Effects Of Immigration In The 1920s

Improved Essays
The immigrants that entered the United States from the 1870’s through the 1920’s proved that they were different from any immigrants that came before them. This generation of immigrants was the most diverse group of people to enter this country during this period. Not only were they from different ethical backgrounds, they practiced different religions, their rules of life were different from ours, and among many other things. While the immigrants had, a hard time living in the US, they still defeated the odds and achieved economic success in multiple institutions. Unfortunately, because these groups of people changed the dynamics of the United States, Americans took that as a threat to the social, economic, religious, political, and overall …show more content…
The discrimination would include laws passed, like the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and Immigration Act of 1921 and 1924. Over this period the American people showed just how much of the country was nativism during this time.
The immigrants that came here during this time came from many places like, Eastern and Southern European, East Asian, Indian, and Arabic countries. People primarily travel to two geographic areas specifically, the east coast and west coast. They mainly resided in urban cities such as San Francisco in New York City. Immigrants used Angel Island as their entry into the US if they chose to come in California and they came through Ellis Island if they were coming through the state of New York. Many people had their last names changed, sometimes immigrant officials did it and sometimes immigrants changed it themselves so that their names wouldn’t be too long and they would be easier to pronounce. Most of the immigrants were Catholic and Jewish. Like immigrants before them, they settled in social enclaves. What made these immigrants different was not only different ethnic backgrounds and religions practiced, but the fact that
…show more content…
Americans did not like that the immigrants were not “American” looking. They spoke different languages, practice different religions from Americans, and were having economic success and Americans felt that it was taking the way from them and their families. So, because Americans felt this way they may life even more difficult for these immigrants. So, laws soon were made to hurt and stop the success of immigrants’ laws like the immigration act of 1921 in 1924 were made to limit the number of immigrants that could enter the US every year. They did this by going back to the 1890 census in taking the number from each country and only allowing 2% of the number of immigrants from that number into the US until they met their quota. Laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 stop the Chinese from entering the US period. Americans also created organizations like the Immigration Restriction League created and 1894. The league wanted the government to create quotas or even ban immigrants from entering the United States the immigrants that were already here, they wanted to put a limit on the children they could have. Not only was Americans targeting immigrants, but they were also targeting their religion as well. Before the immigrants came the US was predominantly Protestant, but that changed when the immigrants moved here. The American Protective Association, established in 1886 and one of the main things they were known for is being

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    During the time, the Chinese Immigrants has been excluded from the United States at one point. The Chinese Exclusion Act was a federal law signed by President Chester A. Arthur in 1882. It stopped Chinese Immigrants coming to the United States. It was the first significant law restricting immigration into the country. Some people might say that the law was passed is because of Economic tension, such as cheap labor, however, in my opinion the main reason that causes the law was racial tension.…

    • 723 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    In the late 1800s, at the turn of the century, the United States experienced an influx of immigrants due to the industrialization occurring in large cities and states all over the country. However since the mid 1900s there was another rise in immigration, this time from the south. One of the large disadvantages of being a new immigrant is the lack of integration, not only that but immigrants face challenges every day. Apart from language skills, Immigrants in the United States face the loss of their cultural identity when they integrate into the mainstream society, and if they don’t, they may be subject to discrimination. This loss of identity then fuels various misconceptions of immigrants.…

    • 1467 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    However there were other factors such as fear of revolution, prejudice and racism. America even before ww1 was a very isolationist country and many consider the most important factor in changing attitudes towards immigrants. For example In 1882, the Federal Immigration Act was passed placing restrictions on mentally…

    • 1679 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Immigration in The United States during the progressive era resulted in an essential transformative period during American history. The United States was a beacon of hope for immigrants looking for prosperity and a fresh start. However, during the years 1880 through 1925, important transformations within the American economy occurred there were important such as the successful and lucrative industrialization and tensions arose regarding the government’s negative feelings and toward the large flow of immigrants and new cultures. Once the frontier was closed and became irrelevant as the United States settled, there was an illusion of hope for people immigrating to the US.…

    • 1115 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Challenges in 1920s After the World War I, people were coming back to the US and what was their view of immigrants, who could possibly take their jobs? The motto “Keep America for Americans” wasn’t quite accurate, because that were not just immigrants who Americans were against. It were Americans also, just with a different skin color or religion. Americans had a strong feeling of nativism in 1920s and because of the lack of jobs, they restricted immigration from other countries, but a wave of racism also took place by the first terrorist group Ku Klux Klan, which claimed to uphold the values of the past. People In the US became afraid of non-Americans and that was why the immigration was limited and the participation in world battles decreased…

