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USA 1918-1968

USA 1918-1968. European and world unit. We will cover 4 topics. You will need to learn all of these in detail and take them into the exam. Overall need to have a good understanding of 8 topics (1 will be your assignment) From that write 2 essays in 90 minutes.

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USA 1918-1968

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  1. USA 1918-1968 European and world unit

  2. We will cover 4 topics. • You will need to learn all of these in detail and take them into the exam. • Overall need to have a good understanding of 8 topics (1 will be your assignment) • From that write 2 essays in 90 minutes.

  3. An Evaluation essay – what was the most important factor? Topic 1 ;Why did attitudes change towards Immigrants in America in the 1920’s?

  4. Immigration to the USA – the American Dream? • What do you think is meant by ‘The American Dream? • In 1900 the USA was a mixture of people from many places around the world. • Immigrants came from Britain, Ireland, Germany, Scandinavia, Poland, Italy, Russia, etc. • Almost all Americans were descended from immigrants at some point, with the exception of Native Americans. • Many black Americans’ families had been there for a long time, brought over as part of the slave trade. • The USA was described as a ‘melting pot’

  5. The open door policy • At the end of the nineteenth century, the USA openly encouraged immigration and wanted more people to come and live there. • The purpose of the Open Door policy was to make immigration as easy as possible. America needed workers as it was quickly becoming the worlds largest economy. • Most of the immigrants travelled by sea, and more than 70 per cent arrived on Ellis Island near New York. During the busiest periods, as many as 5,000 people a day arrived there. Most were young - in 1900 the average age was 24. The first view the immigrants saw as they arrived in America on their way to Ellis Island was the Statue of Liberty.

  6. Pupil Task • Stick in the fact file on US population growth. • Complete the questions on the different ethnic groups in the USA handout. • Write 4 bullet points that explain what the Dillingham Commission was. (4th should explain what this showed about attitudes to immigration by this time) • Dillingham commission formed in 1907 by government to look at immigration. • Found that new immigrants were coming from SE Europe and that they were inferior to WASP’s. • Recommended literacy test to reduce number of these new immigrants. • This shows that America no longer accepting all new immigrants and that they thought some were better than others. P10-11

  7. Changing Attitude to Immigration by 1920s Prior to 1921 – very little government intervention against Immigration. 1920s – Attitudes had changed and most Americans were against new immigrants (ironic as most of them were immigrants or born from) Key Question – Why?

  8. The Essay • Prejudice & Racism • Fear of Revolution • Social Fears • Economic Fears • Isolationism (impact of WW1)

  9. Topic 1 Delivery • Going to go through each factor and gain the key knowledge needed for essay. • I will talk through key information on board (no need for note taking) • Answer a set of questions in detail using the information we have discussed, textbooks and work booklet. • This will give you a set of notes for each paragraph that will be more than enough for a 45 minute essay Working from books Given answers

  10. It was claimed that ‘new immigrants’ from Southern and Eastern Europe posed a serious threat to American society and culture and should therefore be greatly reduced. • These ‘new immigrants’ were from Southern and Eastern Europe (Russia, Poland & Italy) where people tended to be poorer (escaping poverty; persecution; unemployment) and of a different religion to the WASP countries (Catholic/Jewish) • They also stood out as they stuck together; wore native dress & spoke their own languages. They created areas like Little Italy, Little Poland within cities and did not mingle with other communities.

