Final answer:
The Babel Proclamation reflects a time of anti-immigrant sentiment, marked by actions of groups like the American Protective Association and restrictive laws aiming to limit immigration and non-English languages, with subsequent debate and resistance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Babel Proclamation issued by Governor William L. Harding of Iowa in 1918 symbolizes an era of heightened nativism and anti-immigrant sentiment in the early 20th century. This period witnessed organizations such as the American Protective Association and legislative acts like the Emergency Quota Act of 1921 and the Immigration Act of 1924, which were designed to curb immigration and limit non-English languages.
Influential figures like Reverend Josiah Strong and movements represented by the American Protective Association led to the implementation of English literacy requirements for immigrants and restrictive laws like the Bennett Law in Wisconsin and the Chinese Exclusion Act.
Contrasting views, such as those of Congressman Emanuel Celler who fought against immigration quotas and promoted the economic benefits of immigration, highlighted the ongoing debate on this topic. The push for recognizing English as the "common and unifying language" against the backdrop of demographic shifts and immigration continued well into the 20th century, with ongoing challenges and resistance from immigrant communities and advocates.