Document-Based Questions

Essential Question

How did the United States respond to the Holocaust?

Materials

Click on the document titles in green to view the document and the analysis questions.
Part I: Kristallnacht and its Aftermath

1a. New York Times Headline: Nazis Smash, Loot and Burn Jewish Shops and Temples
1b. Public Opinion Poll After Kristallnacht
2. FDR's Public Reaction to Kristallnacht
3. Political Cartoon: "Please Ring the Bell for Us"
4. The Wagner-Rogers Bill
5. FDR's Inaction on the Wagner-Rogers Bill

Part II: Antisemitism in the U.S. on the Eve of World War II

6. Political Cartoon: Believe It or Not!
7. Aryan Bookstore in Los Angeles
8. Liberation Magazine Headline
9. The German American Bund
10. Political Cartoon: Spreading the Lovely Goebbels Stuff
11. Excerpts from Lindbergh's "America First" Speech, Photo of Rally, and Political Cartoon

Part III: America wrestles with the response to "the Jewish Question"

12. Political Cartoon: Only God can make a tree to furnish sport for you and me!
13. Congressman John Rankin's Remarks on the House Floor
14. Breckinridge Long Photograph and Quotations
15. Political Cartoon: Refer to Committee 3, Investigation Subcommittee 6, Section 8, for consideration
16. Secretary of Treasury Henry Morgenthau and his Secret Report to the President
17. Article from the Amsterdam Evening Recorder, War Refugee Board
18. John J. McCloy's Letter to John W. Pehle Concerning the Bombing of Auschwitz

Part IV: Jews in America Respond

19. Article, Dr. Wise Cites Jew Murders
20. Article from the Brooklyn Citizen, Blessed Are They that Suffer
21. Photograph of a United Jewish War Effort Event

Activity

The documents listed above (with scaffold questions) can be incorporated to create a variety of Document Based Questions (DBQ) writing exercises.  There are a number of topics (with suggested documents) and prompts provided, enabling teachers greater flexibility to effectively deal with the various student levels in their classroom, such as differentiated instruction, small group work, etc. to cater to different learning styles and ensure all students feel supported and challenged at their own level. 

Historical Context

Jewish life in America from 1933 to 1945 was shaped by the challenges and opportunities of the period, including the rise of Nazi power in Europe, the Great Depression, and the outbreak and course of World War II.  The rise of Adolf Hitler in Germany and the oppression of Jews under the Nazi regime profoundly impacted Jewish life in America. As the persecution of Jews in Germany and later in Nazi-occupied territories escalated, American Jews became increasingly vocal in their opposition to Nazism. While the vast majority of Americans opposed Nazism, some held negative stereotypes about Jews. Polls during this period show that many Americans held unfavorable views of Jews, often linking them with communism or perceiving them as "un-American.” Jews in the U.S. faced the moral dilemma of how to respond to the growing refugee crisis as European Jews sought escape from Nazi persecution. While many American Jews were sympathetic to the plight of European Jews, U.S. immigration quotas limited the number of refugees who could enter the country.  As the war unfolded and the full scale of Nazi atrocities became known, American Jews were deeply affected by the reports of the mass murder of Jews in Europe. The news of the Holocaust sparked widespread outrage, and Jewish organizations increased efforts to pressure the U.S. government to take action, including bombing railways leading to concentration camps or allowing more refugees to enter the country.  These actions would shape the American Jewish community’s political, social, and cultural engagement in the years to come. 

DBQ Options

1. U.S. and the Holocaust (All Documents Listed Above or a Selected Few)

Analyze the response of the United States to the persecution of Jews in Europe during the Holocaust. In your analysis, consider both the actions taken and the inaction exhibited by the U.S. government during the 1930s and 1940s. 

Historical Background: 

During the Holocaust (1933-1945), Nazi Germany systematically persecuted and murdered approximately six million Jews, along with millions of others. Despite widespread knowledge of the atrocities, the United States government, under the leadership of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, struggled with its response to the growing refugee crisis and the genocide unfolding in Europe. Factors such as domestic antisemitism, isolationism, and deliberate bureaucratic inactivity played roles in shaping U.S. policies during this period.  Antisemitism in the United States during the late 1930s and into World War II had a significant influence on both U.S. foreign and domestic policy. It shaped the American response to Nazi Germany's rise, the Holocaust, and America's role in global affairs during the war. 

