Section B: American option The Gilded Age and Progressive Era, 1870s to 1920 Read the sources and then answer both parts of the question. Source A The Act of 1882 has been a success. Chinese immigration has declined and the ruling against Chinese becoming citizens has been enforced. We see that no harm has been done to our relationship with China's government and people. While there were initially some complaints from employers that good labour was in short supply, this is no longer the case. Tragically, the disorder following the introduction of the Act did last for some years. Our Constitution is clear that we have a right to decide who can, and who cannot, come into America. There has been no violation of the principles on which this country is based. There is no place in America for people from such an alien culture. While there may have been a case for permitting immigration after the dreadful losses in the war against slavery, there must now be effective limitations on immigration. We are becoming the dumping ground for the unemployable, the undesirable, the dangerous radical, the old and sick. Those we admit must be those who we need and who will conform in every way to our values. From a speech in the House of Representatives on a Bill to extend the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 for a further ten years, April 1892. Source B [Figure: A cartoon published in 1903, with caption 'THE IMMIGRANT. Is he an acquisition or a detriment?'] Source C When I and my brothers came to America from China in the 1870s, Chinese workers were largely welcomed and tolerated. Our labour was much needed and our willingness to work hard in those jobs which Americans did not wish to do was praised. Our labour built the railroads to the West. We cleared the land, planted and harvested in California. We did not fill the jails like the Irish and we did not form labour unions like the Europeans. We were seen as law-abiding citizens who contributed much to America. Much was changed by the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. The intentions were to prevent future immigration from China and prevent Chinese from becoming American citizens. It failed in the first, as many entered illegally, but succeeded in the second. The Act caused an outbreak of killing and looting against our people and led to further outbreaks of racial hatred. It angered the Chinese government and fuelled the anti-foreign Boxer uprising. There were many complaints from Californian food growers that they could no longer harvest their produce. Worst of all we felt that it violated the very principles on which the United States was founded – those of equality and liberty. From 'The Life Stories of Undistinguished Americans as told by themselves', published in New York, 1906. Source D We would like to assure members of Congress that there are many benefits to encouraging further immigration. Many manufacturers report a growing shortage of unskilled labour in roles in many Americans dislike. Immigrants will fill those positions and are accustomed to hard work. They will help create more jobs and wealth. We also need many skilled workers in agriculture, mining and our clothing industries. Any restrictions will anger the Italian and Polish immigrant societies, seeing them as an attack on their nations. The Jewish and Roman Catholic communities see restrictions as an attack on their beliefs and wish to see their communities grow. Immigrants are no threat to America. They have made America what it is today. From a pamphlet by the American Emigrant Company, published 1910. The company made its money assisting those who wished to emigrate to the United States. Answer both parts of the question with reference to the sources.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2023). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] Source A says that the ruling against Chinese becoming US citizens has continued to be enforced, and Source C says that the Act succeeded in this intention.
2. [1] Source A mentions that the disorder which occurred following the introduction of the Act lasted for 'some years', while Source C says that the Act 'caused an outbreak of killing and looting' and led to further outbreaks of racial hatred.
3. [1] Both sources suggest that the Act caused some labour shortages, Source C specifying the food growing areas of California, while Source A mentions there were initial problems, but they were later overcome.
4. [1] Source A maintains that immigration from China has decreased, and the Act was successful in this respect. Source C says the Act failed here as many entered illegally.
5. [1] Source A says the Act did not harm the relationship between the United States and China, while Source C says that it angered the Chinese Government and people and helped fuel the Boxer rising later.
6. [1] Source A suggests that there has been no violation of any constitutional principles by the introduction of the Act, while Source C says it 'violated the very principles on which the United States was founded'.
7. [1] Source A comes from a speech by a member of Congress who clearly is a strong supporter of the 1882 Act and is arguing for its further extension. He is highlighting what he sees as its advantages and appealing to the many who supported this Act, as well as further limitations on any type of immigration into the United States.
8. [1] The fact that Chinese immigrants had no voting rights at either local or national level might be factors which influenced him.
9. [1] Source C comes from the recollections of a Chinese immigrant who had lived and worked through the whole anti-immigrant era of the late 19th century and suffered directly from the Act itself. For example, in 1893 there were riots in California and Fresno and Riverside both expelled their Chinese populations.
10. [1] In California restrictions were extended (The Geary Act, 1892) requiring a resident permit to be carried at all times.
11. [1] Accept any other valid responses.
12. [1] In Source B Uncle Sam seems more favourable to immigration with his reference to 'he brings in brawn and muscle', almost certainly a reminder that it was largely cheap immigrant labour the built the many US railroads, worked the mines, created the great fruit and vegetable industries in California and manned the steel mills on the East.
13. [1] Source C suggests that initially the attitude towards Chinese immigrants was positive as their labour was needed and the willingness of the immigrant to do the sort of jobs that more established Americans would not do. The reference to the 'we were seen as law-abiding citizens who contributed much' shows a positive attitude.
14. [1] Source D presents a positive view of immigrants saying they are needed to fill job shortages and help the economy.
15. [1] Source A argues that the US is right to exclude people from 'such an alien culture'. While he does suggest that there might have been a case for some immigration in the past, it no longer exists. While he does concede that there might be a case for a little in the future, depending on both need and conformity, he is largely hostile with the references to 'the unemployable', 'the undesirable' and the 'dumping ground'.
16. [1] Source B is largely negative towards immigration. Although the actual image of the immigrant is not particularly unfavourable, most of the comments are hostile. There are comments such as 'he is a menace', 'he cheapens my labour', 'he brings in disease'. Some are more neutral, with 'he is a puzzle to me' and 'he votes for me', but that may well be a criticism of the way in which the city 'bosses' used the immigrant vote to their advantage.
17. [1] Source C does suggest however that attitudes changed after the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed and that initially immigration was welcomed, and this attitude then changed, and also that other nationalities were not to be welcomed e.g. the Irish.
18. [1] Source A is clearly arguing a case and is likely to have been a congressman from an area which was not dominated by recent immigrants.
19. [1] Source B: Compared with some cartoons, this is less hostile than many, but it does reflect many of the concerns that were raised throughout America by the anti-immigrant forces in the latter part of the 19th and early 20th century.
20. [1] Source C: Contextual knowledge would indicate that this is a reliable source which accurately portrays what happened to immigrants, and the Chinese in particular, in the later years of the 19th and the earlier part of the 20th centuries.
21. [1] Source D: There was not the shortage of labour by the time this pamphlet was written. There had been in the past. The point about skilled workers is a valid one, but not in all the industries that the writer suggests.
22. [1] Accept any other valid responses.