What role did nativism play in federal policy?
(1 point)
Responses
Concern for immigrants' children led to increased public education funding.
Concern for immigrants' children led to increased public education funding.
Concern about living conditions led to construction of public housing.
Concern about living conditions led to construction of public housing.
Concern about conditions in factories led to more rights for immigrant workers.
Concern about conditions in factories led to more rights for immigrant workers.
Concern over cultural differences led to more restrictive immigration laws.
The correct answer is: Concern over cultural differences led to more restrictive immigration laws.
Nativism refers to the policy or ideology that promotes the interests and rights of native-born inhabitants over those of immigrants. In the context of federal policy, nativism played a role in addressing concerns over cultural differences, which resulted in the enactment of more restrictive immigration laws.
To understand this, you can examine historical trends and legislative actions. Nativism emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States as a response to increased immigration, particularly from countries in Southern and Eastern Europe. Many native-born Americans feared the impact of these newcomers on American culture, values, and social fabric.
As a result, federal policies were enacted to restrict immigration and address these concerns. One of the most notable examples is the Immigration Act of 1924, also known as the National Origins Act. This law established strict quotas based on nationality, favoring immigrants from Western European countries while severely limiting immigration from Southern and Eastern European nations. These quotas were intended to preserve what nativists saw as the "traditional" American culture.
By understanding the historical context and the underlying concerns, you can see how nativism influenced federal policy to enact more restrictive immigration laws in response to cultural differences and the desire to preserve a certain cultural identity.