"We must give this proof of our sincere friendship for the Chinese people. It is not only a matter of justice; it is a matter of vital war strategy. The enemy is constantly telling the Chinese people that the United States is a nation of white supremacists who will never treat them as equals... By repealing these laws, we will show our allies that we regard them as partners in our struggle for freedom, and we will silence the propaganda of our adversaries."
— President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Message to Congress, 1943
Which of the following wartime objectives most directly motivated the legislative change advocated by President Roosevelt in the excerpt?
- Countering enemy propaganda and strengthening wartime alliancesAnswer
- BReversing a policy of absolute neutrality to form the nation's first military alliance in East Asia
- CExpanding New Deal public works agencies to guarantee jobs for Chinese immigrants
- DFulfilling a consensus among major labor unions to eliminate all racial barriers in hiring
Answer
Countering enemy propaganda and strengthening wartime alliances
The correct answer is correct because President Roosevelt explicitly states in the excerpt that the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Acts is a 'vital war strategy' meant to counter enemy propaganda that depicted the United States as white supremacist. By taking this step, the U.S. aimed to strengthen its alliance with China, which was a critical partner in the Pacific theater of the war.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The social and political impacts of World War II mobilization on minority groups and wartime alliances