    • 379 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Illegal Immigration Dbq

    • 970 Words
    • 4 Pages

    This made mostly white people, the ones that migrated to the U.S. making the other races minimum. Most of the immigrants that were coming to the U.S. were from Europe. During this time America was going through the great depression and since the Immigration Act of 1924 excluded Asian Immigrants, they decide to use Mexicans and a form of cheap labor during the late 1920s. Mexicans had thousand of legal and illegal workers that did labor on farms, ranches, and mining. There were a great number of Mexicans working in the U.S. during the Great Depression.…

    • 970 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Dbq Immigration

    • 986 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In the late 1800’s, many people around the world decided to leave their country and immigrate to the United States. Some came for the economic opportunities, while others came seeking freedom or relief from political and religious persecutions. As more people started coming in, borders became hectic, new ideas were produced, more jobs were created to support the growing population, and the population became more diverse. Depending on which side of the spectrum one falls into, immigration could be seen as good or as bad. In the United States, immigrants are persecuted and one of the main reason why is they are being accused of taking over jobs, this of course causes a division between the citizens and the immigrants.…

    • 986 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    1920s Homework One of the major events that impacted the American view on immigration was the Red Scare. The Red Scare happened between 1919 to 1920 and was a repercussion to the achievements recently made by the United States in Europe. It was a fear of communism that swept the entire nation. This fear was instilled into the minds of American citizens that it caused suspicions all around the country for radicals promoting the spread of communism from the Russian government, now The Soviet Union. An event that came as a result of the hysteria was the Seattle General Strike.…

    • 1867 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    At the beginning of the time period, the American population generally had a positive outlook on immigrants because they helped boost the economy. As time began to progress, more and more hatred began to grow because immigrants began taking jobs from citizens and therefore, Americans started to want a quota rule. Following the First World War, the effects of the war and America’s involvement in foreign affairs led Americans to retain their status of isolation once…

    • 1114 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the 1920’s the pressure for extensive immigration restriction became tempting. Everyone feared immigrant radicalism, which outweighed the want for cheap labor. In 1921 a temporary law restricted immigrant from Europe to 357,000 per year. Congress officially limited Europeans immigrants to 150,000 per year three years after the first law was put into place. This law was put into place so the old immigrants would always outnumber the children of the new immigrants.…

    • 317 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Marginalized Immigration

    • 399 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The U.S government exclusionary immigration policy marginalized immigrants. For example, the immigration act of 1907. This act limited the number of Japanese immigrants coming into the U.S and banded the feeble-minded from entering the U.S(law). During this Act to enter the U.S, you must take a literacy test that was in English. Also, they prevented people with a physical or mental defect from entering because they would need help from the government to get better and they didn't want people who can't sustain on their own.…

    • 399 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Before 1965, there was an immigration quota. The US government would put limit the amount of people they let immigrant to the United States based how the nationality is being represented in the US Census figures. The Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965 repels the quota since many people thought that it was discriminatory against Greeks, Poles, Portuguese and Italians in favor of Northern Europeans. Many immigrants come to America seeking a new and better life. Many Americans end up treating immigrants who come here seeking a new and better life as less than humans.…

    • 1416 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    The Effects Of The Chinese Exclusion Act

    • 1446 Words
    • 6 Pages
    • 8 Works Cited

    [6] While the Chinese Exclusion Act was the first act of its kind in American legislature, it was not the last. In 1924, Calvin Coolidge signed the “National Origins, or Asian Exclusion Act” in response to increased Japanese immigrant and the desire to curb persecuted Jews from emigrating from America’s ‘current’ ally, Russia. At this time, however, Congressional opposition to the act was quite minimal. Popular opinion was strongly behind the act as well. [7] This time, however, the affected groups did not have to fully relinquish their traditions and culture.…

    • 1446 Words
    • 6 Pages
    • 8 Works Cited
    Great Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The United States experienced a flood of immigrants from all over the world, during the 1860’s to the 1920’s, which can also be called the colonial era. The immigrants that entered the United States had many intentions to improve there life. Whether they come for another chance at life, or they come to escape battles, The United States was the go-to option. The United States is home to the American flag, which symbolizes freedom and protection, which is exactly what these immigrants wanted and needed. An example of a popular immigrant group that came to the United States were the Italians.…

    • 1725 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    1920s Consumerism Essay

    • 1088 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Immigrants were not wanted in America at this time, especially since the gates were currently closed to them because of the isolation. Immigrants had unwanted ideas that people did not want to accept. Being an immigrant was undesirable, especially German immigrants because of the war. People insisted on immigrant restrictions in order to protect the country (Document 1).…

    • 1088 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays