Deck 11: The Politics of Immigration in a Nation of Immigrants

Question 1

The first federal government regulation limiting the number of immigrants allowed to come to the U.S. occurred in _____.

A) 1875
B) 1790
C) 1882
D) 1924

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Historically, immigrants have supported the political parties and politicians that serve their interests most favorably. What does this suggest about the likely success of Republicans in securing greater immigrant support in future elections and why?

Answer 2

No Answer

Question 3

Why does "nativism" persist even in light of evidence that immigration benefits the American economy, and that immigrants have historically assimilated to American society quite successfully?

Answer 3

No Answer

Question 4

Why have recent attempts to reform immigration policy-for example George W. Bush's attempt to furnish illegal immigrants a "path to citizenship" or Congress' "Dream Act"-ended in failure?

Question 5

How does post-1965 "Fourth Wave" immigration resemble previous waves, and how is it different?

Question 6

What kinds of forces have stood between a mass public that doesn't favor more immigration, and the restrictive immigration, citizenship, and assimilation policies they favor and why?

Question 7

In general, Americans are the most pessimistic about immigrants' effect on _____.

A) the economy in general
B) food, music, and the arts
C) crime
D) social and moral values

Question 8

Recent public opinion indicates that _____.

A) a majority of Americans wants to increase immigration, with little difference between Republicans and Democrats
B) a plurality of Americans wants to decrease immigration, with Republicans much more in favor of a decrease than Democrats
C) a plurality of Americans wants to leave immigration at present levels, with little difference between liberals and conservatives
D) a plurality of Americans wants to decrease immigration, with conservatives more in favor of a decrease than liberals.

Question 9

Into which of the following categories of thought can we place Thomas Jefferson?

A) Free market restrictivism
B) Egalitarian nationalism
C) Nativism
D) Cosmopolitanism

Question 10

The first European-origin targets of sustained "nativism" in American history were _____.

A) Germans
B) French
C) Irish Catholics
D) Italians and Southern Europeans

Question 11

Despite its history as a nation of immigrants and immigration, the U.S. has always confronted "nativist" challenges. What does the U.S.' demographic destiny imply about the future of "nativism" within its borders, and why? In answering the question, be sure to address what the U.S.' demographic destiny is in this context, recent nativist challenges, and the prospect for their success in the longer term.