America's Response to Holocaust: Too Little — Reading Comprehension

The Holocaust was one of the worst human tragedies of the twentieth century. During World War II, Nazi Germany systematically murdered six million Jews and millions of others. The United States government and its citizens faced difficult choices about how to respond to these horrific crimes. Although news of the Nazis' persecution of Jews reached America early, the response was complex, often slow, and deeply debated.

At first, many American leaders and members of the public were not fully aware of the full scale of the Holocaust. Some believed reports of mass killings were exaggerated. Anti-Semitism, or prejudice against Jews, was present in American society and shaped attitudes about refugees. The U.S. government maintained strict immigration quotas that limited the number of people who could enter the country, even as thousands of Jews and others desperately sought safety.

Some officials, like Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau Jr., urged President Franklin D. Roosevelt to take stronger action. In a 1944 report, Morgenthau wrote, "We have failed to act quickly enough when the evidence was clear." This primary source shows how even high-ranking officials believed the response was inadequate. Roosevelt later created the War Refugee Board, but by then, most of the Holocaust's victims had already perished.

The response was shaped by several factors. First, the United States was focused on winning the war against Germany and Japan. Some leaders argued that the best way to help victims was to defeat the Nazis as quickly as possible. Others worried that allowing more refugees might threaten American security or overwhelm resources during wartime. These concerns often outweighed humanitarian arguments in government debates.

Jewish organizations and some American citizens pushed for change. They organized rallies, wrote letters, and published newspaper articles to raise awareness and demand action. Still, major barriers remained. In 1939, for example, the ship St. Louis, carrying over 900 Jewish refugees, was turned away from American shores. Most passengers were forced to return to Europe, where many later died in Nazi camps. This event became a symbol of the U.S. failure to offer refuge.

America's response can be compared to that of other Allied nations. Britain also limited Jewish immigration, especially to its colony of Palestine. Some Latin American countries accepted more refugees, but overall, most countries failed to open their doors widely. The U.S. did accept about 200,000 Jewish refugees, but this was only a small fraction of those seeking safety.

Historians continue to debate whether the U.S. could have done more. Some argue that strict immigration laws reflected popular opinion and fears of foreign threats. Others believe that stronger leadership and public pressure could have saved more lives. Evidence shows that information about the Holocaust was available, but political and social obstacles prevented a larger rescue effort. The lesson is clear: government decisions about refugees can have life-or-death consequences.

Interesting Fact: Interesting Fact: The War Refugee Board, created in 1944, helped save about 200,000 Jews—one of the few successful government rescue efforts during the Holocaust.

Who was President during WWII?

What was the War Refugee Board?

Which ship was turned away in 1939?

Why did some Americans oppose more refugees?

What did Secretary Morgenthau urge Roosevelt to do?

What was a result of U.S. quotas?

The War Refugee Board helped save 200,000 Jews. True or False?

What does 'persecution' mean?