Essential Question: How do attitudes towards immigrants, blacks and other minorities reflect the intolerance of the decade? How does the nostalgia and attitudes from the past conflict with modern ideas of the decade?
During the 1920s many Americans saw the immigrants as a lower class level. They also saw the immigrants as a threat to them so they created laws trying to eliminate that factor. Nativist groups were created to make fear towards the minorities and they achieved that. The attitudes from the past conflict with modern ideas because eventually Blacks were able to have a wage, and women were more “equal” they were able to hold jobs and had less restriction on how they look and act.
Immigration
-What caused immigration restriction?
Before 1900s there was not as much restriction on immigration except for immigrants who were prostitutes, had mental illnesses and diseases and were criminals. Eventually interest groups started forming in the“Clash of Cultures” and nativism grew. Many nationalists, farmers, manufacturers, and organizations wanted to regulate immigrants because they wanted to protect the American culture.
-How was immigration restricted?
In the early 20th century nationalists, organized laborers, and farmers wanted congress to control immigration. To do this, they created literacy tests for all new immigrants that was passed in 1917. In 1921 Congress passed The Emergency Quota act, it limited immigration to three percent of the total number of residents in the country. Three years later, Congress created the Immigration Act. This act was more strict and only limited immigration to two percent of the total census of 1890.
-How strong was Nativism?
Nativism was a huge deal, besides restricting the amount of immigrants, they also wanted to control the immigrants that did migrate. While immigrants were be restricted, nativist groups were created to maintain “American Values”. Some nativist groups were the Ku Klux Klan, The Immigration Restriction League and the American Protective Association. They wanted to keep American Values by teaching the immigrants English and inform them about democracy. The State Department contributed to the effort by publishing pamphlets and articles to help the immigrants.
Before 1900s there was not as much restriction on immigration except for immigrants who were prostitutes, had mental illnesses and diseases and were criminals. Eventually interest groups started forming in the“Clash of Cultures” and nativism grew. Many nationalists, farmers, manufacturers, and organizations wanted to regulate immigrants because they wanted to protect the American culture.
-How was immigration restricted?
In the early 20th century nationalists, organized laborers, and farmers wanted congress to control immigration. To do this, they created literacy tests for all new immigrants that was passed in 1917. In 1921 Congress passed The Emergency Quota act, it limited immigration to three percent of the total number of residents in the country. Three years later, Congress created the Immigration Act. This act was more strict and only limited immigration to two percent of the total census of 1890.
-How strong was Nativism?
Nativism was a huge deal, besides restricting the amount of immigrants, they also wanted to control the immigrants that did migrate. While immigrants were be restricted, nativist groups were created to maintain “American Values”. Some nativist groups were the Ku Klux Klan, The Immigration Restriction League and the American Protective Association. They wanted to keep American Values by teaching the immigrants English and inform them about democracy. The State Department contributed to the effort by publishing pamphlets and articles to help the immigrants.
ku klux klan
-What was the KKK? What did the Ku Klux Klan stand for?
The Ku Klux Klan was a nativist group. They wanted to defend the white’s values: Christianity, community services and white’s economic power etc. Most of their actions were in local areas. They also hated African Americans. During the Great Migration, African American migrated up north to work in the factories, when it occurred, the northern KKK members were outraged. The KKK hated anyone who wasn't the same race as them. The Ku Klux Klan thought that the Catholic's actions of following the Pope was unAmerican.
How did they show the intolerance of the decade?
The KKK showed the intolerance of the decade because of their unwillingness to accept the other people. They saw only one way of right, and they were determined to destroy anything that, in their eyes, threatened it.
The Ku Klux Klan was a nativist group. They wanted to defend the white’s values: Christianity, community services and white’s economic power etc. Most of their actions were in local areas. They also hated African Americans. During the Great Migration, African American migrated up north to work in the factories, when it occurred, the northern KKK members were outraged. The KKK hated anyone who wasn't the same race as them. The Ku Klux Klan thought that the Catholic's actions of following the Pope was unAmerican.
