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Describe two problems faced by immigrants to America in the 1920s. - AQA - GCSE History - Question 4 - 2020 - Paper 1
Question 4
Describe two problems faced by immigrants to America in the 1920s.
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Describe two problems faced by immigrants to America in the 1920s. - AQA - GCSE History - Question 4 - 2020 - Paper 1
Step 1
Problem 1: Fear of Communism
Answer
One significant problem was that many Americans feared that immigrants from Eastern Europe could bring communist ideas into the country. This fear was particularly heightened during the Red Scare, which led to widespread suspicion and paranoia. Innocent immigrants were often mistakenly associated with radical ideologies and became targets of persecution, often being suspected of being communists without substantial evidence.
Step 2
Problem 2: Immigration Restrictions
Answer
Another major issue faced by immigrants was the imposition of strict immigration quotas. During the 1920s, the U.S. government passed laws that severely limited the number of immigrants who could enter the country. This was done through acts like the Immigration Act of 1924, which aimed to maintain the demographic status quo in America and favored immigrants from Northern and Western Europe while effectively barring those from Eastern and Southern Europe and other regions.