Immigration And Discrimination In The 1920s

Immigration and Discrimination in the 1920's
American History

Beginning in the early nineteenth century there were massive waves of
immigration. These "new" immigants were largely from Italy, Russia, and
Ireland. There was a mixed reaction to these incomming foreigners. While
they provided industries with a cheap source of labor, Americans were both
afraid of, and hostile towards these new groups. They differed from the
"typical American" in language, customs, and religion. Many individuals and
industries alike played upon America's fears of immigration to further their
own goals. Leuchtenburg follows this common theme from the beginning of
World War I up untill the election of 1928.
If there was one man who singlely used America's fear of immigrants to
advance his own political goals it was Attorney General Palmer. The rise of
Communism in Russia created a fear of its spread across Europe, and to
America. Palmer tied this fear to that of immigration. He denounced labor
unions, the Socialist party, and the Communist party in America, as being
infultrated with radicals who sought to overturn America's political,
economic, and social institutions. Palmer exasperated this fear in Americans
and then presented himself as the country's savior, combatting the evils of
Communism. He mainly centered his attack on Russian immigrants. During the
infamous Palmer raids thousands of aliens were deported and even more were
arrested on little or no evidence. Th...

Immigration And Discrimination In The 1920s

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