The impact of immigration, 1917–80: the nature of, and response to,…

The idea

This topic examines immigration to the USA and its effects from 1917 to 1980. In the 1920s, legislation such as the Emergency Quota Act 1921 and the Johnson-Reed Act 1924 restricted immigration, reflecting nativist and racist attitudes. Between 1919 and 1941, immigrants shaped urban life, forming ethnic neighbourhoods and contributing to industrial work, while also facing discrimination and assimilation pressures. The Second World War brought new government policies, including the Bracero Program for Mexican workers and the internment of Japanese Americans, with lasting consequences. From 1941 to 1980, government policy shifted with the McCarran-Walter Act 1952 and the Immigration and Nationality Act 1965, which ended national origins quotas and increased immigration from Asia and Latin America, transforming urban demographics and sparking debates over integration and multiculturalism.

What earns the marks

• Explains the nature of immigration in the 1920s, including the shift from open immigration to restrictive quotas based on national origins, and the responses of nativist groups and eugenicists.
• Analyses the impact of immigration on urban life between 1919 and 1941, such as the growth of ethnic enclaves, changes in housing and employment, and tensions with existing residents.
• Assesses the impact of the Second World War on immigration, including labour shortages that led to programmes like the Bracero Program and the forced relocation and internment of Japanese Americans.
• Judges the extent to which immigration changed American society by 1980, considering economic contributions, cultural diversity, social tensions and political debates over assimilation and multiculturalism.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Assuming that immigration was unrestricted throughout the period.

  Put it right: Explain the impact of quota laws in the 1920s and later policy changes that both restricted and liberalised immigration.

• Overlooking the experiences of specific groups, such as Mexican and Japanese immigrants during the Second World War.

  Put it right: Include the Bracero Program and Japanese American internment as key examples of wartime policy and its consequences.

• Treating the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act as immediately creating a fully multicultural society.

  Put it right: Recognise that it ended national origins quotas but its full demographic effects unfolded over subsequent decades.

Exam tips

• Structure answers around the specified periods and themes, ensuring coverage of the 1920s, 1919–41, and 1941–80 with specific policies and examples.
• Use precise legislation and events, such as the Johnson-Reed Act 1924, the Bracero Program, and the Immigration and Nationality Act 1965, to support arguments about change and continuity.
• When assessing impact, consider both positive contributions and social tensions, and differentiate between government policy and the lived experiences of immigrants.