How did they show the intolerance of the decade?
The KKK showed the intolerance of the decade because of their unwillingness to accept the other people. They saw only one way of right, and they were determined to destroy anything that, in their eyes, threatened it.
red scare
-What were the Red Scare and the Palmer Raids?
The Red Scare occurred in the United States. Everyone was afraid of the Bolsheviks because of Russia wanted communism instead of democratic. As a result, innocent people were jailed because others were very suspicious of them being involved in a communist act while they were just practicing their rights, freedom of speech.
The Palmer Raids were raids conducted by Attorney General Mitchel Palmer. A group of people as well as Palmer went into homes without warrants because of their paranoia of commies, socialist, and anarchists.
How does this fear add to the intolerance of the decade? How was the “Red Scare” an example of America’s reluctance to be involved in world affairs?
This fear added to the intolerance of the decade because again the people were very suspicious, anything that was “out of the ordinary” was considered an act of communism so many people were jailed and suffered. The Red Scare was an example of America’s unwillingness to be involved in world affairs because because of America Russia is also communist, something totally different from what was envisioned.
The Red Scare occurred in the United States. Everyone was afraid of the Bolsheviks because of Russia wanted communism instead of democratic. As a result, innocent people were jailed because others were very suspicious of them being involved in a communist act while they were just practicing their rights, freedom of speech.
The Palmer Raids were raids conducted by Attorney General Mitchel Palmer. A group of people as well as Palmer went into homes without warrants because of their paranoia of commies, socialist, and anarchists.
How does this fear add to the intolerance of the decade? How was the “Red Scare” an example of America’s reluctance to be involved in world affairs?
This fear added to the intolerance of the decade because again the people were very suspicious, anything that was “out of the ordinary” was considered an act of communism so many people were jailed and suffered. The Red Scare was an example of America’s unwillingness to be involved in world affairs because because of America Russia is also communist, something totally different from what was envisioned.
Sacco and Vanzetti Trial
-What was the Sacco and Vanzetti Trial? Why was this an example of suspicion and intolerance?
On April 15th 1920, a paymaster and his guard were in South Braintree Massachusetts with a factory payroll of $15,776. Out of nowhere two men fired a gun and murdered the paymaster and the guard fleeing from being punished. Roughly three weeks later, on May 5, 1920, two Italians, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were convicted of the crime because they were ran into a police trap that was created for commies, (Red Scare) they were eventually indicted. Before this crime occurred, Vanzetti was also tried in 1920 for the Bridgewater robbery that occurred in 1919. Although there was many eye witnesses to this charge supporting Vanzetti he was eventually found guilty. Most of Vanzetti's Witnesses spoke poor English, and when they were in court for the testimony the translation was off, so witnesses were not able to persuade the court's decision.
This trial was a strong example of suspicion at the time. When the Bridgewater robbery occurred and Vanzetti was found guilty he was sentenced to 10-15 years, this was more than normal and no one was hurt/killed. Both Sacco and Vanzetti were convicted mainly because they were foreign-born radicals, this narrow-minded act was enforced America’s intolerance. These events were the beginning of twentieth century's most shameful political trials.
On April 15th 1920, a paymaster and his guard were in South Braintree Massachusetts with a factory payroll of $15,776. Out of nowhere two men fired a gun and murdered the paymaster and the guard fleeing from being punished. Roughly three weeks later, on May 5, 1920, two Italians, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were convicted of the crime because they were ran into a police trap that was created for commies, (Red Scare) they were eventually indicted. Before this crime occurred, Vanzetti was also tried in 1920 for the Bridgewater robbery that occurred in 1919. Although there was many eye witnesses to this charge supporting Vanzetti he was eventually found guilty. Most of Vanzetti's Witnesses spoke poor English, and when they were in court for the testimony the translation was off, so witnesses were not able to persuade the court's decision.