  11. Religious Antagonism: Catholicism Before 1830 the USA had been almost exclusively Protestant but by 1860 the number of Catholics exceeded 3 million which was one tenth of the population! A significant proportion of immigrants were Roman Catholic – Irish, Italians and Hispanics Irish immigrants were confronted with demeaning stereotypes and violent anti-Catholic PREJUDICES as WASPs commonly assumed that the Irish were ignorant, filthy, clannish people incapable of integration Jews By 1913 there were 1.25 million Jews in New York’s city’s lower east side and were nick-named ‘Kikes’. Hostility was directed against Jewish immigrants particularly those who, once they had settled, became successful and prosperous. Articles in newspaper’s blamed the Jews for everything from the Bolshevik Revolution to bootlegged liquor. They also accused the Jews of conspiring to enslave Christianity and destroy the "Anglo-Saxon" way of life

  12. AnswerQ1&2 New Immigrants Were.. • It was easy to see the immigrants as being ‘different’ • Many were ROMAN CATHOLIC or JEWISH(not protestant) • Many had left non-democratic societies & mistrusted the government (this was seen as a threat to American Constitution) • Their physical appearance frightened native-born Americans (different language & dress) …and because of this they were an easy target for ill informedprejudice and racismby ‘native’ Americans

  13. Nativism Grew… Nativism - the policy of protecting the interests of native-born or established inhabitants against those of immigrants’ The effect of high levels of immigration increased the WASPs sense of superiority and their determination to maintain racial “purity” ‘Academics and some politicians even claimed to have ‘scientific’ evidence that the new immigrants from Southeast Europe were racially inferior In Woodrow Wilson’s History of the American People in 1902, he even compared the ‘men of the sturdy stock of the north of Europe’ with the‘more sordid and hopeless elements.’ They were afraid that new immigrants would destroy American culture and many activists were pledged to protect the purity of the American ideal... This Clearly Shows That Bigotry, Prejudice And Racism Gave Rise To The Soon To Be Passed Anti-immigration Legislation

  14. Nativist Organisations Evans spoke out against the “vast horde of immigrants who have reached our shores…Italian immigrants, Irish catholic malcontents, Russian Jews, Finns, Letts, Lithuanians of the lowest class” The KKK • Had died out in 1870s but reformed in Georgia in1915 • In true nativist tradition it focused on the evils of Catholicism and anti-Semitic propaganda • The KKK naturally appealed to the WASPs who believed that their dream of America was about to be shattered • By 1924 the KKK were openly parading through the streets of Washington D.C and had membership of over 3 million.....(this showed that) • The Klan’s appeal spread from the south to the western and northern states, where Catholics and Jews, as well as blacks became the target of their threats and violence These groups are a real reflection of the extent of anti-immigrant views in the USA at the time Hiram Wesley Evans

  15. Perhaps the most obvious example that shows just how important PREJUDICE AND RACISM was in the changing attitudes towards immigration can be shown through the passing of 2 Acts: 1. The Emergency Immigration Act 1921 This Quota Actwas designed to restrict new immigrants. This law imposed an annual limit on immigration from any European country, limiting to 3% of the number of nationals from that country who were living in the USA in 1911. This favoured immigrants from ‘Old Immigrant’ countries and kept out ‘New Immigrants’.

  16. 2. National Origins Act 1924 The proportion from each country was lowered to 2% based on the sizes of national groups at the time of the 1890 census In 1929 only 120,000 immigrants a year were allowed into the USA and 85% of all places were reserved for Northern and Western Europe. All this information proves that it was not necessarily the number of immigrants coming in that America’s objected to, but where they came from, making racism & prejudice a very important factor!

  17. Pupil Task • Using your notes from the PP, Kerr Textbook & Changing Attitudes booklet answer the questions. • Make sure you include enough detail and constantly think about the question – why did attitudes towards immigrants change. • This is the information you should be using for your racism and prejudice paragraph. Remember; Relevant, Accurate, Detailed Knowledge Arguments why Racism/Prejudice changed attitudes (A) Arguments why Racism/Prejudice was not as significant (A+)

  18. Paragraph 1 Recap(Racism & Prejudice) Key Knowledge to include – • WASP’s disliked the amount of new immigrants coming in to America. • Culturally/socially/religiously different (isolated communities). • Nativism grew (KKK) • 1921 Quota Act & 1924 National Origins Act Analysis points • The dominance of WASP culture in the ruling elite of America allowed a racist attitude to influence politics – The KKK were even able to march through the streets of Washington– it was socially acceptable to have such racist views against black Americans and immigrants. • Nativists and small – town Americans had big political influence. They campaigned to restrict immigration which led to changing attitudes to immigration, and restriction in the 1920s. • Immigration Acts clearly looked to help WASP’s come to the country and keep ‘new immigrant’ nations out. This showed it was not about the number of immigrants but they type of immigrants – based on racist and prejudiced attitudes.

