What was the United States role in World War II with the Jewish refugees?
Long considered to be a country that could be counted on as a place of refuge for the “tired, poor, huddled masses yearning to breathe free,” the United States did not live up to those expectations during the Holocaust. The US government would not change its immigration quotas to allow in more Jewish refugees from Europe. The United States’ ambivalent policy regarding Nazi anti-Semitism can be viewed as a result of several factors. Slowly recovering from the crippling Depression, public opinion condemned the notion of allowing in European refugees who were liable to take away jobs from Americans. Also, many Americans called for isolationism, with an emphasis on America first. Americans did not want the government to adopt a policy of intervention in the affairs of other countries. Furthermore, there were strong anti-Semitic elements within the American government. During the winter of 1942-43, the opposite ends of the spectrum in the American government were revealed: certain governmen
Long considered to be a country that could be counted on as a place of refuge for the “tired, poor, huddled masses yearning to breathe free air” the United States did not live up to those expectations during the Holocaust. The US government would not change its immigration quotas to allow in more Jewish refugees from Europe. The United States’ ambivalent policy regarding Nazi Anti Semitism can be viewed as a result of several factors. Slowly recovering from the crippling Depression, public opinion condemned the notion of allowing in European refugees who were liable to take away jobs from Americans who needed them. Also, many Americans called for isolationism, with an emphasis on America first. Americans did not want the government to adopt a policy of intervention in the affairs of other countries. Furthermore, there were strong anti-Semitic elements within the American government. During the winter of 1942-43, the opposite ends of the spectrum in the American government were revealed
