HIST 1301 Essay: World War 1's Benefits for Immigrants & Minorities

This argumentative essay explores whether World War 1 provided more benefits and opportunities for advancement to immigrants and minorities compared to the Progressive Movement. It argues that World War 1, driven by global issues like nationalism and military alliances, inadvertently fostered unity and offered avenues for social and economic development. The essay highlights how the war, despite its challenges, led to policy changes, increased interaction between immigrants and the majority population, and opened economic doors. While acknowledging the discrimination and hostility faced by minorities, the essay concludes that World War 1 ultimately paved the way for global solutions to conflict, a major cause of immigration, and promoted national identity, contributing to the socio-economic development of immigrants.

Full Name
HIST 1301-6003M
May 22nd, 2018
Argumentative Essay 1
Argumentative Essay
Theses: Did World War 1 have more benefits and opportunities for advancement to
immigrants and minorities than the progressive movement?

Full Name
HIST 1301-6003M
May 22nd, 2018
Argumentative Essay 1
Introduction
Roger Daniels points out that the US freedom of seas policy allowing for free movement of
people everywhere led to a world conflict and consequently World War 1 (Daniels 1997, 78).
Conflicts and war may lead to the development of immigrants but global solutions are also
necessary for the creation of social and economic development among the immigrants and the
minorities in society. Mendez and Font (2013) support this thesis by identifying global factors
that contribute to the development of immigrants and moniorities.
The World War 1 came about due to global issues like nationalism, military alliances and world
politics, which support the existence of immigrants and minorities. A Serbian loyalist sparks
World War 1 by assassinating Archduke Ferdinand together with his wife. As a result, countries
go to war in-group alliances and this culminates into international treaties, creation of unity, non-
governmental organizations and government intervention. These are social and political
solutions, which Progressive Movements pursue in an attempt to bring social order.
Immigration as a social issue is a concern that bothers movements because it creates minority
classes. Focused on activism, reforms and creating social order the progressive movements find
solutions in the geopolitical factors such as diplomacy and nationalism. World War 1 includes
experiences such as the Holocaust, which led to global interventions and diplomacy (Blanton and
Kegley 2016). The participation of different nations in the war provided opportunities for
dialogue and the formation of national groups such as ethnic and racial groups. Shared
challenges at the time included the plight of young immigrants, employment and restrictions.
World War 1 championed national identify as a solution for the conflict resolution.

Full Name
HIST 1301-6003M
May 22nd, 2018
Argumentative Essay 1
Today, causes of war include religion, tribal divisiveness and segregation. Progressive
movements focus on patriotism through influencing people into action. These contribute to the
emergence of immigrants and refugees who are minority groups in a country. World War 1
became a lesson for the global communities on how to deal with the root causes of division
(Daniels 1997, 80). Policy changes such as the creation of law to facilitate for literacy among the
adult immigrants came into play. Language is a critical factor of integration for uniting citizens.
Giving examples of the American immigrants, Daniels states that the impact of the war was
positive because it gave immigrants a chance to coexist “side by side with the white man”
(Daniels 1997, 81)
According to Daniels, the war opened economic and social doors of opportunities. However, the
creation of thousands of jobs also came with challenges such as discrimination, violence and
hostility as minorities defended themselves. Supporters of the movements advocate for social
reforms addressing specific problems such as industrialization and immigration (Tilly and Lesley
2015). The World War 1 effects address both the root causes of these problems and addresses the
issues from a multi-sectorial point of view.
Conclusion
It is agreeable that the Word War 1 led to immense benefits and opportunities for the global
immigrants because it paved the way for global solutions against conflicts, which is a major
cause of immigration. The war was also instrumental in creating immigrants but led to
nationalism through the creation of a united nation. This is important in the socio economic
development of immigrants.

Full Name
HIST 1301-6003M
May 22nd, 2018
Argumentative Essay 1
Works Cited
Blanton, Shannon, L, and Charles, W Kegley. 2016. World Politics: Trend and Transformation,
2016-2017. Cengage Learning.
Daniels, Roger. 1997. Not Like Us: Immigrants and Minorities in America, 1890-1924.
American Ways .
Mendez, Monica, and Joan Font. 2013. Surveying ethnic minorities and immigrant populations:
Methodological challenges and research strategies. Amsterdam University Press.
Tilly, Charles, and J, Wood Lesley. 2015. Social Movements 1768-2012. Routledge.