Intolerance and Suspicion
Vocabulary for this chapter...
- Immigrant- a person who migrates to another country, usually for permanent residence.
- Anarchist- a person who seeks to overturn by violence all constituted form and institutions of society and government, with no purpose of establishing any other system of order in the place of that destroyed.
- Communism- a theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state.
- Race- a group of people related by common descent or heredity.
- Bolsheviks- a member of the Communist party.
- Fundamentalism- strict adherence to the fundamental priciples fo any set of beliefs.
- Evolution- any process of formation or growth; development
- Quota- a proportional part or share of a fixed total amount or quantity.
Immigration and Intolerance
Immigration Acts were passed in the 1920s to reduce the drastic number of unskilled immigrants, show the favor of uniting families by giving preferences to families, and keep the ethnic distribution stable by allocating quotas according to how many from each national origin were living in the United States. The Immigration Act of 1924 establish a permanent quota system. It was enacted in attempt to limit European immigrants. Nativism was the policy of protecting native inhabitants against those of immigrants. It was very high during the 1920s which helped the cause of the Immigration Act of 1924. The Ku Klux Klan was a teorrist clan. Originally, it targeted blacks after the Civil War. When it was created once again it began to terrorize not only blacks but Catholics, Jews, and foreigners. They showed how intolerant people were during this time period. Some would go to even physically harm others.
The Red Scare
The Palmer Raids were attempts of the United States to arrest and deport leftists from the United States. Leftists were those who supported social equality. The Red Scare brought the fear of communism in the United States. The Red Scare and Palmer Raids added to the nativism of the time. They added to the list of people that the United States didn't like. The Red Scare is an example of America's reluctance to be involved in world affairs because it showed they were intolerant to many ethnic groups.
Trials
The Sacco and Vanzetti trial was about two Italian immigrants, Sacco and Vanzetti, who were arrested for an armed robbery in Massachusetts. During the robbery a guard and a paymaster were killed. The two were immediately found guilty and were sentenced to death. The American Civil Liberties Group argued that there was no hard evidence to prove that the two committed the crime. The judge was openly prejudiced against the two Italians He even called them derogatory names during the trial. Sacco and Vanzetti called themselves radicals in their political beliefs which the judge found disgust in. Sacco and Vanzetti pleaded guilty of the crime. The case got worldwide attention. Sacco and Vanzetti were executed in 1927. This is a case of suspicion and intolerance because Sacco and Vanzetti were automatically killed for the fear of communists. The Scopes trial was about whether or not to teach evolution in schools. The Scope Monkey trial was indicative of the conflict of old vs. new because they didn't know whether or not evolution would cause commotion on the separation between church and state issue.
Essential Questions
- How do attitudes towards immigrants, black, and other minorities reflect the intolerance of the decade?
During this time there was a great intolerance to all kinds of groups. The Immigration Act of 1924 made it so the majority of European immigrants weren't allowed in the country. This showed the intolerance that very well. At this time blacks were still segregated immensely. They were discriminated against and treated very badly. Socialists and leftists were also discriminated against. They were arrested for the fear of communism. The KKK is great example to show the intolerance of the decade. They would work against all people not liked. The 1920s was a time for intolerance.
- How does the nostalgia and attitudes from the past conflict with modern ideas of the decade?
The old ideas of fundamentalism and creationism conflicted with the new ideas of evolution. This is why the Scope trials happened. The Scope trials were very controversial because they didn't know whether or not to abandon the old ideas or just stay with the same old thing.
APPARTS
Author: No Author (Statistics of Immigration Quotas)
Place and Time: United States, 1929. It was important to know the amount of immigrants of this time period.
Prior Knowledge: There was a large amount of unskilled immigrants taking jobs away from American citizens at this time.
Audience: Congress and Americans. If it was for a different audience it would serve no purpose.
Reason: The purpose of this source is to show how many people were shut out of the country during this time period. It could have been made to justify the Immigration Act.
The Main Idea: The largest number of immigrants shut out of the United States were northern Europeans. These were justified after WWI.
Summary: The Immigration Act shut out mostly northern Europeans.
Place and Time: United States, 1929. It was important to know the amount of immigrants of this time period.
Prior Knowledge: There was a large amount of unskilled immigrants taking jobs away from American citizens at this time.
Audience: Congress and Americans. If it was for a different audience it would serve no purpose.
Reason: The purpose of this source is to show how many people were shut out of the country during this time period. It could have been made to justify the Immigration Act.
The Main Idea: The largest number of immigrants shut out of the United States were northern Europeans. These were justified after WWI.
Summary: The Immigration Act shut out mostly northern Europeans.
Thinking Like a Historian
Through Their Eyes
- During the 1920s the were very intolerant. This makes sense to why all the laws to create equality exist. If they were living in this time period they would be surprised of the change. Even now there is still intolerance to other groups though. Immigrants are still widely disliked and blacks are discriminated against.
- They would have view their choices and actions in good light. They would think that the Immigration Act is justified. They would also think that the Palmer raids would be justified.
- They would have to know how many immigrants come in each year. They would also have to know the dangers of communism for the Palmer raids. To survive the time they would have to act and be a certain way to avoid discrimination.