Old is New Again

Slogans: Our Children, Our Future takes place a century ago during one of the more turbulent times in our country's history.  My research into life in the United States during this period was like looking into a mirror reflecting the present.  I believe my grandfather, Massey, would be quite confused picking up today's newspaper and scanning the political cartoons.  "Did one hundred years really pass?" he would ask.  "It looks like nothing's changed."

Terror

Fear of Foreigners - 2016

Fear of  Foreigners - 1916

Massey would relate the fear of terrorism washing over the United States in 2016.  Back in 1916, every Russian immigrant was seen as a bomb wielding Bolshevik intent on the destruction of American civilization.  Immigration quotas were in the works and America was determined to deport and exclude all undesirables.  Massey would have sympathized with the family portrayed in this 2016 cartoon.

Immigrant Families

Families being separated in 2016

In 1916 Massey's wife and children were still in Russia and he hoped to bring them to America.  But regulations described in his local newspaper's cartoons caused him justifiable concern.  Would Akulina and boys be ever admitted to America under new quotas and rules?

Quotas --1916

A wall is not a new idea

Congress designed the quota system and sets of new requirements to stop the flow of immigrants into America.  The irony of the rules is they were written by men only a few generations removed from being immigrants themselves. 

1916 cartoon lampooning the barring of Eastern European immigrants

 

Hyphenated Americans

A current term that may have caused Massey confusion is the use of African-American to describe black Americans.  In 1916, blacks were simply Americans.  Even the KKK had to list them as a separate category from the clan's "born-in-America" requirement.  The only hyphenated Americans Massey knew were foreign born.

Women's Votes

Another of today's issues Massey might have identified with was politicians actively soliciting women's votes.  As seen in this 1920 cartoon, things haven't changed that much.

The Next Century

I wonder what the United States would be like if I were to return in 100 years?  Maybe this old cartoon will be correct.

In another 100 years?