How Much Was Society Affected By Immigration Before 1920? Flashcards
What did the Statue of Liberty stand for?
Symbolises the American Dream
How many immigrants came from Southern and Eastern Europe in 1907 compared to 1882?
1882 - Just under 650,000 (13%)
1907 - 1.2million (81%)
What did the Dillingham Commission do?
Investigated the impact of immigration in the USA from 1907 and made its report in 1911
What range was the Dillingham commission’s report?
1907 - 1911
What did the Dillingham Commission find? (2)
- Immigration was beginning to pose a serious threat to American society and culture
- It distinguished between the ‘old’ immigrants from England, Ireland and Germany (seen as having adapted to American life) and ‘new’ immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe (seen as ‘racially inferior’ and not adapting)
How were the Dillingham Commission findings used?
Used to justify immigration acts in the 1920s, including the Emergency Quota Act of 1921
What fraction of Chicago’s population was foreign born?
One third of Chicago’s 2.7 million population
Why were immigrants drawn to urban life?
- Factories
- Cheap tenants
- Presence of others of their own national origin
How did immigration affect ghettos?
More violent crimes, drunkenness and prostitution and so immigrants were blamed for urban problems such as disease, crime and corrupt political machines
Why legislate? (6)
- Post-war isolationism
- Wanted less contact with the world due to intensified nationalism and immigrants were a controllable point of contact
- Red Scare and fears of communist/anarchist infiltration
- Overall resentment to anyone that posed a threat to WASPs and their values
- The brief post-war economic depression aroused resentment of immigrants as there was increased competition for jobs
- Sacco and Vanzetti case
What was the Sacco and Vanzetti case?
In 1920, two Italian immigrants were convicted of armed robbery and murder, somewhat against the evidence presented. They were made out to be anarchists, and despite numerous protests, were quickly found guilty and sentenced to death
Why were Sacco and Vanzetti quickly found guilty?
- Due to their ethnic and immigrant background and anarchist beliefs
- Previously declared hatred for capitalism and the American political system
- They were morally culpable as they were ‘enemies’ of existing constitutions
When was the Sacco and Vanzetti case?
1920
When was the Immigration Restriction League set up?
1894
What tactics did the Immigration Restriction League use?
Wrote books and Pamphlets on the dangers of Southern and Eastern immigration
