Final answer:
The Nazi rise to power and the indifference of the United States towards Jewish refugees were examples of following the crowd, as the Nazis harnessed anti-Semitic sentiment to gain support and the US failed to challenge their atrocities, reflecting a broader trend of conformity and indifference.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of the provided texts, the actions of the Nazi Party and the indifference shown by the United States towards Jews are examples of following the crowd. The Nazi Party, exploiting economic woes and social unrest, galvanized public opinion against Jews by using anti-Semitic propaganda, which suggested that Jews were responsible for Germany's problems and were a threat to societal well-being. This rhetoric served to dehumanize Jews and portrayed them as outsiders, which eased the population's acceptance of the escalating persecution, exemplified during events such as Kristallnacht.
Meanwhile, the United States and other democratic countries demonstrated collective indifference by not taking significant action against Hitler's regime or offering refuge to Jewish victims of Nazi oppression. This inaction can be seen as following the wider trend of appeasement and isolationism during that period. The lack of response from international powers not only emboldened the Nazis but also revealed a broader unwillingness to deviate from the status quo, exemplifying the dangers of conformity and the bystander effect in the face of moral crises.