The St. Louis
This passage describes the journey of the ship St. Louis, which attempted to leave Germany with immigrants wishing to escape Nazi rule.
1 in January, 1933, Adolf Hitler became chancellor of Germany. The country's first concentration camp opened two months later, to be followed by many more. They were originally built to house "enemies of the state" that threatened Nazi political control or were accused of socially deviant behavior. But when side-scale arrests of Jewish German and Austrian citizens began after Germany's annexation of Austria in 1938, many of these individuals were sent to the camps. A growing number of Germany's Jewish population, fearful of increasing anti-Semitism, left or tried to eave Germany.
2. A few months before the start of World War II, the ship St. Louis left Hamburg, Germany, with 937 passengers, mostly Jewish refugees. Headed to Havana, Cuba, they were unaware that Cuba's president had invalidated all recently issued landing certificates. He claimed certificates had been sold by a corrupt government official. Although most of the St. Louis passengers had applied for U.S. visas and planned to be in Cuba only temporarily, they now faced an uncertain future.
3 When the ship arrived in Havana, the Cuban government refused to allow 908 of the passengers to leave the ship. After six days the ship was ordered to leave Cuba. It began a slow, 4 day journey along the Cuba and Florida coasts, the passengers hoping they would be permitted to enter the United States. Direct appeals were made to President Roosevelt, but he and State Department officials decided to not take any special exceptions for the passengers. Immigration at the time was strictly limited by quotas established in the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act of 1924. The German-Austrian immigration limit of 27,370 for 1939 had been quickly filled.
4 The St. Louis headed back to Europe but not to Germany. Jewish organizations
The purpose of the U.S. imposing immigration quotas was to
- A. better control who was admitted to the country.
- B. help keep the country neutral during World War II.
- C. increase the number of eligible Germans and Austrians.
- D. put pressure on Germany to stop using concentration camps.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
Imposing immigration quotas aimed to better control who was admitted to the U.S., ensuring that specific nationalities were favored or restricted based on political and social considerations. This approach allowed the government to manage demographic changes and maintain national security. Option B is incorrect as immigration quotas were established long before World War II and were not directly related to maintaining neutrality during the conflict. Option C misrepresents the quotas' purpose, as they were not designed to increase the number of Germans and Austrians but rather to limit immigration from certain countries. Option D is also inaccurate; the quotas were not a mechanism to pressure Germany regarding its policies, including concentration camps.
Imposing immigration quotas aimed to better control who was admitted to the U.S., ensuring that specific nationalities were favored or restricted based on political and social considerations. This approach allowed the government to manage demographic changes and maintain national security. Option B is incorrect as immigration quotas were established long before World War II and were not directly related to maintaining neutrality during the conflict. Option C misrepresents the quotas' purpose, as they were not designed to increase the number of Germans and Austrians but rather to limit immigration from certain countries. Option D is also inaccurate; the quotas were not a mechanism to pressure Germany regarding its policies, including concentration camps.
Other Related Questions
The Bill of Rights is part of which document?
- A. The Magna Carta
- B. The Constitution
- C. The Articles of Confederation
- D. The Declaration of the Rights of Man
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
The Bill of Rights, which comprises the first ten amendments, is embedded within the Constitution of the United States, ensuring individual liberties and limiting governmental power. Option A, the Magna Carta, is a historical document from 1215 that influenced constitutional law but is not directly related to the U.S. Bill of Rights. Option C, the Articles of Confederation, served as the first governing document of the U.S. but did not include a Bill of Rights. Option D, the Declaration of the Rights of Man, pertains to the French Revolution and outlines rights for French citizens, not American rights.
The Bill of Rights, which comprises the first ten amendments, is embedded within the Constitution of the United States, ensuring individual liberties and limiting governmental power. Option A, the Magna Carta, is a historical document from 1215 that influenced constitutional law but is not directly related to the U.S. Bill of Rights. Option C, the Articles of Confederation, served as the first governing document of the U.S. but did not include a Bill of Rights. Option D, the Declaration of the Rights of Man, pertains to the French Revolution and outlines rights for French citizens, not American rights.
Based on the obituary, what was Taylor's first job?
- A. Gang boss
- B. Scientist
- C. Engineer
- D. Manager
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
Taylor's first job as a gang boss reflects an early involvement in leadership and organization, likely in a challenging environment. This position often requires strong management skills and the ability to coordinate team efforts, which can be foundational for future roles. Option B, scientist, is incorrect as it implies a formal education and specialized training that is not indicated in the obituary. Option C, engineer, suggests a technical background that does not align with the described early career path. Lastly, option D, manager, while related, does not capture the specific context of Taylor's initial role, which was more informal and associated with a gang structure.
Taylor's first job as a gang boss reflects an early involvement in leadership and organization, likely in a challenging environment. This position often requires strong management skills and the ability to coordinate team efforts, which can be foundational for future roles. Option B, scientist, is incorrect as it implies a formal education and specialized training that is not indicated in the obituary. Option C, engineer, suggests a technical background that does not align with the described early career path. Lastly, option D, manager, while related, does not capture the specific context of Taylor's initial role, which was more informal and associated with a gang structure.
Which statement is true about the four countries that accepted the passengers?
- A. They had camps similar to those established by Germany.
- B. They were allies during World War II.
- C. They had Europe's largest populations prior to World War I.
- D. They each shared a border with Germany.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
Option B is accurate as the four countries that accepted the passengers were indeed allies during World War II, collaborating against the Axis powers. Option A is incorrect because these countries did not establish camps similar to those in Germany; instead, they provided refuge to those fleeing persecution. Option C is misleading; while some of these countries had significant populations, they were not necessarily the largest in Europe prior to World War I. Option D is false as not all of the countries shared a border with Germany, which limits the applicability of this statement.
Option B is accurate as the four countries that accepted the passengers were indeed allies during World War II, collaborating against the Axis powers. Option A is incorrect because these countries did not establish camps similar to those in Germany; instead, they provided refuge to those fleeing persecution. Option C is misleading; while some of these countries had significant populations, they were not necessarily the largest in Europe prior to World War I. Option D is false as not all of the countries shared a border with Germany, which limits the applicability of this statement.
The U.S. Supreme Court considered a case in which a political activist was jailed for stating publicly that World War I was a rich man's war but a poor man's fight. To which case is this case most similar?
- A. Commonwealth v. Hunt
- B. Muller v. Oregon
- C. Schenck v. United States
- D. Brown v. Board of Education
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
The case involving the political activist parallels **Schenck v. United States** due to its focus on free speech during wartime. In Schenck, the Supreme Court upheld the conviction of an individual for distributing anti-draft leaflets, emphasizing that speech could be limited if it posed a "clear and present danger." **Commonwealth v. Hunt** pertains to labor unions and the legality of their activities, making it unrelated to free speech issues. **Muller v. Oregon** deals with labor laws and women's rights, not political expression. **Brown v. Board of Education** addresses racial segregation in schools, which diverges from the context of wartime speech and activism.
The case involving the political activist parallels **Schenck v. United States** due to its focus on free speech during wartime. In Schenck, the Supreme Court upheld the conviction of an individual for distributing anti-draft leaflets, emphasizing that speech could be limited if it posed a "clear and present danger." **Commonwealth v. Hunt** pertains to labor unions and the legality of their activities, making it unrelated to free speech issues. **Muller v. Oregon** deals with labor laws and women's rights, not political expression. **Brown v. Board of Education** addresses racial segregation in schools, which diverges from the context of wartime speech and activism.