Wondering what to do about raccoons? Conflicts with these intelligent animals can be prevented and resolved humanely.
Found in almost every major urban, suburban and rural habitat in the 48 adjoining states, raccoons dont know that our trash cans, vegetable gardens, bird feeders and chimneys arent for them—they’re just trying to survive. When these clever creatures take advantage of the food and shelter we (unintentionally) provide, they can get into trouble. Fortunately, there are inexpensive, humane and effective ways to prevent and solve problems with raccoons.
The Complex History Behind the Phrase “Put Them Out and Keep Them Out”
The slogan “put them out and keep them out” has a complicated history in the United States, emerging in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as an anti-immigrant and anti-radical mantra While its exact origins are unclear, the phrase encapsulates the xenophobia, racism, and labor unrest that characterized America during this era. Understanding the background behind this divisive phrase provides insight into a turbulent period in the nation’s past
The Tumultuous Backdrop
During the late 1800s and early 1900s American society was undergoing seismic changes
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Rapid industrialization shifted labor from rural farms to urban factories, displacing many workers
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Mass immigration, especially from Eastern and Southern Europe, challenged traditional demographics as cities swelled.
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Wealth inequality surged as business tycoons amassed fortunes while exploited workers struggled in squalid conditions.
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Radical political ideologies like socialism, anarchism, and communism arose in response to abusive labor practices.
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Frequent economic depressions, strikes, and unemployment created widespread financial anxiety.
Perceived Threats to the Established Order
Many native-born Americans viewed these changes and the influx of immigrants as threats to the established order:
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Xenophobia cast newcomers as unwanted foreigners with alien cultures, religions, and radical political beliefs.
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Labor strikes were falsely attributed to external radical agitators rather than poor working conditions.
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The influence of immigrants involved in revolutionary causes was greatly exaggerated.
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Prejudice toward groups like Italians, Slavs, Russians, and Eastern European Jews was rampant.
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Paranoia grew regarding perceived radical plots to disrupt major industries and institutions.
The Red Scare
This volatile environment spawned the First Red Scare of 1919-1920 after the Bolshevik Revolution:
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Labor strikes were suspected of being Bolshevik conspiracies to stir revolution.
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Anarchists mail-bombed government officials, fueling fears of radical violence.
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Thousands of immigrants were rounded up and detained without due process.
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Attorney General Palmer conducted raids targeting leftist organizations and labor agitators.
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Anti-immigrant hysteria reached new heights under the guise of combatting communism and defending national security.
The Rise of a Divisive Slogan
This climate gave rise to the slogan “put them out and keep them out.” It first emerged as a response to labor radicalism, with calls to forcibly “put out” perceived threats like strikes and anarchist bombings.
But its more common use centered on xenophobic hostility toward immigrants, particularly those with radical politics. Mass arrests and deportations of immigrants were celebrated under this banner, capturing the era’s isolationism and prejudice.
The phrase encapsulated the desire to remove supposedly dangerous foreign influences from the country and close America off from the world. While radical acts did pose real threats, fear and hysteria exaggerated their scale, resulting in civil rights violations.
Legacy of Intolerance
The lingering effects of this isolationist stance influenced immigration politics for decades, though some lessons have been learned. Looking back, “put them out and keep them out” represents how fear can drive extreme reactions when social foundations are shaken. While security concerns were valid, prejudice fueled exclusion more than facts.
As we reflect on this history, we see how easily hostility ar1s3s during times of instability. Hopefully we can avoid repeating such harmful responses today by promoting tolerance and compassion while still addressing genuine risks. Revisiting this phrase reminds us of the dangers when nationalism morphs into xenophobia during periods of rapid change.
How can I keep raccoons away from my yard, pond or garden?
Raccoons can damage lawns (especially recently sodded ones) by digging for earthworms and grubs, which surface when lawns are wet. This is generally a short-term problem that lasts only as long as the rain or watering does. Raccoons might also make a temporary den in a woodpile or eat from your vegetable garden or pond.
- Try hot sauce or a capsaicin-based repellent around the perimeter of what youre trying to protect.
- Install motion-activated lights and sprinklers.
- Set up a battery-operated radio tuned to an all-night talk show and turn it on for a few nights to drive raccoons away.
- Remove any wood that was used for a den and burn it outside to destroy roundworm eggs.
- Keep ponds at least 3 feet deep. Provide places for fish and frogs to hide using aquatic plants, rocks and cinder blocks with holes in your pond. Pile or stack rocks and blocks in groups of three. (This will also prevent other pond predators.)
- In extreme cases, where its allowed and wont harm children or pets, you can use single-strand electric wire or fencing (4 to 8 inches off the ground) around raised vegetable beds or to protect fish in backyard ponds.
How do I know if I have raccoons in or around my home?
Hearing strange noises in your attic or chimney? Sometimes raccoons are blamed for damage they don’t do. Here are signs you have a raccoon in residence:
- Hand-shaped tracks on light surfaces or where the ground is soft enough for their paws to leave an impression. Like bears, raccoons walk on their entire paws, not just the toes.
- Oily smudges or “rubs,” tracks or hair caught on the edges of entry points around roofline openings, gable vents or attic vents (raccoons can enter openings as small as 3.5 inches in diameter).
- Sooty raccoon prints going up or down a gutter downspout may indicate that a raccoon is using a nearby open chimney.
- Noises in walls and attics (such as plodding footfalls) at night and in the evening and early morning hours.
- Vocalizations from young (chittering, mewing or crying sounds).
- Scat about 3/4-inch in diameter and 2 to 3 inches long with segmenting and blunt ends. Raccoon scats vary widely in size, depending upon the raccoon’s age, and in content—which is often quite evident, depending on what has been eaten.
- Latrines in the attic or void (nonliving) spaces where an animal has repeatedly left scat. If feces have accumulated, follow the Centers for Disease Control’s removal recommendations or hire cleanup professionals to safely clean the latrine area.
When Crowds TAKE Over Singing
FAQ
What does 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 the political cartoon close the gate mean?
This cartoon advocates for a restrictive immigration policy, recommending the United States “close the gate” on undesirable (and presumably dangerous) immigrants.