both real and perceived, that President Franklin Roosevelt had to deal with during these years. Historians and Jewish leaders have condemned Roosevelt over his inaction on aiding Jewish refugees in the Nazi Era. Using Chapter Three discuss and explain some of the issues, people, and stereotypes that kept President Roosevelt from opening the doors for Jewish immigration.
3) Chapter Five is largely devoted to the struggle between President Harry Truman and Nevada Senator Pat McCarran. First, explain who McCarran was and why he posed such a serious problem for Truman. Second, explain the differences between the attitudes of these two men toward “Americanism” and Immigration. How did they define Americanism differently? Why were those two attitudes in conflict with one another?
4) Chapters Eight and Nine discuss the actions of the Kennedy and Johnson administrations to change the structure of immigration law away from “National Origins.” What was the problem with using national origins as a framework? What was the alternative proposed by Kennedy and ultimately signed into law during Johnson’s administration? How did this new structure overcome the conservative opposition to increased immigration?
5) The fundamental question addressed by each of the laws discussed in this book was “How do we define American citizenship.” By allowing some people in, and blocking others, the nation’s immigration laws shape the American population. Current debates, proposals and solutions will shape the America of your adult lives. Considering the various systems that have been used, and some of the failed proposals that were made in this book, how do you view immigration into the United States? Is there such a thing as “American Culture?” and can immigration laws protect that culture?
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