The Guarded Gate : : Bigotry, Eugenics, and the law That Kept two Generations of Jews, Italians, and Other European Immigrants out of America

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Call Number: Adult Book / Nonfiction / History / United States / 20th Century / Okrent, Daniel, 344.74 Ok
On Shelf At: Malletts Creek Branch, Pittsfield Branch

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Malletts Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Nonfiction / History / United States / 20th Century / Okrent, Daniel	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Pittsfield Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Nonfiction / History / United States / 20th Century / Okrent, Daniel	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout	344.74 Ok	4-week checkout	Due 05-17-2024

The future betterment of the human race -- Thrifty, capable yankee blood -- Warfare of the cradle -- The kindled fire -- Short, sober, musical rapists -- To hell with Jews, Jesuits, and steamships! -- Heaven-sent madison grant -- A carnival of exclusion -- The coming of the quota -- Science is our polestar -- 6,346,856 inferior immigrants -- Without foundation -- The train of consequences.

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COMMUNITY REVIEWS

current events are past events submitted by schriste on June 14, 2019, 4:19pm The Guarded Gate takes us back 100+ years when, like today, immigration was a contentious topic. The stereotypes and who they're applied to may be surprising in some cases, but they're too familiar nonetheless. Daniel Okerent's very thorough book traces how shoddy science (or in other cases, "science") and racism created "facts" that were widely believed and later resistant to contradictory evidence. Over time, those who were opposed to immigration and those who studied eugenics came to hold similar beliefs, and they were able to shape US government policy on immigration, with ultimately tragic results.

The book is a slow go at times because of the level of detail and the cast of characters can be difficult to keep separated (racist white guy/racist white guy with money/progressive racist white guy/pseudo-scientist racist white guy/actual scientist racist white guy) but it's worth reading for those with an interest in immigration past and present and for those whose family heritage includes ancestors who were discriminated against. I imagine scientists with an interest in the validity of research or the misapplication of scientific ideas would also find it an interesting read.

Finally, there's no way to answer any what ifs but it's worth considering the ways the US might be different today if immigration had continued without quotas.