Discrimination in US Society Flashcards
Why was the USA called a ‘Melting Pot’ in the 1920s?
The USA was called a ‘melting pot’ because it was home to people from many different ethnic backgrounds due to open-door immigration policies and the pursuit of the ‘American Dream’.
What were the main reasons for immigration to the USA in the 1920s?
Economic and political reasons pushed people to leave their homelands, and industries needed workers.
How many immigrants lived in the USA by 1920?
By 1920, more than 40 million immigrants lived in the USA.
Which countries did many immigrants come from before 1900?
Before 1900, many immigrants came from the UK or Germany.
What were the concerns of many Americans regarding immigration in the 1920s?
Many Americans feared that immigrants would take their jobs and lower wages, leading to tension and discrimination.
What laws did the US government implement to restrict immigration?
The 1917 Immigration Law, 1921 Emergency Quota Act, and 1924 Reed-Johnson Act were implemented to restrict immigration.
What did the 1917 Immigration Law require?
All immigrants had to prove they could read English, no immigrants from Asia could enter, and every immigrant had to pay an $8 fee.
What was the maximum number of immigrants allowed per year after the 1921 Emergency Quota Act?
The maximum number of immigrants entering the USA each year was set to 357,000.
What was the Red Scare?
The Red Scare was the belief that immigration meant that Communists were everywhere in the USA.
What events contributed to the fear of communism in the USA?
Strikes by workers, the existence of socialist and communist parties, and bombings by anarchists contributed to the fear.
Who were Sacco and Vanzetti?
Sacco and Vanzetti were Italian immigrants accused of armed robbery and murder in 1920.
What did Sacco and Vanzetti’s trial reveal about the USA in the 1920s?
The trial showed that many US citizens feared and distrusted immigrants and those with radical beliefs.
What were the Jim Crow Laws?
The Jim Crow Laws enforced segregation and discrimination against African-Americans in the southern states.
What was the policy of ‘Separate But Equal’?
The policy stated that African-Americans had to have access to the same type of facilities as white Americans, but they did not have to be of the same standard.
What was the Ku Klux Klan (KKK)?
The KKK was a racist group that believed in white supremacy and attacked various minority groups.