This trial was a strong example of suspicion at the time. When the Bridgewater robbery occurred and Vanzetti was found guilty he was sentenced to 10-15 years, this was more than normal and no one was hurt/killed. Both Sacco and Vanzetti were convicted mainly because they were foreign-born radicals, this narrow-minded act was enforced America’s intolerance. These events were the beginning of twentieth century's most shameful political trials.
scopes trial
Why is this trial indicative of the conflict of old vs. new in the 1920’s?
In 1925, Dayton, Tennessee a high school biology teacher was charged for teaching the theory of evolution to his students. As of result emerged a bigger conflict. Candidate for President and populist party, William Jennings Bryan held a Fundamentalist crusade to end Darwin's theory of evolution to be taught in schools. The Scopes trial originally started in Fred Robinson's drug store in Dayton. George Rappalyea arrived at the drugstore and announcing that he was willing to help anyone who wants to challenge the new Tennessee anti-evolution statute from the American Civil Liberties Union.John Scopes, the biology teacher showed up, and Rappalyea and Scopes had a meeting, they both agreed on the thought that teaching evolution is a must in biology. After agreeing, Rappalyea asked Scope if he wanted to stand for the case, Scope strongly agreed.Clarence Darrow was the defendants lawyer. Darrow was well known for his bad reputation. During the seven day trial, Darrow asked Bryan to take the stand. Darrow questioned Bryan about his bible study and eventually led him into a trap telling the court he didn’t necessarily think we should follow the bible word for word although earlier he stated everyone should.
Although it started with a high school teacher it escalated to something more. The main jist of the trial was old against new. Before the 1920s no one danced to Jazz, wanted to stop alcohol consumption etc., but when the 1920s came it all changed, the people had to choose whether they wanted to remain the same, follow the bible word for word, or the thought of evolution.
In 1925, Dayton, Tennessee a high school biology teacher was charged for teaching the theory of evolution to his students. As of result emerged a bigger conflict. Candidate for President and populist party, William Jennings Bryan held a Fundamentalist crusade to end Darwin's theory of evolution to be taught in schools. The Scopes trial originally started in Fred Robinson's drug store in Dayton. George Rappalyea arrived at the drugstore and announcing that he was willing to help anyone who wants to challenge the new Tennessee anti-evolution statute from the American Civil Liberties Union.John Scopes, the biology teacher showed up, and Rappalyea and Scopes had a meeting, they both agreed on the thought that teaching evolution is a must in biology. After agreeing, Rappalyea asked Scope if he wanted to stand for the case, Scope strongly agreed.Clarence Darrow was the defendants lawyer. Darrow was well known for his bad reputation. During the seven day trial, Darrow asked Bryan to take the stand. Darrow questioned Bryan about his bible study and eventually led him into a trap telling the court he didn’t necessarily think we should follow the bible word for word although earlier he stated everyone should.
Although it started with a high school teacher it escalated to something more. The main jist of the trial was old against new. Before the 1920s no one danced to Jazz, wanted to stop alcohol consumption etc., but when the 1920s came it all changed, the people had to choose whether they wanted to remain the same, follow the bible word for word, or the thought of evolution.
Vocabulary
Immigrant: A person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country.
Anarchist: Absence of any form of political authority.
Communism: A theoretical economic system characterized by the collective ownership of property and by the organization of labor for the common advantage of all members.
Race:A group of people united or classified together on the basis of common history, nationality, or geographic distribution
Bolsheviks: A member of a Marxist-Leninist party or a supporter of one; a Communist
Fundamentalism: The belief that every word of the Bible is divinely inspired and therefore true
Evolution: A gradual process in which something changes into a different and usually more complex or better form
Quota: The maximum number/ limit on something.
Anarchist: Absence of any form of political authority.
Communism: A theoretical economic system characterized by the collective ownership of property and by the organization of labor for the common advantage of all members.
Race:A group of people united or classified together on the basis of common history, nationality, or geographic distribution
Bolsheviks: A member of a Marxist-Leninist party or a supporter of one; a Communist
Fundamentalism: The belief that every word of the Bible is divinely inspired and therefore true
Evolution: A gradual process in which something changes into a different and usually more complex or better form
Quota: The maximum number/ limit on something.