Isolationist sentiment: After World War I, there was a strong isolationist sentiment in the United States. Many Americans were opposed to getting involved in foreign conflicts and wanted to focus on domestic affairs. This isolationism made it difficult to pass legislation that would have increased the number of refugees allowed into the country.
Economic concerns: The United States was also facing economic difficulties during the Great Depression. The government was worried that allowing more refugees into the country would put a strain on the economy and take jobs away from American citizens.
Anti-Semitism: There was also a significant amount of anti-Semitism in the United States at the time. This made it difficult to pass legislation that would have increased the number of Jewish refugees allowed into the country.
Lack of awareness: Many Americans were simply unaware of the extent of the persecution that Jews and other minorities were facing in Europe. They did not realize how urgently these people needed refuge.
As a result of these factors, the United States did not allow more refugees into the country before World War II. This decision had devastating consequences for many Jews and other minorities who were trying to escape persecution.