Immigration and Cultural Pluralism.
Immigration prior to the 1920s:
Before the 1920s began over 25 million immigrants came into the United States. These immigrants were put into two groups of "new" and "old" and made up much of the American population. New immigrants were mostly from Southern and Eastern Europe and were much different then the old immigrants who originated from Britain and Germany. Most immigrants where very poor and lived in crowded, disease ridden tenements in large cities. Much of the American population began to oppose these immigrants for several different reasons (i.e nativism, xenophobia, loss of jobs, etc)which caused several conflicts regarding immigrants in the 1920s.
Before the 1920s began over 25 million immigrants came into the United States. These immigrants were put into two groups of "new" and "old" and made up much of the American population. New immigrants were mostly from Southern and Eastern Europe and were much different then the old immigrants who originated from Britain and Germany. Most immigrants where very poor and lived in crowded, disease ridden tenements in large cities. Much of the American population began to oppose these immigrants for several different reasons (i.e nativism, xenophobia, loss of jobs, etc)which caused several conflicts regarding immigrants in the 1920s.
Acts against immigrants:
- Emergency Quota Act- (1921) limited the amount of immigrants allowed into the United States to 350,000 a year.
- Married Women's Act- (1922) stated that women who married immigrants where no longer considered to be Citizens of the United States. This law did not apply to men who married foreign women.
- Immigration Act- (1924) only allowed 3% of the certain countries population already in the United States to be allowed to immigrate into America.
Supreme Court Cases:
- Ozawa v. U.S- (1922) case where a Japanese man was not allowed to achieve citizenship through the Naturalization act of 1906. His argument was the Japanese people in the United States should be considered white. The Supreme Court decided against his citizenship through the act.
- U.S v Thind- (1923) court case where an Indian man applied for citizenship under naturalization. He stated that since he was part of the Aryan culture and therefore should be considered part of the Caucasian race. The Supreme Court ruled against his citizenship.
Klu Klux Klan:
Throughout the 1920s the amount of anti-immigrant attitudes increased in many Americans. The immigrants were taking jobs away, taking over there cities and brining in new values that changed the "American way of life". Out of these animosities a group called the KKK was formed. Most of the members where white, protestant, native born men who were against the immigrant and black populations of America. During the 1920s these men took violent actions against these people and controlled many aspects of politics, making it hard to fight against them.
Throughout the 1920s the amount of anti-immigrant attitudes increased in many Americans. The immigrants were taking jobs away, taking over there cities and brining in new values that changed the "American way of life". Out of these animosities a group called the KKK was formed. Most of the members where white, protestant, native born men who were against the immigrant and black populations of America. During the 1920s these men took violent actions against these people and controlled many aspects of politics, making it hard to fight against them.
Cultural Pluralism:
Is defined as when one small culture participates in a large society but still stays true to its own traditions and values. This was very prominent during the 1920s due to the large immigrant population and how many different cultures and ideas they brought into America.
Horace Kallen:
Was the first person to advocate and describe the ideas of cultural pluralism. He thought that added many different cultures into a democratic government would ultimitley better society. He also suggested that this new idea would help solve the many conflicts of "Americanization" in society.
Is defined as when one small culture participates in a large society but still stays true to its own traditions and values. This was very prominent during the 1920s due to the large immigrant population and how many different cultures and ideas they brought into America.
Horace Kallen:
Was the first person to advocate and describe the ideas of cultural pluralism. He thought that added many different cultures into a democratic government would ultimitley better society. He also suggested that this new idea would help solve the many conflicts of "Americanization" in society.