Why were nativists hostile to immigrants?

A. They resented that labor unions were helping immigrants
B. They were concerned that immigrants were too Americanized
C. They believed that immigrants were loyal to their home countries
D. They feared factories would close if immigrant populations declined

What was the purpose of a poll tax?
A. To prevent African Americans from voting in elections
B. To keep Republican governments out of the southern states
C. To ensure that disenfranchised voters can vote in elections
D. To prevent sharecroppers from leaving their farms with unpaid debts

A. To prevent African Americans from voting in elections

The correct answer to the question "Why were nativists hostile to immigrants?" is:

C. They believed that immigrants were loyal to their home countries.

The purpose of a poll tax is:

A. To prevent African Americans from voting in elections.

To determine why nativists were hostile to immigrants, we can examine the choices provided.

A) They resented that labor unions were helping immigrants: This choice implies that nativists were concerned about immigrants receiving assistance from labor unions. While it is possible that some nativists held this view, it does not specifically address the underlying hostility towards immigrants.

B) They were concerned that immigrants were too Americanized: This choice suggests that nativists were opposed to immigrants who quickly adopted American customs or assimilated into American society. It implies a fear of losing cultural identity or competitive advantages.

C) They believed that immigrants were loyal to their home countries: This choice suggests that nativists suspected immigrants of retaining close ties to their home countries, potentially leading to divided loyalties and destabilizing the social fabric of the host country.

D) They feared factories would close if immigrant populations declined: This choice implies that nativists were concerned that a decline in immigrant populations would lead to an insufficient labor force, possibly resulting in economic consequences such as factory closures.

The most accurate answer to this question is likely C) They believed that immigrants were loyal to their home countries, as nativists often held strong nativist or nationalist sentiments, fearing that immigrants would not fully embrace or be loyal to their new homeland.

Now, let's move on to the purpose of a poll tax.

A) To prevent African Americans from voting in elections: This choice suggests that a poll tax was specifically designed to hinder African Americans from exercising their right to vote. Historically, poll taxes have indeed been used as a discriminatory measure to suppress minority voting rights.

B) To keep Republican governments out of the southern states: This choice implies that the purpose of a poll tax was to deter Republican voters and ensure Democratic control in the southern states. While political motivations could be a factor, it is not the primary purpose of a poll tax.

C) To ensure that disenfranchised voters can vote in elections: This choice suggests that a poll tax was implemented to ensure that voters who have been otherwise disenfranchised can still participate in elections. However, this is inaccurate as a poll tax does not facilitate voting for any particular group.

D) To prevent sharecroppers from leaving their farms with unpaid debts: This choice indicates that a poll tax was utilized to prevent sharecroppers (tenant farmers) from abandoning their farms without settling their debts. However, while this could be a consequence of a poll tax, it is not the primary purpose.

The correct answer is A) To prevent African Americans from voting in elections. Historically, the imposition of poll taxes was a tactic used to restrict the voting rights of African Americans, primarily in the Southern United States during the Jim Crow era.