AP US History Flashcards: Responses To Immigration Gilded Age

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This deck focuses on Responses To Immigration Gilded Age, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP US History.

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Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: What was the main goal of the Emergency Quota Act?

Answer: To restrict the number of immigrants entering the U.S. First numerical caps on immigration by nationality.

Flashcard 2: What was the main criticism of the 'new immigrants'?

Answer: They were perceived as culturally and economically inferior. Nativists feared different religions and customs.

Flashcard 3: What was a common requirement for immigrants at Ellis Island?

Answer: Passing a medical examination. Health screening to prevent disease spread in cities.

Flashcard 4: Identify the purpose of settlement houses like Hull House.

Answer: To assist immigrants in adapting to American life. Progressive movement effort to aid immigrant integration.

Flashcard 5: What did the term 'melting pot' imply about U.S. society?

Answer: A blending of diverse cultures into a single national identity. Idealized vision of cultural assimilation into American society.

Flashcard 6: Which group did the Immigration Act of 1891 exclude?

Answer: Persons with contagious diseases or mental issues. Expanded federal authority over immigration screening.

Flashcard 7: Which law established a literacy test for immigrants in 1917?

Answer: The Immigration Act of 1917. Required reading ability in any language for entry.

Flashcard 8: Which law aimed to protect American workers by banning foreign labor contracts?

Answer: The Alien Contract Labor Law of 1885. Protected domestic workers from wage competition.

Flashcard 9: What is nativism?

Answer: A policy favoring native inhabitants over immigrants. Anti-immigrant ideology promoting American-born interests.

Flashcard 10: What did the term 'ethnic enclave' refer to?

Answer: A community of immigrants maintaining cultural ties. Neighborhoods where immigrants preserved homeland culture.

Flashcard 11: What was the purpose of the Ellis Island facility?

Answer: To process immigrants entering the United States. Primary immigration station for European immigrants.

Flashcard 12: Why was Angel Island important in the Gilded Age?

Answer: It was the entry point for Asian immigrants to the U.S. Processed mostly Chinese immigrants with strict questioning.

Flashcard 13: What was the main criticism of the 'new immigrants'?

Answer: They were perceived as culturally and economically inferior. Nativists feared different religions and customs.

Flashcard 14: What was the Immigration Restriction League's main focus?

Answer: To limit immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe. Nativist group opposing 'new immigrants' for cultural reasons.

Flashcard 15: Identify one effect of the 1892 Geary Act.

Answer: It extended the Chinese Exclusion Act for another 10 years. Required Chinese residents to carry identification papers.

Flashcard 16: What was the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882?

Answer: A law that prohibited Chinese labor immigration. First federal law to ban a specific ethnic group from immigration.

Flashcard 17: Identify one reason for the rise of nativism in the Gilded Age.

Answer: Fear of job competition from immigrants. Economic anxiety drove anti-immigrant sentiment.

Flashcard 18: Who were the main targets of the Immigration Act of 1924?

Answer: Southern and Eastern Europeans. Severely reduced immigration from these regions.

Flashcard 19: What was a characteristic of the 'old immigrants'?

Answer: They primarily came from Northern and Western Europe. Shared Protestant heritage and familiar languages.

Flashcard 20: Identify the purpose of settlement houses like Hull House.

Answer: To assist immigrants in adapting to American life. Progressive movement effort to aid immigrant integration.

Flashcard 21: Which U.S. president vetoed the Literacy Test Bill, calling it a radical departure?

Answer: President Grover Cleveland. Opposed restrictive legislation on humanitarian grounds.

Flashcard 22: How did the Dillingham Commission view immigration?

Answer: It viewed immigration as a threat to American society. Federal commission that recommended restrictive policies.

Flashcard 23: Identify the main goal of the American Protective Association.

Answer: To restrict Catholic immigration. Anti-Catholic nativist organization formed in the 1890s.

Flashcard 24: Which labor union leader was known for opposing immigration during the Gilded Age?

Answer: Samuel Gompers. AFL leader who feared wage depression from immigration.

Flashcard 25: What was the primary focus of the 1929 National Origins Act?

Answer: To further restrict immigration based on national origin. Finalized the quota system favoring Northwestern Europe.

Flashcard 26: Which law aimed to protect American workers by banning foreign labor contracts?

Answer: The Alien Contract Labor Law of 1885. Protected domestic workers from wage competition.

Flashcard 27: Identify one impact of the 1924 Immigration Act.

Answer: It established national origin quotas. Favored Northern/Western Europeans over others.

Flashcard 28: What was the literacy test requirement in the Gilded Age?

Answer: Immigrants had to read 40 words in any language. Basic literacy requirement to demonstrate education level.

Flashcard 29: What did the term 'birds of passage' refer to?

Answer: Immigrants who temporarily worked in the U.S. before returning home. Seasonal workers who didn't intend permanent settlement.

Flashcard 30: Who were the 'new immigrants' in the Gilded Age?

Answer: Immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe. Distinguished from 'old immigrants' by origin and religion.

Flashcard 31: Why was Angel Island important in the Gilded Age?

Answer: It was the entry point for Asian immigrants to the U.S. Processed mostly Chinese immigrants with strict questioning.

