The St. Louis
This passage describes the journey of the ship St. Louis, which attempted to leave Germany with immigrants wishing to escape Nazi rule.
1 in January, 1933, Adolf Hitler became chancellor of Germany. The country's first concentration camp opened two months later, to be followed by many more. They were originally built to house "enemies of the state" that threatened Nazi political control or were accused of socially deviant behavior. But when side-scale arrests of Jewish German and Austrian citizens began after Germany's annexation of Austria in 1938, many of these individuals were sent to the camps. A growing number of Germany's Jewish population, fearful of increasing anti-Semitism, left or tried to eave Germany.
2. A few months before the start of World War II, the ship St. Louis left Hamburg, Germany, with 937 passengers, mostly Jewish refugees. Headed to Havana, Cuba, they were unaware that Cuba's president had invalidated all recently issued landing certificates. He claimed certificates had been sold by a corrupt government official. Although most of the St. Louis passengers had applied for U.S. visas and planned to be in Cuba only temporarily, they now faced an uncertain future.
3 When the ship arrived in Havana, the Cuban government refused to allow 908 of the passengers to leave the ship. After six days the ship was ordered to leave Cuba. It began a slow, 4 day journey along the Cuba and Florida coasts, the passengers hoping they would be permitted to enter the United States. Direct appeals were made to President Roosevelt, but he and State Department officials decided to not take any special exceptions for the passengers. Immigration at the time was strictly limited by quotas established in the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act of 1924. The German-Austrian immigration limit of 27,370 for 1939 had been quickly filled.
4 The St. Louis headed back to Europe but not to Germany. Jewish organizations
Which statement is true about the four countries that accepted the passengers?
- A. They had camps similar to those established by Germany.
- B. They were allies during World War II.
- C. They had Europe's largest populations prior to World War I.
- D. They each shared a border with Germany.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
Option B is accurate as the four countries that accepted the passengers were indeed allies during World War II, collaborating against the Axis powers. Option A is incorrect because these countries did not establish camps similar to those in Germany; instead, they provided refuge to those fleeing persecution. Option C is misleading; while some of these countries had significant populations, they were not necessarily the largest in Europe prior to World War I. Option D is false as not all of the countries shared a border with Germany, which limits the applicability of this statement.
Option B is accurate as the four countries that accepted the passengers were indeed allies during World War II, collaborating against the Axis powers. Option A is incorrect because these countries did not establish camps similar to those in Germany; instead, they provided refuge to those fleeing persecution. Option C is misleading; while some of these countries had significant populations, they were not necessarily the largest in Europe prior to World War I. Option D is false as not all of the countries shared a border with Germany, which limits the applicability of this statement.
Other Related Questions
Based on the obituary, 'scientific management' meant
- A. doing work in a more productive manner.
- B. creating better tools for the workplace.
- C. getting rid of unskilled workers.
- D. hiring more inventive workers.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
Scientific management focuses on improving efficiency and productivity in the workplace by analyzing and optimizing work processes. Option A captures this essence, emphasizing a more productive approach to tasks. Option B, while relevant, is too narrow as scientific management encompasses more than just tool creation; it involves systematic study of workflows. Option C misinterprets the philosophy, which does not advocate for eliminating unskilled workers but rather seeks to enhance overall productivity through better management techniques. Option D suggests hiring more inventive workers, which is not a core principle of scientific management; it prioritizes process optimization over workforce creativity.
Scientific management focuses on improving efficiency and productivity in the workplace by analyzing and optimizing work processes. Option A captures this essence, emphasizing a more productive approach to tasks. Option B, while relevant, is too narrow as scientific management encompasses more than just tool creation; it involves systematic study of workflows. Option C misinterprets the philosophy, which does not advocate for eliminating unskilled workers but rather seeks to enhance overall productivity through better management techniques. Option D suggests hiring more inventive workers, which is not a core principle of scientific management; it prioritizes process optimization over workforce creativity.
When is a government most likely to establish a wage floor?
- A. When wages have consistently increased over a long period of time
- B. When wages have remained constant over a long period of time
- C. When it determines wages are too low
- D. When it determines wages are too high
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
A wage floor, often implemented through minimum wage laws, is typically established when the government identifies that wages are too low, leading to insufficient income for workers. Option A is incorrect because a consistent increase in wages does not necessitate a wage floor; it may indicate a healthy economy. Option B is also wrong, as constant wages may not reflect a need for intervention unless they are deemed inadequate. Option D misinterprets the purpose of a wage floor; it is not set when wages are high, but rather to protect workers from unlivable pay levels. Thus, the rationale for a wage floor centers on addressing low wages.
A wage floor, often implemented through minimum wage laws, is typically established when the government identifies that wages are too low, leading to insufficient income for workers. Option A is incorrect because a consistent increase in wages does not necessitate a wage floor; it may indicate a healthy economy. Option B is also wrong, as constant wages may not reflect a need for intervention unless they are deemed inadequate. Option D misinterprets the purpose of a wage floor; it is not set when wages are high, but rather to protect workers from unlivable pay levels. Thus, the rationale for a wage floor centers on addressing low wages.
Which basic principle of governance in the U.S. maintains that legislatures write the laws, executives carry out the laws, and courts interpret the laws?
- A. Federalism
- B. Limited government
- C. Separation of powers
- D. Popular sovereignty
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
The principle of governance that ensures legislatures write laws, executives enforce them, and courts interpret them is known as the Separation of Powers. This framework prevents any one branch from becoming too powerful, promoting a system of checks and balances essential for democracy. Option A, Federalism, refers to the division of power between national and state governments, not the roles of branches. Option B, Limited Government, emphasizes restrictions on government power but does not specifically address the functions of branches. Option D, Popular Sovereignty, focuses on the authority of the people in governance, rather than the separation of government functions.
The principle of governance that ensures legislatures write laws, executives enforce them, and courts interpret them is known as the Separation of Powers. This framework prevents any one branch from becoming too powerful, promoting a system of checks and balances essential for democracy. Option A, Federalism, refers to the division of power between national and state governments, not the roles of branches. Option B, Limited Government, emphasizes restrictions on government power but does not specifically address the functions of branches. Option D, Popular Sovereignty, focuses on the authority of the people in governance, rather than the separation of government functions.
What was one reason for the U.S. Constitution establishing a bicameral legislature?
- A. To create checks and balances within Congress
- B. To reflect the structure of the executive and judicial branches
- C. To divide the power of initiating bills for raising revenue
- D. To allow the two dominant political parties an equal amount of influence
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
A bicameral legislature was established to create checks and balances within Congress, ensuring that both houses must agree on legislation, which prevents any one group from gaining excessive power. Option B is incorrect as the structure of the legislative branch does not directly mirror the executive and judicial branches; each has distinct functions. Option C is misleading; while revenue bills must originate in the House, this is not the primary reason for a bicameral system. Option D is also incorrect; the design was not specifically to balance power between political parties, but rather to enhance legislative deliberation and accountability.
A bicameral legislature was established to create checks and balances within Congress, ensuring that both houses must agree on legislation, which prevents any one group from gaining excessive power. Option B is incorrect as the structure of the legislative branch does not directly mirror the executive and judicial branches; each has distinct functions. Option C is misleading; while revenue bills must originate in the House, this is not the primary reason for a bicameral system. Option D is also incorrect; the design was not specifically to balance power between political parties, but rather to enhance legislative deliberation and accountability.