Question

Later waves of immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe were also subject to intense discrimination and prejudice. In particular, the dominant group saw ________ immigrants as the dregs of Europe and worried about the purity of the American race (Myers 2007).

A) Chinese
B) Irish
C) Italian
D) Jewish

Answer 1

The later waves of immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe were subject to discrimination and prejudice, with Italian immigrants, in particular, being viewed negatively by dominant American society. They faced segregation, violence, and economic exploitation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The group that faced intense discrimination and prejudice from dominant American society, which at that time included second- and third-generation Germans and Irish, were specifically the Italian immigrants. They were viewed as the dregs of Europe and there were concerns about the 'purity' of the American race. Italian immigrants often lived in segregated slums in Northeastern cities and experienced violence and lynching, suffering similar treatments to what African Americans endured during that time. They were forced to undertake physical labor at lower wages than other workers, frequently doing dangerous jobs that others were reluctant to take on.