Voyage of the MS St. Louis Quiz

What event in 1933 marked the beginning of the systematic persecution of Jews in Germany?

• Kristallnacht

• Adolf Hitler becoming Chancellor

• Germany’s invasion of Poland

• The Nuremberg Laws

What happened during Kristallnacht in 1938?

• Jews were sent to concentration camps

• The St. Louis left for Cuba

• Widespread violence and destruction targeted Jews and their property

• Germany invaded Austria

Why did the Jewish passengers board the St. Louis in May 1939?

• They were being sent to concentration camps

• They were going on vacation

• They were fleeing Nazi persecution and hoping to wait in Cuba for U.S. visas

• They were returning to Germany

Why did most passengers on the MS St. Louis expect to be admitted to Cuba?

• They had family in Havana

• They believed their visas were valid

• They were all Cuban citizens

• The ship was sponsored by Cuba

What was the Cuban government's response when the St. Louis arrived in Havana?

• They welcomed all the passengers

• They immediately turned the ship away

• They allowed only a few passengers to disembark and rejected the rest

• They issued new visas to all passengers

How did Cuba attempt to profit from the refugee crisis?

• Selling land to refugees

• Charging $500 bonds per refugee

• Asking Germany for bribes

• Running fundraising campaigns

What personal experience illustrates the desperation of passengers on the ship?

• Roosevelt's speech

• A boy's birthday party

• Max Lowe's suicide attempt

• A musical performance

Why were immigration quotas a problem for the MS St. Louis passengers?

• Most countries didn’t believe in immigration

• The quotas were filled years in advance

• The refugees had criminal records

• Cuba's quota system was based on religion

How did the U.S. government respond to the MS St. Louis sailing near Florida?

• They issued temporary visas

• They allowed the ship to dock

• They took emergency action to help

• They refused to admit the passengers

What role did public opinion play in the U.S. government’s decision?

• Most Americans wanted more immigration

• Public support led to a new immigration law

• The majority of the people did not want the Jewish immigrants to enter the U.S.

• The public was unaware of the crisis