Literacy tests were used to exclude immigrants even during the uncertain period of war with Germany and Austria. Rather than rely on immigrant labor from Italy or Mexico, steps were taken to reduce the number of available foreign workers. So great was the need for labor in agriculture and industry that the daily wage rose quickly in the month following Wilson’s call to arms.
An additional event took place in 1917: Congress granted full U.S. citizenship rights to the citizens of Puerto Rico – but they didn’t move to New York until the Fifties. Click here to read about their integration.
1917 Immigration and Laborreduced in immigration levels brought higher labor wagesless reliance on foreign labor increased income for average worker 1917 news item1917 Southern European Migration Levels reducedItalian migration to US reduced 1917Immigration and Literacy Test introduced to reduce immigration levels 1917Immigration InformationReduced Mexican Immigration increased labor wages 1917History of Italian Migration to USWorld War 1 and the US Immigration Policy 1917
1917 Immigration and Laborreduced in immigration levels brought higher labor wagesless reliance on foreign labor increased income for average worker 1917 news item1917 Southern European Migration Levels reducedItalian migration to US reduced 1917Immigration and Literacy Test introduced to reduce immigration levels 1917Immigration InformationReduced Mexican Immigration increased labor wages 1917History of Italian Migration to USWorld War 1 and the US Immigration Policy 1917