Guiding Questions: 

• What were the primary reasons for the United States' limited response to the plight of Jews during the Holocaust? 
• How did the U.S. government balance political, social, and humanitarian considerations in its decisions regarding Jewish refugees and the Holocaust? 
• What role did public opinion and domestic policies play in shaping U.S. actions during this time? 
• To what extent was U.S. inaction or delayed response a result of bureaucratic inefficiencies versus ideological or political factors? 

Your Task:

In your essay, use the documents provided to support your argument and analysis. Be sure to evaluate the significance of U.S. policy during the Holocaust and assess whether U.S. actions were sufficient or whether they contributed to the tragedy of the Holocaust 

2. The Role of American Isolationism and Antisemitism in Shaping U.S. Foreign Policy in the 1930s  (Docs 1-10)

Prompt:

To what extent did widespread antisemitism in the United States influence the country’s foreign policy in the 1930s, particularly in relation to the refugee crisis and the rise of Nazi Germany? 

Guided Questions:

• What were the key principles of American isolationism in the 1930s, and how did they influence the U.S. response to growing international conflicts?  
• How did the Great Depression contribute to the rise of isolationist sentiment in the United States?  
• How did antisemitic attitudes within the American public impact U.S. foreign policy towards Nazi Germany in the 1930s? 
• Discuss the extent to which the U.S. government actively restricted Jewish immigration during the 1930s and the motivations behind such policies.

3. Antisemitism in U.S. Legislation and Immigration Policy During the 1930s (Docs 1-6)

Prompt:

How did antisemitism shape U.S. immigration policies in the 1930s, particularly in regard to Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution? 

Guided questions: 

• What social, political, and economic factors contributed to the rise of antisemitism in the U.S. during the 1930s? 
• To what extent was antisemitism present in U.S. political debate in the 1930s, and who were the key figures promoting such views? 
• What role did the U.S. government play in restricting Jewish immigration to the U.S. in the 1930s?  
• Were there any significant policies or decisions made by President Franklin D. Roosevelt or his administration regarding Jewish immigration? 
• How did media outlets portray Jewish refugees in the 1930s, and what effect did this have on public opinion regarding immigration policy? 

4. The Influence of Nazi Ideology on Antisemitism in the United States During the 1930s (Docs 6-11) 

Prompt:

In what ways did the rise of Nazi ideology in Germany during the 1930s contribute to the spread of antisemitism in the United States? 

Guided Questions:      

• To what extent did Nazi ideology influence existing antisemitic groups or movements in the U.S.? 
• What role did figures like Henry Ford and Charles Lindbergh or groups like the German-American Bund play in promoting antisemitism in the U.S. during the 1930s? 
• How did American media outlets portray Nazi Germany's actions toward Jews, and how did this affect public opinion in the U.S. and did some media sources downplay or amplify Nazi antisemitic actions? 

5. Government Responses to Antisemitism and the Jewish Refugee Crisis during World War II (Docs 12-18) 

Prompt:

How did the U.S. government respond to the growing persecution of Jews in Europe during the 1930s, and to what extent were antisemitic attitudes among officials a factor in limiting U.S. refugee policies? 

Guided Questions:

• What role did the U.S. State Department and other government agencies play in shaping immigration policy for refugees during the early years of the war? 
• How did bureaucratic red tape and visa restrictions complicate the efforts of Jewish refugees trying to flee Nazi-occupied Europe? 
• What actions, if any, did FDR take to increase refugee quotas or offer sanctuary to Jews fleeing the Holocaust? 
• How did figures within the U.S. Government, such as Henry Morganthau and Breckinridge Long, help and/or hinder the entry of Jewish refugees into the U.S.? 

6. The Impact of Antisemitism on American Jewish Communities in the 1930s and World War II (Docs 5-11, 16, 19-21) 

Background:

Faced with the atrocities against Jews in Europe during World War II, Jewish Americans responded by organizing protests, lobbied the government to take action against Nazi persecution, attempted to rescue relatives through private efforts, and actively supported the war effort, all while often grappling with anxieties about the fate of their families overseas; however, their efforts to pressure the US government to significantly increase immigration of European Jews went largely unsuccessful due to existing immigration quotas and public concerns about antisemitic backlash. 

Prompt:

How did antisemitism in the United States during the 1930s affect Jewish communities in terms of social integration and political activism? 

Guided Questions 

• In what ways did Jewish Americans respond to rising antisemitism, both at the individual and organizational level? 
• What was the American Jewish community’s response to the rise of Hitler and the events unfolding in Europe, particularly with regard to the persecution of Jews? 
• What was the role of Jewish organizations during World War II in combating antisemitism and advocating for Jewish refugees 

Online Versions of the DBQs

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