Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumSocial and Political Controversies of the 1920s

"It seems to me the point as to this measure... is that the time has arrived when we should shut the door. We have admitted enough to preserve the standard of America... We do not want to tangle the skein of America’s progress by keeping on introducing elements that are difficult to assimilate, if not impossible to assimilate, into our population... Let us keep the immigration of the nation to those who can become part of us, who can assimilate with us, and who can help us carry on the great work of building up the republic."

— Senator Ellison DuRant Smith, speech in Congress, April 1924

Which of the following developments in the early twentieth century most directly contributed to the political debate described in the excerpt?

  1. The shifting demographics of immigration, characterized by an influx of arrivals from Southern and Eastern EuropeAnswer
  2. B
    The push to establish formal military alliances and mutual defense treaties with Western European nations
  3. C
    The mobilization of rural agrarian alliances demanding federal regulation of industrial monopolies
  4. D
    The deployment of containment policies to counter the global expansion of Soviet political influence

Answer

The shifting demographics of immigration, characterized by an influx of arrivals from Southern and Eastern Europe
The correct answer is correct because the nativist movement and the passage of the Immigration Act of 1924 (Johnson-Reed Act) were direct responses to the changing demographics of American immigration. From the late nineteenth century through the early 1920s, millions of 'New Immigrants' arrived from Southern and Eastern Europe. Nativists expressed deep anxiety about their ability to assimilate into American culture and society, prompting calls to 'shut the door' and establish restrictive national-origin quotas.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus context and the author's argument.
Senator Smith argues for 'shutting the door' on immigration to prevent the introduction of elements that are 'difficult to assimilate' and to preserve the 'standard of America.' This reflects the nativist sentiment of the 1920s.
Understanding the core argument of the source helps identify the historical development to which the author is responding.
2
Identify the historical event or trend that triggered this argument.
The debate culminated in the National Origins Act (Immigration Act of 1924), which set strict quotas to limit immigration, particularly from Southern and Eastern Europe, who were perceived by nativists as culturally different and unassimilable compared to earlier Northern and Western European immigrants.
Linking the document to its specific historical context reveals the demographic shifts that generated nativist backlash.
3
Evaluate the options against the identified context.
The option concerning shifting demographics from Southern and Eastern Europe aligns directly with the anti-immigration debate of the 1920s, while the other options refer to foreign policy alliances, late-nineteenth-century agrarian movements, or post-World War II containment policies.
Selecting the option that matches the cause of 1920s nativism ensures the correct answer choice.

Key Concept

Nativism and Immigration Restriction in the 1920s

Hints

1
Consider what group of people Senator Smith is referring to when he mentions elements that are 'difficult to assimilate' in 1924.

Practice More

Review the details of the Emergency Quota Act of 1921 and the National Origins Act of 1924 to understand how they restricted immigration.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Rate this question

Topics

Social and Political Controversies of the 1920s

More questions from this topic