Intolerance and suspicion
Most Americans did not want any immigrants coming into the U.S. They were extreme nationalist and their attitudes towards the minorities were poor. There was a lot of hatred in the air with tensions. This sprung up the hate group KKK. The era was changing so rapidly that the past attitudes conflicted with the new ideas of the 1920’s. They clashed because of the fact that people weren't willing to change to the times.
Immigration
From 1870- 1915 twenty million immigrants came to the U.S. in search of opportunity. They were taking many jobs from Americans, and Americans gained a very nativistic attitude during this period. Immigration restrictions were put into place to attempt to stop the mass numbers of immigrants coming. This allowed for more jobs for the people who lived here already. The government imposed taxes, set up literacy tests, and imposed acts such as the 1882 Exclusion Act as well as the Gentlemen's Agreement. Nativism become very strong throughout Americans, and many had low opinions of immigrants coming here, having stereotypes in their minds thinking they were all anarchists who were coming to impose communism onto us.
Ku Klux Klan
The Ku Klux Klan, other wise known as the KKK, was a white supremacist group as well as extreme nationalists. This group absolutely hated immigrants and were always anti- immigration. They wanted to have a no immigration policy and they discriminated against all immigrants coming over. They shouldered the intolerance of this time period through their actions. They took the intolerance to an extreme through violence and threats. They were a terrorist group and they did in fact instill terror into many.
The REd Scare
The Red Scare was when Americans were afraid that Communism was going to take over the world. Americans were afraid of a Bolshevik Russian Revolution would happen in America which would lead to the take over of socialism or communism. Palmer Raids occurred during the Red Scare. Palmer Raids were attempts by U.S. Department of Justice to arrest and deport radical leftists. Raids and arrests happened between 1919 - 1920. These fears added to the intolerance of the period and as wartime fears came, there were many demands for 100% Americanism. The Red Scare was an example, showing that America did not want to be part of any European movements. They did not want to follow the other countries who were going to anarchy, socialism, or communism.
The Sacco and Vanzetti Trial
Ferdinando Sacco and Bartholomeo Vanzetti were suspected anarchists who were convicted of murdering two men. Vanzetti was found guilty of an armed robbery case, despite the many witnesses who gave testimony that he was innocent. A huge deciding factor was when Vanzetti did not take the stand to defend himself. The punishment was much harsher than what it should have been, for he received 10 - 15 years in prison, even though no one had been hurt. This case supports the suspicion and intolerance of this period because the trial wasn't so much about them murdering, but rather on their backgrounds and beliefs, which revealed their real crime.
Scopes Trial
The Scopes "Monkey" Trial was a huge case between the old traditional beliefs and the rishing new beliefs of this time period. John Scopes was accused of teaching evolution in a public school, which violated the Tennessee Butler Act. Even though this trial started as a violation of the law and teaching evolution in a public school, it escalated to be more of a trial between the rising religion of Fundamentalism against the new ideas of Evolution and science. The arguments quickly went to the ideas of each belief and each other was trying to prove the other wrong. This demonstrated very well the tension between the traditional beliefs and the new ideas rising during this period.
Thinking Like a HIstorian
Change and Continuity - The change of the era was quick and big. The Red Scare came about which scared all of the Americans and made Nativism huge. Groups like KKK sprouted as hate groups and America was still changing. Anarchist came out and the idea of evolution came about. This started a revolution of Religion Vs Evolution and it started a big uproar in the American community. America still continues to be airheaded and disregard any change. America can’t accept the fact that it’s changing and it hates the fact that they’re losing the old ways to foreigners.