How WWI Changed America: Immigrants and WWI

Summary

The video explains how World War I reshaped immigrants’ place in American society, bringing both intense discrimination and new opportunities for inclusion.

Immigration and national loyalty

The United States was experiencing a peak in immigration when war began in Europe in 1914. President Woodrow Wilson urged Americans to remain neutral, partly because he feared ethnic divisions could lead people to take sides against one another.

The ideal of “100% Americanism” demanded that immigrants set aside ties to their countries of origin. Some people viewed hyphenated identities—such as Irish-American or French-American—as evidence of divided loyalties.

Immigrant views were diverse

Immigrant communities did not respond to the war uniformly. Some German Americans supported Germany, while others did not. Russian Jews who had fled persecution in Russia might oppose Russia’s wartime cause. Many Italian, French, and British immigrants supported the Allies. Their views were as varied as those of Americans generally.

Anti-German repression

After the United States entered the war, suspicion of immigrants intensified, especially toward German Americans, who were classified as “enemy aliens.” They faced registration, fingerprinting, surveillance, and restrictions on German-language education and cultural expression. German-language newspapers were forced to close.

Beyond these official measures, harassment and violence included attacks by vigilantes, tar-and-feathering, forced displays of patriotism, property vandalism, and lynchings. The speaker characterizes the dismantling of German-American culture as a deeply painful episode in U.S. history.

Recognition of other immigrant groups

At the same time, Italian, Russian-Jewish, and Polish immigrants were publicly praised for their patriotism and contributions. Immigrants made up about one in five U.S. service members and served throughout the armed forces.

Military service and belonging

For some immigrants, military service offered a route to citizenship and a way to learn what it meant to be American. Army life brought people from different ethnic communities together, often requiring them to communicate in English and exposing them to one another’s customs.

Shared experiences—including traditional American Thanksgiving foods in training camps—helped some immigrants feel part of the country.

A mixed legacy

These changes did not affect everyone in the same way. Army service and public recognition could encourage national unity, but they could also reinforce anti-immigrant prejudices among people who wanted to restrict immigration.

Overall, the war both suppressed some immigrant cultures and brought other groups into mainstream society in new ways. In retrospect, many immigrant communities came to see the war as a turning point in becoming a lasting part of the American landscape.

Speakers and sources featured

• Unnamed speaker/interviewee: The main voice throughout the subtitles; no name or title is provided.
• Woodrow Wilson: Referenced through his address urging neutrality; he is not clearly identified as a speaker in the video subtitles.