America's Political and Social Attitudes During the 1920's

In this essay, the author

• Argues that during the 1920's america became less tolerant of anything un-american, including immigration policy, the ku klux klan, political hysteria, and religious intolerance.
• Explains that before 1917 america had an 'open door' policy toward immigration but thousands of immigrants were pouring in from eastern european, asian, and african countries which the wasps (white anglo saxon protestants), who had power at the time, didn't want in america.
• Explains that in 1921 the immigration quota act was introduced that only allowed three hundred and fifty seven thousand immigrants into the usa each year.
• Explains that the system discriminated against countries undesirable to the wasps since they had the smallest population already living in america. the 'open door' closed further in 1924 when the amount of immigrants allowed into america was reduced to two percent of the population.
• Explains the purpose of these laws was to protect the interests of the wasps already in america who held power at the time but feared losing it to opposing groups such as jews, catholics,
• Explains that the ku klux klan was founded by a texan dentist named hiram wesley evans and its main aim was to protect white supremacy and the interests of the wasps.
• Explains how hatred for the blacks was heightened in the slave states. the klan used extreme violence to spread its views.
• Explains that the klan organises lynchings where mobs roam the streets looking for a disliked ethnic minority person to beat up and possibly kill.
• Explains that many americans feared communist or anarchist revolution more than anything else.
• Explains that russia became a communist country in 1917 and the palmer incident of 1920. the bombing of the attorney general, a mitchell palmer, resulted in the bomber's death.
• Explains how palmer used the attack to stir up hatred for communists who were regarded as a threat to the american constitution and the wasps in general.
• Explains that sacco and vanzetti were charged with a wages robbery in which two guards were shot dead. both were recent immigrants from italy, neither spoke very good english, both were carrying loaded guns when arrested and harboured anarchist views.
• Opines that the evidence for the defence of sacco and vanzetti far outweighed evidence against them and the prosecution even used the fact that they were carrying an anarchist leaflet at the time of arrest
• Explains that american intolerance in the 1920's was religious, and revivalist groups were founded to get american people back into the church.
• Explains that sister aimee semple mcpherson was an extreme revivalist and one of the most famous. she led services of over five thousand people dressed as an angel and beat time to hymns on a tambourine.
• Explains how sister aimee became a millionaire from collections taken during her services. many americans became intolerant to non-american religious views such as darwin's theory of evolution.
• Explains that darwin's theory caused controversy in the mid-nineteenth century and was generally accepted across the board. in 1924, strong fundamentalists set up the anti-evolution league.
• Explains how the anti evolution league succeeded in six states. in dayton, tennessee, two teachers, johnny scopes and his college decided to put the new law to test and for johnny to teach the theory of evolution.
• Narrates how benefactors hired two of the best lawyers in america to fight the 'monkey trial'
• Opines that the united states of america was becoming more intolerant during the 1920's.