Social Groups in the 1920s Flashcards
What was the immigration law of 1917?
Introduced literacy test and health checks for immigrants. This was the time of Spanish influenza, so the idea wasn’t necessarily discriminatory.
Failing either meant that you’d be refused entry to the country and you’d be sent back home.
How many immigrants came to America between 1850 and 1919?
Over 40 million.
What was the 1921 immigration law?
Capped immigration from European countries at 375,000 a year.
What was the 1924 Johnson-Reed immigration Act?
Banned Japanese immigration.
Didn’t apply to Mexicans as they were needed for seasonal work.
Capped other immigration at 150,000.
What was the Scopes, Monkey Trial of 1925?
6 states decided that it would be illegal to teach evolution as it went against the bible teachings.
John Scopes taught this and went against the law.
Drew a great deal of media attention.
Who were Sacco and Vancetti?
They had openly said that they were radicals and this was their reason for not fighting in WW1. In 1920, they were arrested for a robbery of a shoe factory where two men had been killed. When the police searched their car, there were radical pamphlets which confirmed their ideas to the police. Also, they couldn’t prove where they’d been the day of the robbery. 107 witnesses said they’d seen them elsewhere, challenging the 61 who agreed they were to blame. Although another man later confessed, the two men were executed in 1927.
How were immigrants and communism linked?
Many people feared they were linked. The fear of communism was on the rise, some labour unions began to align with international radical groups.by the end of 1920, a series of strikes had involved 4 million workers.
There was a widespread fear that there was a developing plot to take down the USA, especially after the Bolshevik revolution.
A bomb was set off on the steps of the Attorney General in 1919, by an Italian immigrant. This led to the establishment of a new department in the Department of Justice.
What were the Palmer raids?
Instigators sought out anyone with links to radicalisation e.g. Subscribing to a ‘suspect’ magazine, being in the proximity of the wrong community.
1919-1920, 5000 arrests were made and there was 500 deportations. Boston was a key target, homing a large Italian community. 800 arrests wre made here.
Why did the Southern states agree with this new control of immigration?
Concerned about the shift in political power. If the northern states had a larger population, they would be awarded more control as it was proportional. The south didn’t want the north to have more power in the House of Representatives.
Why did the working class support the new immigration restrictions?
They believed that unrestricted immigration would lead to wage reductions among the current residents.
Name some groups that the KKK discriminated against…
African Americans Jews Catholics Foreigners Any new ideas e.g. Evolution Jazz music which now emerged, largely tied to African Americans
Other than the south, where did the KKK also gain influence?
The mid-west
How many people were at their 1925 Washington parade?
40,000
Name two of its leaders. Why were they strong candidates?
Edgar Clark and Elizabeth Tyler.
Both were professional fundraisers and publicity agents.
How much were recruits charged? Where did most of this fee go?
$10. Most of the fee went to local klan officials as they we’re charged on commission for getting new recruits.
How did the KKK bring in money?
Robes: made for $3.28, sold for $6.50.
Owned a clothing company.
Clark Realtor company- moved into land sales.
Searchlight publishing company.
Why were many attracted to the KKK?
Sense of importance, belonging and power.
Gave purpose to many dull lives.
Glamorised lives.
Appealed to the bullying, sadistic natures of many.
Who was the KKK largely made up of?
Everyday people e.g. Shopkeepers. Many of these people were afraid of change that they either didn’t understand or couldn’t change.
Who was Hiram Wesley Evans? What did he believe?
He was the leader of the KKK upon Clark’s death. He said they represented the “old pioneer stock” meaning he thought that they were descendants of the original settlers in the US who now felt threatened by new immigrants.
Where was the klans power limited?
Big cities. It was a movement in small towns and rural areas.
How did the Klan affect politics?
It was said that KKK governors were elected in Ohio, Maine, Colorado and Louisiana. At one point, both Georgia governors were Klansmen.
They helped destroy the campaign of Al Smith, a Catholic New Yorker, who wanted to run for president.
