There is a lot of history behind the phrase “put them out and keep them out” in American politics. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, it was used as a racist chant against immigrants, radicals, and organized labor. Learning where this phrase came from and how it changed over time can help you understand a contentious time in American history.
Background of an Unsettled Era
During the late 1800s and early 1900s, American society was undergoing dramatic changes:
- Rapid industrialization shifted work from farms to cities, displacing rural populations.
- New waves of immigration, especially from Southern and Eastern Europe, challenged traditional Anglo-Saxon demographic dominance.
- Income inequality grew as business tycoons amassed wealth while exploited workers struggled.
- Radical political ideologies like socialism, anarchism and communism arose in response to labor exploitation.
- Economic depressions, strikes, and unemployment created anxiety about stability.
Perceived Threats
Many native-born Americans perceived these changes and influx of immigrants as threats
- Xenophobia cast newcomers as unwanted foreigners with strange religions and politics.
- Labor unrest was blamed on external radical influences rather than poor conditions.
- Fears emerged that radicals would disrupt major industries and institutions.
- Prejudice toward groups like Italians, Slavs, Russians and Eastern European Jews prevailed.
Anti-Immigrant Sentiment
“Put them out and keep them out” first emerged as a warning against immigrant radicals and labor organizers. It became a xenophobic rallying cry for immigration restrictions targeting specific ethnicities:
- Mass arrests and deportations of immigrant radicals were cheered under this mantra.
- The slogan captured the desire to purge unwanted foreigners and circle the wagons around a narrow conception of Americanism.
- It reflected prejudice toward new immigrant groups deemed racially suspect and politically subversive.
Suppressing Labor Rights
The slogan was also used by business interests to undermine unionism
- Organized labor was conflated with radicalism in the popular imagination.
- Collective bargaining and worker solidarity were associated with foreign ideologies.
- Employees were compelled to reject unions to prove their patriotism.
- “Put them out and keep them out” validated anti-labor tactics as necessary counters to alien threats.
Legacy of Intolerance
While radical violence was a real concern prejudice and hysteria exaggerated the threats
- Civil rights violations resulted as thousands were detained without due process.
- Entire ethnic groups were condemned based on the actions of a few.
- Racism and xenophobia drove exclusion more than genuine risks.
The residual effects of this isolationist stance influenced immigration debates for decades. “Put them out and keep them out” encapsulated how fear drives extreme reactions when social foundations are threatened.
As we reflect on this complex history, we see the dangers of letting prejudice arise amid times of change. This slogan remains a cautionary tale of how easily hostility can disguise itself as vigilance when societies feel fearful and unstable. Examining this distressing phrase prompts us to pursue inclusion, empathy and due process instead.
♫ “Keep Them Out” – A Minecraft Parody of Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off (Music Video)
FAQ
What does the cartoon put them out and keep them out mean?
Titled “Put Them Out and Keep Them Out” it depicts a bearded Bolshevik, symbolizing the threat of communism, sneaking under the American flag. The artist’s intention is clear – to instill fear and suspicion towards anyone associated with radical political movements.
What does “come unto me ye opprest” mean?
The caption ironically reads “COME UNTO ME YE OPPREST”, a welcoming slogan to immigrants from less free nations. At the turn of the century, there was a lot of anti-anarchist feeling. In 1901 and 1918, the Anarchist Exclusion Act was made a law in the US.