  19. 2. Fear of Revolution-Red Scare • Russian Revolution 1917 • Communist parties in USA 1919 • Strikes • Palmer Raids

  20. Red Scare? • - The Bolsheviks successfully over threw the Russian monarchy and began to set up a socialist country. • This put fear into American business and governments who thrived under capitalism and little government intervention (the exact opposite of communism) The hardening of American immigration policy can be explain through the fear of Communism being brought to their shores by New Immigrants (from Russia/Poland…)

  21. America & Communism? • Communist ideas are the exact opposite of what most Americans believe in – free enterprise, competition and hatred of government interference • As ‘New Immigrants’ fromRussiacontinued to arrive in large numbers following the First World War this created a fearthat they were also bringing with them the politicsof murderand revolution • The International Workers of the World (the I.W.W. orWobblies) and the ‘American Socialist Party’ were well know objectors to WWI, and to the minds of many Americans therefore,unpatriotic. This led them open to attack • Any activity associated with them was suspicious

  22. The Red Scare It is estimated that there were over 150,000 anarchists or communistsin the USA in 1920 which represented only 0.1% of the overall population of the USA One journalist said that the“whole lot were about as dangerous as a flea on an elephant" Despite this, many Americans were terrified of a communist revolution in the USA like that in Russia – this quickly transformed into a post war ‘RED SCARE’ There was an almost irrational fear of communism, anarchism and socialism This led to further intolerance and suspicion towards immigrants and convinced many Americans to demand that action be taken to stop the flow of revolutionaries into the country

  23. STRIKE! Following WWI, a series of strikes seemed to confirm the threat. They led many to believe that a revolution was imminent On 21stJan 1919 35,000 shipyard workers in Seattlewent on strike. By February 6ththis increased to 60,000! Despite the absence of any violence or arrests, the strikers were immediately labeled as ‘Reds’ and were charged with trying to incite revolution Seattle Mayor Ole Hansen, blamed the I.W.W. Violent strikes and riots soon followed in other industries such as the textile, railroad, steel and coal industries. However, strikes were largely about working conditions and pay. Very few workers wanted a full blown communist revolution.

  24. Nation Wide Strikes The press reported that these strikes were "conspiracies against the government", and “plots to establish Communism“ – further creating this idea of a ‘RED SCARE’ On September 9th1919, the Boston police force went on strike A panic that "Reds" were behind the strike took over Boston& the policemen were called “agents of Lenin” On September 13, Police Commissioner Edwin Curtis announced that the striking policemen would not be allowed to return and that the city would hire a new police force, effectively ending the strike!

  25. The Palmer Raids In April 1919, police authorities discovered a plot for mailing 36 bombs to prominent officials On June 2nd 1919 in eight cities, 8 bombs explodedat the same hour One target was the Washington, D.C., house of U.S. Attorney General Palmer This led to greater fear of communists and anarchists &hardened political attitudes against immigrants. This convinced US Attorney-General Mitchell Palmer that something had to be done & he pledged to hunt down all revolutionaries

  26. The Palmer Raids 1st January 1920, 6000 ‘aliens’ were rounded up by the Justice Department and imprisoned or expelled from the country Many were detainedfor long periods of time without formal arrest 5 elected members of the New York State assemblywere prevented from taking their seats Immigrants from Southern & Eastern Europe were used asscapegoats and blamed for the growth of communism The Palmer Raids showed that WASP America felt threatened by the arrival of new political ideas & wanted to further isolate themselves – THIS SHOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF RACISM & PREJUDICE ATTITUDESIN CHANGING ATTITUDES TO IMMIGRATION!

