Congress passes its first laws restricting immigration after decades of maintaining open borders; in Germany, Hitler and the Nazis begin their persecution of Jewish people, causing many to flee to other countries including America.

As World War II begins, Americans unite in their disapproval of Nazi brutality and work to help refugees escape; Charles Lindbergh and isolationists battle with President Roosevelt to keep America out of the war; Germany invades the Soviet Union.

A group of government officials supports rescue operations; the public sees for the first time the scale of the Holocaust as Allies liberate German camps.