How the Greatest Generation Transformed America

The Baby Boomer generation receives a lot of criticism—and rightfully so. They created unaffordable assets and housing, they contributed to skyrocketing national debt through expansive government spending and entitlement programs that they benefited from but left future generations to pay for, and they blindly follow supposed “experts.” They are single-handedly keeping legacy media in business, never questioning a word of what it preaches. The median age of MSNBC viewers is 72! Of course, there are exceptions; there are some great people from this generation.

Then there’s the Greatest Generation, born between 1901 and 1927, who are held in high esteem and rarely criticized. They grew up during the Great Depression, and when war broke out, they quietly enlisted in droves at recruiters’ offices. While the men fought overseas, the women took up tools for manufacturing back home. When the war ended, the men returned to their jobs without complaint. They were truly admirable. But was everything they did great? Far from it. In fact, they deserve much of the blame for America’s decline. How dare I question the Greatest Generation? Let’s dive in.

American Immigration Before 1965

The Early Days: 1790 to the Early 1900s

Before 1965, U.S. immigration laws were much different. Before discussing the Johnson-Reed Act of 1924, let’s review the United States’ immigration policy up to that point. In the early days of the Republic, immigration was encouraged to populate the young nation. The Naturalization Act of 1790 limited citizenship to “free white persons” of “good character.” After two years of residency, they could become citizens by proving good character and swearing loyalty to the Constitution. Immigration grew steadily, and in the mid-1800s, America experienced a drastic surge. Millions arrived from Ireland and Germany. In Ireland, famine drove many to flee in search of a better life. Then, in 1848, revolts across Europe led to a surge of various ethnic groups, mostly Germanic. They were drawn by America’s economic opportunities, political freedom, and abundant land. However, many of these immigrants brought socialist views with them.