ISOLATIONISM

ISOLATIONISM

1. IMMIGRATION

   • more than 40 million people moved to the USA between 1850 and 1914
     • the USA was now filled with over 100 different nationalities which lead to wide spread racism and intolerance, mainly hidden uder the excitement of the 1920's
       • these people wanted to keep America for the 'WASPS' and feared that the new immigrants would take their jobs and spread communist ideas
   • The Immigration Law required all immigrants to be able to read English
     • 1917
   • The Emergency Quota Act said that the number of people entering the US could not exceed 3% of the population from that country already liking in America from the 1910 census.
     • 1921
     • this ruled out Eastern European immigrants as there were very few living in the US.
       • this limited the number of immigrats to 357,000 per year.
   • The National Origins Act reduced the number of people entering the USA to 2% of the population from the 1890 census.
     • 1924
     • this ruled out immigrants from Asia
       • only 150,000 immigrants were now entering the USA per year
   • • immigrants would arrive at Ellis Island
       • after 1924 the 'open door' was closed as the government believed that immigrants didn't enrich the culture and society of the USA.
         • lead to xenophobia and racial persecution

2. THE 'RED SCARE'

   • immigrants were restricted to lowest paid jobs and lived in ghettos where crime rate was high and housing was poor.
     • this was because of national distrust and disgust at immigrants.
   • The Russian Revolution
     • 1917
     • Americans feared communism as it threatened their free lifestyle and capitalist economy.
       • this fear became widespread as Italian communists and anarchists dropped bombs
   • On September 16th 1920 a bomb was detonated outside the Stock Exchange on Wall Street. 38 people died and 400 were injured, American newspapers called the bomb and 'act of war'.
     • the bombers were never captured
     • the 'Palmer Raids' then arrested 10,000 people suspected of holding left wing views these immigrants were then deported without trial
       • started by US attorney-general Alexander Palmer
   • • a street in Harlem one of the biggest immigrant communties in New York

3. SACCO AND VANZETTI

   • charged for the murder of two guards and armed robbery
     • this was the most famous injustice case against immigrants involving two Italians Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti
       • they were executed in 1927
   • • they were openly anarchist
   • FOR AND AGAINST
     • 61 witnesses identified them as guilty however none of them could agree on the details of the crime
     • 107 witnesses who said they are somewhere else = innocent
       • largely because these men were also Italian immigrants the jury didn't trust their word

4. THE KLU KLUX KLAN

   • founded in 1866 but lost support however this was increased in the the 20th century and again during the civil rights movement (1960s)
   • a militant organisation of white supremists who started what they saw as a moral crusade in the US
     • they would only except those who they saw as 'true' American so 'WASP'
       • stirring up racial and religious hatred
       • didn't like:
         • - Jews
           • - Catholics
             • - Southern European immigrants (e.g. Italians)
               • an example would be Sacco and Vanzetti
               • - Eastern European immigrants (e.g. Russians)
                 • - People from Asia
                   • - They especially didn't like black people
   • 5, 000 members in 1920
     • 5, 000, 000 members in 1925
       • the biggest membership was in the southern states where there was a large black population and a history of slavery
   • members were often poor whites who felt their jobs were being threatened by those willing to work for less
     • some members were however influential people in society
       • e.g. state politicians
   • WHAT THEY DID
     • held ceremonies and dressed in long white robes
     • spoke to each other in secret codes
       • 'Klonversations'
     • used torture and violence against those who weren't true Americans
       • they often attacked black people raping and lynching them. they also set their homes on fire and destroyed their property
   • Klan membership fell after 1925 as their crimes were widely reported and seen as appalling by most of the population
     • before this white jury's were reluctant to find them guilty and were often members themselves as were many judges

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