Exploring the Oswego Refugee Camp Experience

By 1939, Americans were aware of Nazi persecution of Jews but largely opposed admitting refugees. President Roosevelt faced resistance in raising immigration limits. The State Department, under Breckenridge Long, restricted Jewish immigration. In 1944, Roosevelt established the War Refugee Board, admitting 982 refugees to Fort Ontario. Despite initial quarantine, the Oswego community supported the refugees. After WWII, President Truman allowed them to stay, marking Fort Ontario as the only US refugee center during the war.

What percentage of Americans in 1939 opposed admitting Jewish refugees?

• 90%

• 83%

• 75%

• 65%

Which department was primarily responsible for refusing the docking of a German ocean liner carrying Jewish refugees?

• State Department

• Department of Defense

• Department of Commerce

• Treasury Department

What was the main purpose of the War Refugee Board established by Roosevelt?

• To increase the U.S. military strength

• To provide aid to war-torn European nations

• To set up camps for people escaping Nazi persecution

• To negotiate peace treaties with Axis powers

How many refugees were admitted into the U.S. in the first large group in 1944?

• 900

• 982

• 800

• 1100

What was the initial reaction of the refugees upon seeing the conditions at Fort Ontario?

• They were indifferent

• They were relieved and happy

• They were worried they had exchanged one concentration camp for another

• They were immediately content with the conditions

What significant event happened to the refugees when quarantine ended at Fort Ontario?

• They were asked to return to Europe immediately

• They were all granted U.S. citizenship

• The gates were opened and the local community interacted with them

• They were relocated to another state

What was the public's reaction in Oswego towards the refugees?

• Suspicious and cautious

• Supportive and welcoming

• Indifferent and uninvolved

• Mostly hostile and unwelcoming

Which U.S. President allowed the refugees to remain in the country after the war?

• President Roosevelt

• President Eisenhower

• President Truman

• President Kennedy

What was the unique status of Fort Ontario by the end of WWII?

• It was the only refugee center in the U.S.

• It was converted into a public school

• It was shut down immediately after the war

• It became a permanent military base

What role did The Saturday Evening Post play in relation to the refugee situation?

• It was responsible for transporting refugees

• It documented the events and offered digital archives

• It opposed the government's refugee policies

• It provided financial support to the refugees