The court case Pierce v. Society of Sisters (1925) occurred after World War I. During this time-period, there was an influx of immigration and Catholicism. States worried that immigrants and Catholics would influence the values of the American people. Moreover, the influence of the Ku Klux Klan to Walter M. Pierce, governor of Oregon, caused a negative view on parochial schools (Mizia, 2000). Thus, Oregon created the Compulsory Education Act of 1922. This act required children between the ages of eight through 16 to only attend public schools. If parents or guardians did not abide by the statute, it would be considered a misdemeanor. Hence, the act negatively impacted parochial and private schools. To impede the act, Oregon’s Society
