The Origins and Meaning of “Put Them Out and Keep Them Out”

The phrase “put them out and keep them out” has its roots in late 19th and early 20th century American politics. It emerged as a slogan for anti-immigrant and anti-radical sentiments during a period of social upheaval and economic instability. Understanding the origins and evolution of this phrase provides insight into a divisive time in America’s past.

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, causing displacement.

• New waves of immigration, especially from eastern and southern Europe, challenged traditional demographics.

• Income inequality grew as business tycoons amassed wealth while workers struggled.

• Radical political ideologies like socialism, anarchism and communism arose in response to exploitation of labor.

• Economic depressions, strikes and unemployment created anxiety about jobs and stability.

Perceived Threats

Many native-born Americans perceived the social changes and influx of immigrants as threats to the established order:

• Xenophobia cast newcomers as unwanted foreigners with strange customs, religions and political ideas.

• Labor unrest like strikes was blamed on external radical influences rather than poor conditions.

• Alarmist rhetoric exaggerated the proportion of immigrants actually involved in revolutionary causes.

• Prejudice toward groups like Italians, Slavs, Russians and Eastern European Jews prevailed.

• Fears emerged that radicals would disrupt major industries and institutions.

The Red Scare

In this climate, the Red Scare of 1919-1920 erupted after the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia:

• Labor strikes calling for better treatment of workers were suspected of being Bolshevik plots.

• Anarchist mail bombs targeted government officials, fueling fears of radicals.

• Thousands of foreign-born residents were swept up and detained without due process.

• Attorney General Palmer conducted raids targeting leftist organizations.

• Anti-immigrant sentiment reached new highs in the name of anticommunism and national security.

“Put Them Out and Keep Them Out”

This prevalent environment gave rise to the slogan “put them out and keep them out.”

• It first emerged in warnings about labor unrest and radicalism. Native-born Americans aimed to “put out” perceived threats like strikes and anarchist violence.

• Its more lasting use came as a xenophobic rallying cry against immigration, particularly radicals and labor organizers. Mass arrests and deportations were cheered under this mantra.

• The slogan captured the desire among many Americans of the era to purge unwanted foreigners and circle the wagons around a narrow conception of Americanism.

Legacy of Prejudice

While radical acts indeed posed a threat, prejudice and paranoid hysteria exaggerated the perceived risks and resulted in civil rights violations:

• Sweeping arrests denied due process to thousands caught up in the raids and deportations.

• Assumptions were made about entire groups based on the actions of very few.

• Anti-immigrant policies stemmed from unfounded fears rather than facts.

• Xenophobia and racism drove exclusion more than any genuine risks.

The residual effects of this isolationist stance would influence debates around immigration for decades to come. “Put them out and keep them out” reflected the darkest sides of nationalism and American identity during an unsettled time.

While security concerns were understandable, civil liberties and due process were readily abandoned in the name of stamping out radicals. The phrase encapsulates how fear can drive extreme reactions when instability rocks a society’s foundations. Calling for simply “putting out” the offending parties glosses over deeper issues driving unrest.

As we look back at the complex attitudes captured in this slogan, we see a warning of how prejudice arises in times of change. Keeping this history in mind hopefully helps us avoid repeating such harmful responses today.