World War I Dbq

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The years of 1900-1920 were years of the Progressive Era and World War I. After the Civil War, the nation began transforming. Slavery was emancipated, but blacks still struggled finding a place in the country. Immigrants flooded in to get jobs and were hopeful to experience the ‘American Dream.’ Between 1900 and 1915, approximately thirteen to fifteen million immigrants came into the nation. The United States was a nation where opportunities flourished during this time. Although most immigrants planned on residing in the United States for the rest of their life, some immigrants came to establish their presence and planned on returning to their home. Many immigrants came through islands such as Ellis and Angel Island. The majority of the immigrants …show more content…

An autocratic government was when one person held power over all. According to Wilson, autocracy was the reason for the war, and the main issue was that people did not have a voice. Such as, the Espionage Act prohibited the spying or interfering with the government, which according to Eugene Debs, disregarded the principles of the Constitution. Before World War I, women’s suffrage was still being fought. Carrie Chapman Catt was a campaigner for women’s suffrage and she believed that denying women the right to vote violated the principles of a democracy. She thought that men were taking advantage of women in spite of age or education level. Meanwhile, intelligent women trying to make a difference were denied. World War I was seen to tear apart the suffrage movement. Therefore, some women opposed the war, but still kept fighting for a change. During the war, the constant efforts delivered suffrage to …show more content…

Individuals had different reasons for opposing and accepting immigration. According to the ‘Fight of Civil Liberties,’ immigration was a ‘tactic of repression in the United States,’ and “no person should be refused admission to the United States” (pg. 141). Sadly, many people disagreed. The trial of Sacco and Vanzetti was an anti-immigrant trial. Bartolomeo Vanzetti felt discriminated by the court for being a radical Italian. Many immigrants started viewing Sacco and Vanzetti as “symbols of excesses of anti-immigrants movement that culminated in the 1924 law closing off entry for near all migrants from Europe” (pg. 145). Congressman Lucien W. Parrish considered the continuation of immigrations to be dangerous cause they were seen to take jobs from Americans which lowered their income. According to Meyer London, the restrictions upon immigration were based on “prejudice rather than reason.” While some saw immigration to add to threats of terrorism within the United States, others believed that the elimination of immigrants would undermine the diversity of the United States. In Meyer v. Nebraska, many states banned teaching foreign language due to the flare of anti-immigration beliefs influenced by World War I. The Great Steel Strike enhanced people’s beliefs of anti-immigration. In 1919, 365,000 immigrants united to uprise for higher wages, less hours of work, and recognition. Migrations occurred within