Question

demonstrate basic reading comprehension in any language. it also increased the power paid by new immigrants upon arrival and allowed immigration officials to exercise more discretion in making decisions over whom to exclude. finally, it excluded from entry anyone born in a geographically defined \asiatic barred zone,\ except for filipinos and japanese. the philippines was a united states colony, so its citizens were already american nationals and could travel freely to the united states. immigration from japan was already restricted through an informal agreement between the american and japanese governments known as the \gentlemens agreement\. although world war i had slowed immigration from europe to the united states, it began to rebound following the conclusion of the war in 1918. among those leading the resurgence were refugees from the russian revolution, the armenian genocide, and the collapse of the italian economy. these immigrants were often members of the eastern orthodox or roman catholic churches, not the type of christianity practiced by the protestant majority in the united states. this wave of immigrants also included many jews fleeing persecution; between 1910 and 1920, more than 2 million jewish immigrants from russia and eastern europe entered the united states. many of these immigrants practiced a conservative, traditional form of judaism that made them distinct from their neighbors, leading to accusations from some native - born americans that these newcomers could never assimilate to an american way of life. many white americans at the time embraced the beliefs of eugenicists, practitioners of a pseudo - science which claimed that certain physical characteristics indicated superiority of intellect and morals. eugenicists like madison grant, who wrote the passing of the great race in 1916, influenced the american attitude towards immigration. \to admit the unchangeable differentiation of race in its modern scientific meaning is to admit inevitably the existence of superiority in one race and of inferiority in another,\ grant wrote. the anglo - saxon branch of the nordic race is again showing itself to be that which the nation must chiefly depend for leadership, for courage, for loyalty, unity and harmony of action. in addition, demobilization after world war i had led to increased competition for jobs and growing unemployment throughout the united states. as had happened in the 1870s, economic concerns combined with ethnic prejudice to create public demand for restricting immigration. closing the gate the emergency quota act of 1921 established the nations first numerical limits on the number of immigrants who could enter the united states. the immigration act of 1924, also known as the national origins act, made the quotas permanent. these country - by - country limits were specifically designed to keep out \undesirable\ ethnic groups and maintain americas character as a nation of northern and western european stock. the final quota levels were based on the ratio of different ethnic groups that had existed in the united states. definition (noun) the power or right to decide something. in 1917, russian revolutionaries overthrew czar nicholas ii, beginning a fierce civil war in which at least 10 million people died. in 1915 and 1916, the government of the ottoman empire carried out a program of murder and deportation against armenians, a minority ethnic group within the empire. conservative estimates place the deaths at 600,000 to more than 1 million armenians. after wwi, italy suffered inflation and massive debts. by 1920, the economy was failing, plagued by mass unemployment, food shortages, and strikes. definition (verb) to be absorbed into or become part of a group, particularly when adopting the behaviors and norms of another culture. definition a prefix meaning before, in front of, or prior. definition (noun) a perceivable difference between two things. definition (noun) referring to the germanic inhabitants of england from their arrival in the 5th century up to the norman conquest in the 11th century. definition (noun) people of denmark, norway, sweden, finland, iceland, and the faroe islands. definition the act of a country releasing a large number of its troops from military service after a conflict has ended. paragraph 4 find evidence: highlight the historical factor that allowed congress to tighten immigration laws in 1917. paragraphs 5 - 7 a. write: what two traits did the majority of immigrants during this period have in common? b. write: in your own words, what did eugenicists believe? c. think & share: what historical pattern do you see in american attitudes towards immigration?

Explanation:

• Paragraph 4: World War I and its aftermath, including economic concerns and social - scientific ideas like eugenics, influenced Congress to tighten immigration laws in 1917.
• Paragraphs 5 - 7 A: Immigrants during this period were often from non - Protestant religious backgrounds (Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, or Jewish) and were fleeing persecution or economic hardships.
• Paragraphs 5 - 7 B: Eugenecists believed in the superiority of certain physical characteristics which indicated intellectual and moral superiority, and they thought some races were inherently superior to others.
• Paragraphs 5 - 7 C: American attitudes towards immigration often show a pattern of nativism, fear of the "other", and a desire to maintain a certain ethnic and cultural makeup of the nation, especially in times of economic stress or social upheaval.

Answer:

• Paragraph 4: World War I, economic concerns, and eugenic ideas.
• Paragraphs 5 - 7 A: Non - Protestant religious background, fleeing persecution or economic hardship.
• Paragraphs 5 - 7 B: Certain physical characteristics indicate intellectual and moral superiority; some races are inherently superior.
• Paragraphs 5 - 7 C: Nativism, fear of the "other", and desire to maintain ethnic and cultural makeup during economic stress or social upheaval.