r II. The Jews could not tolerate any more of this oppression and immigrated to the United States in large numbers. They saw the freedom that they had been searching for and perceived the United States as their gateway to success.Once Jews arrived to the United States, they still faced tremendous discrimination, but nowhere near the magnitude that they faced in Europe. An upsurge of anti-Jewish feeling that was part of a general wave of resentment from other minority groups, including Roman Catholics and African Americans, swept the United States between World War I and World War II. Anti-Semitism sentiments increased, resulting in discrimination against Jews in employment, access to residential and resort areas, and in tightened quotas on Jewish enrollment and teaching positions in colleges and universities. Between 1921 and 1924, immigration legislation was enacted and it was interpreted by Jews as being Anti-Semitic in intent. This was because it severely limited immigration quotas of Eastern European nations with large Jewish populations.In his book “The Ethnic Myth,” author Stephen Steinberg describes how many ethnic groups faced prejudice, oppression and discrimination. At the same time, however, these ethnic groups never lost faith in the dream that compelled them to immigrate to the United States (Steinberg, 1989, p. 86). Jewish people were no exception. Steinberg presents an extensive illustration of Jews when they first set foot in the United States. He cites Jews as the model for all ethnic groups looking to escape the political turmoil and economic hardship from their homeland and finding better opportunities in the United States. The Jews adopted the values of middle-class American life and merited hard work and a high regard for education as a means to get ahead.Although Jews possessed the right cultural values and beliefs to succeed as immigrants, they did not start out successful. Like most immigr...
