Final answer:
The early 20th-century increase in immigration to the U.S. from areas with socialist movements stoked fear of Marxism, weakening support for labor unions and influencing restrictive immigration laws.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rise in immigration during the early 20th century fueled Americans' fear of Marxism as many immigrants arrived from countries with strong socialist movements. In a time when the United States was grappling with its own concerns about labor reform and social change, the influx of immigrants who might harbor socialist or Marxist sympathies caused anxiety among Americans. This fear was compounded by events like the Russian Revolution and the ensuing Red Scare, which saw a heightening of anti-communist sentiment and the conflation of labor union activities with radicalism.
For unions and workers, this period was indeed challenging. While the labor movement struggled with internal issues such as the exclusion of African Americans and internal divisions, the perception of unionism as potentially un-American or radical exacerbated distrust among the general populace. The rise in immigration also put pressure on the labor market, as many newcomers were prepared to work in poor conditions due to their dire circumstances, weakening the bargaining power of unions.
The impact on unions and workers was significant, leading to a decline in the labor movement and influencing the passage of restrictive immigration laws in the 1920s. Legislation such as the Emergency Quota Act of 1921 and the Immigration Act of 1924 reflected nativist sentiments and aimed to curb the influx of immigrants, particularly from regions deemed less desirable. These laws had profound effects on the national landscape of labor and the social fabric of America, embedding nativist and anti-communist anxieties into public policy.