Flashcard 32: What was the Immigration Restriction League's main focus?

Answer: To limit immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe. Nativist group opposing 'new immigrants' for cultural reasons.

Flashcard 33: Identify the main goal of the American Protective Association.

Answer: To restrict Catholic immigration. Anti-Catholic nativist organization formed in the 1890s.

Flashcard 34: Which organization was formed to oppose Catholic influence in the U.S.?

Answer: The American Protective Association. Leading anti-Catholic nativist group of the 1890s.

Flashcard 35: Which organization was formed to oppose Catholic influence in the U.S.?

Answer: The American Protective Association. Leading anti-Catholic nativist group of the 1890s.

Flashcard 36: Which U.S. president vetoed the Literacy Test Bill, calling it a radical departure?

Answer: President Grover Cleveland. Opposed restrictive legislation on humanitarian grounds.

Flashcard 37: What was the main purpose of the Emergency Quota Act of 1921?

Answer: To limit the number of immigrants from each country. First numerical limits based on 1910 census data.

Flashcard 38: What was a key feature of the Immigration Act of 1882?

Answer: It imposed a head tax on each immigrant. 50-cent fee per person to fund immigration enforcement.

Flashcard 39: What was a key provision of the 1903 Immigration Act?

Answer: It excluded anarchists from entering the U.S. Response to McKinley assassination by anarchist.

Flashcard 40: Who were the 'new immigrants' in the Gilded Age?

Answer: Immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe. Distinguished from 'old immigrants' by origin and religion.

Flashcard 41: What did the term 'melting pot' imply about U.S. society?

Answer: A blending of diverse cultures into a single national identity. Idealized vision of cultural assimilation into American society.

Flashcard 42: What group was targeted by the Alien Contract Labor Law of 1885?

Answer: Employers recruiting foreign laborers under contract. Banned imported laborers to protect American wages.

Flashcard 43: What is nativism?

Answer: A policy favoring native inhabitants over immigrants. Anti-immigrant ideology promoting American-born interests.

Flashcard 44: What was the purpose of the Ellis Island facility?

Answer: To process immigrants entering the United States. Primary immigration station for European immigrants.

Flashcard 45: How did the Dillingham Commission view immigration?

Answer: It viewed immigration as a threat to American society. Federal commission that recommended restrictive policies.

Flashcard 46: Which ethnic group faced the most exclusionary policies during the Gilded Age?

Answer: Chinese immigrants. Only group completely banned by federal law.

Flashcard 47: What was the literacy test requirement in the Gilded Age?

Answer: Immigrants had to read 40 words in any language. Basic literacy requirement to demonstrate education level.

Flashcard 48: What was a common requirement for immigrants at Ellis Island?

Answer: Passing a medical examination. Health screening to prevent disease spread in cities.

Flashcard 49: What was a characteristic of the 'old immigrants'?

Answer: They primarily came from Northern and Western Europe. Shared Protestant heritage and familiar languages.

Flashcard 50: What was the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882?

Answer: A law that prohibited Chinese labor immigration. First federal law to ban a specific ethnic group from immigration.

Flashcard 51: What group was targeted by the Alien Contract Labor Law of 1885?

Answer: Employers recruiting foreign laborers under contract. Banned imported laborers to protect American wages.

Flashcard 52: What is a tenement?

Answer: A poorly built, overcrowded apartment building. Dense urban housing for poor immigrant families.

Flashcard 53: What was the significance of the 1917 Immigration Act?

Answer: It introduced the first literacy test for immigrants. Marked shift from open immigration to federal control.

Flashcard 54: Identify one effect of the 1892 Geary Act.

Answer: It extended the Chinese Exclusion Act for another 10 years. Required Chinese residents to carry identification papers.

Flashcard 55: What was the main purpose of the Emergency Quota Act of 1921?

Answer: To limit the number of immigrants from each country. First numerical limits based on 1910 census data.

Flashcard 56: What did the term 'birds of passage' refer to?

Answer: Immigrants who temporarily worked in the U.S. before returning home. Seasonal workers who didn't intend permanent settlement.

Flashcard 57: What was the main purpose of the 1907 Gentlemen's Agreement?

Answer: To reduce tensions by limiting Japanese immigration. Avoided embarrassing exclusion law through diplomacy.

Flashcard 58: Which political party was associated with anti-immigrant sentiment in the Gilded Age?

Answer: The Know-Nothing Party. Secret nativist party opposing Catholic immigration.

Flashcard 59: What was the reaction to the arrival of 'new immigrants' in terms of legislation?

Answer: Increased restrictions and quotas. Growing restrictionist sentiment led to multiple laws.

Flashcard 60: What did the Gentlemen's Agreement of 1907 address?

Answer: It restricted Japanese immigration to the U.S. Diplomatic compromise to avoid formal exclusion law.

Flashcard 61: Which law established a literacy test for immigrants in 1917?

Answer: The Immigration Act of 1917. Required reading ability in any language for entry.

Flashcard 62: Which group did the Immigration Act of 1891 exclude?

Answer: Persons with contagious diseases or mental issues. Expanded federal authority over immigration screening.