CLEP US History II

Answer: C - The Immigration Restriction League sought to restrict emigration from Southern and Eastern Europe because the immigrants would purportedly bring poverty and crime with them. The period from 1893 to 1897 was a period of severe economic turmoil, and many people were unemployed. Immigrants only created more competition in the job market, often to the detriment of established American citizens, who didn’t want to work for as little pay as the immigrants were willing to accept. Nevertheless, there was a notable element of bigotry to their actions, since they simultaneously promoted the increase of immigration from Northern and Western Europe.