Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Caribbean History Practice Exam

The closing of borders in the U.S. in the 1930s significantly impacted Caribbean workers' emigration. This action was largely influenced by the economic conditions resulting from the Great Depression, which led to a rise in unemployment and a reduction in the demand for labor in the United States. As the U.S. sought to prioritize jobs for its citizens, stricter immigration policies were enacted, resulting in barriers that prevented many Caribbean workers from migrating for economic opportunities.

During the 1930s, the combination of a desire to safeguard domestic employment and increasing nativism limited the availability of work permits and visas for foreign workers, including those from the Caribbean. Consequently, even if individuals from the Caribbean sought employment in the U.S., they faced challenges due to heightened immigration restrictions, which effectively curtailed the flow of workers seeking better livelihoods abroad.

Understanding the complexities of immigration policies during this period reveals how external economic factors in the U.S. not only shaped the job market domestically but also had a direct impact on Caribbean labor dynamics. This context is crucial for analyzing labor migration patterns in the region during the 1930s.