Pepper Yang
Mr. Marshall
Block G
2/1/2016
Immigration Conflicts in 1920s
After World War I, immigrants from devastated Europe and other countries were attracted
by prosperous America, and a large number of immigrants flowed into the U.S. With the huge
wave of foreigners came in and the limited unskilled jobs, tensions escalated. The belief of
nativism has rooted in Americans since hundreds years ago in colonial times when the new
comers faced complaint and bitter persecution (Clancy, 1924). The conflicts caused by nativism
was not uncommon, but they were extremely intense during the 1920s. The situation of
immigrants and people who had descent of other countries caused by the hatred of native born
Americans was unfair.
The immigration Act of 1924 restrictively and racially blocked immigrants from southern
and eastern Europe, which irritated some congressmen and people in certain areas. As Clancy
claimed, the immigrants in Detroit, a city had of a large population of immigrants, sacrificed
themselves for making America a better place. They were assiduous and they willing to do the
work in the bad conditions with low wages. The immigrants made great effort to be assimilated
and became good citizens. When America needed soldiers in World War I, they did not hesitate
but joined the army and serve the country. "The Italians formed about 4 percent of the population
of the United States... and 10 percent of the military force. Their casualty were 12
percent" ( Clancy, 1924). People said immigrants were the menace of the country because they
were jealous about the accomplishments they made, the positions they took. The bill that
restricted immigrants was "a deliberate attempt to go back to 84 years in our census taken every
ten years so that a blow may be aimed at people of... Europe" ( Clancy, 1924).
The Ku-Klux Klan, an organization emerged after the Civil War which tried to
disenfranchise and humiliate African Americans, flourished again in the 1920s devoted to "100
percent Americanism" (Textbook, 1210). They used violence to keep immigrants out of America,
and they believed the "modern civilization" should be banned (Evans, 1926). In their mind,
immigrants were " mongrels, scum, and a menace to our constitution" ( Clancy, 1924). However,
the immoral action of KKK was a stain in American history.
A famous case in 1927 about Sacco and Vanzetti was a result of nativism. They were
accused of murder and robbery. Though they provided evidence, and alibis, they were still
sentenced to death. According to the speech of Vanzetti, the first lawyer were not willing to help
them at all. "The jury were hating us because we were against the war...because he is a
cosmopolitan" ( Vanzetti, 1927). Judging by nationality and ones belief was ridiculous and
unjust.
All in all, the resentment to immigrants triggered tragedy and unjust treatment.
