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Difficulty: HardSocial and Political Controversies of the 1920s

"We have today in the United States a large number of people who have not been assimilated... They live in colonies of their own, speak their own languages, and maintain their own customs. More dangerously, many of them bring with them the destructive doctrines of anarchy and bolshevism, which threaten the very foundations of our constitutional republic. If we do not close the gates, or at least restrict their entry to those who can truly become Americans, we risk the destruction of our institutions from within."

—Representative John C. Box, congressional debate on immigration restriction, 1921

Which of the following developments of the 1920s is most directly reflected in the sentiments expressed in the excerpt?

  1. The convergence of anti-immigrant nativism and postwar anxieties over political radicalismAnswer
  2. B
    A growing belief that the United States must abandon its unilateralist foreign policy to intervene in European affairs
  3. C
    The emergence of an agrarian-led Populist coalition seeking federal regulation of industrial monopolies
  4. D
    A strict application of laissez-faire principles that prevented the federal government from regulating the national labor supply

Answer

The convergence of anti-immigrant nativism and postwar anxieties over political radicalism
The correct answer is correct because the speaker's concerns about foreign languages, customs, anarchy, and bolshevism directly show the merging of nativist anxieties about immigrant assimilation with Red Scare fears of political radicalism. This dual fear motivated Congress to pass the Emergency Quota Act of 1921 and later the National Origins Act of 1924, representing a major shift in U.S. immigration policy.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the source text to identify the speaker's main arguments and concerns.
The speaker argues that immigrants from specific groups are not assimilating (maintaining their own languages and customs) and are bringing radical political ideologies ('anarchy and bolshevism') that threaten the nation.
Identifying the explicit claims in the source is the first step in linking it to broader historical themes.
2
Situate the source within its correct historical context of the early 1920s.
The debate takes place in 1921, directly following World War I and the First Red Scare, a period marked by intense nativist sentiment and political fears of foreign radicalism.
Historical contextualization helps connect the specific document to wider societal trends and legislative outcomes of the era.
3
Evaluate the choices to determine which development is directly reflected in the speaker's arguments.
The correct option aligns with the dual focus of the excerpt: nativism (assimilation concerns) and political radicalism (anarchy and bolshevism).
Comparing the options ensures the selected answer is supported by the historical details in both the source and the era.

Key Concept

The intersection of nativism and the First Red Scare in the early 1920s, which culminated in restrictive federal immigration legislation.
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Topics

Social and Political Controversies of the 1920s

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