  27. Historian's views • Historians are divided about how important the Red Scare was: “The Red Scare at the end of World War One directly led to a wave of immigration restriction.” (Tindall and Shi) “short-lived and all but over by the summer of 1920” (Kerr)

  28. Pupil Task • Using your notes from the PP, Kerr Textbook & Changing Attitudes booklet answer the questions. • Make sure you include enough detail and constantly think about the question – why did attitudes towards immigrants change. • This is the information you should be using for your fear of revolution paragraph. Remember; Relevant, Accurate, Detailed Knowledge Arguments why fear of revolution changed attitudes (A) Arguments why fear of recolution was not as significant (A+)

  29. Paragraph 2 Recap (Fear of Revolution) • Knowledge Russian Revolution (Russian Immigrants) Growth of groups like I.W.W. Wave of Strikes. Palmer Raids • Analysis The combination of the Russian revolution and the formation of Communist Parties in the USA created a climate of fear that capitalism and the American way of life were begin threatened by eastern European immigrants bringing the contamination of communism. This was amplified by the Red Scare and the panic spread by the Palmer Raids of 1920. People feared that immigrants would cause a revolution so wanted to limit new ones coming in. • Analysis + However, estimated only about 0.1% of the population was communist or anarchists. One journalist wrote that they were “about as dangerous as a flea on an elephant”. The Palmer Raids saw 4,000 arrested in 30 cities across America. 556 were deported. However most were not Communist supporters. Fear of communism was used as an excuse to attack any group they disliked or distrusted. This shows that fear of revolution was not as important of factor in changing attitudes to immigration

  30. 3. Social Fears • Melting pot not working- Ghettos • Slums blamed for urban problems • Crime associated with Immigrants - Capone

  31. Social Fear 1 - Ghettos (anti melting pot) The flood of new immigrants increased during World War 1 as millions came to escape the war and the economic depression which followed. The majority of immigrants settled in four large cities: Chicago, Boston, Pittsburgh & New York These immigrants “enclaves” became identified by names such as Little Italy, Irishtown and Chinatown They wanted to be close to other people who spoke their language & felt safer in their own communities who continued the traditions and customs of their home countries They had their own shops selling their own food, their own forms of entertainment & sometimes their own schools Many old immigrants were worried that foreign cultures and religions would threaten the American way of life - This heighten suspicion toward immigrants

  32. Social Fear 2- City Slums (Housing) Immigrants lived where they could find work – in the big cities They had little money and low wages so could only afford the cheapest housing in the worst areas Whole families sometimes 10 or 12 people had only one room to live in They were damp, dark and filthy with no water supply, toilets or drains - rubbish and sewage was thrown into backcourts or streets However landlords could still put rents up due to the high competition which resulted in natives becoming hostile towards immigrants Immigrants often had little or no money to buy/rent a home, but the soaring demand for cheap housing meant landlords could increase their rents without improving their property. It caused competition for housing. Immigrants were blamed for the poor conditions and overcrowding even though in reality it was the responsibility of the city authorities rather than the immigrants

  33. Social Fear 3 - Crime • Statistics showing soaring crime rates in neighborhoods with high concentrations of immigrants were held as proofof the bad influence of the immigrant on their environment • Out of the 17,328persons arrested in New York in 1858 • 14,638 were foreigners, 10,477 of these were Irish • Italian immigrants were thought to be connected to theMafiaand high profile gangsters like Al Capone seemed to confirm this image • This shows America already had preconceived judgements about people of a certain nationality (prejudice & racism?)

  34. Crime Case Study 1 – Prohibition • In 1919 the US government banned the sale of alcohol. Obviously people still wanted to drink and the illegal sale of alcohol became a huge business for criminal organisations. • Many of the groups that became involved with the illegal trade in alcohol – either through imports or through illicit brewing - were based in immigrant communities: Catholic-Irish in New Jersey, European Jewish immigrants in New York and Italians in Chicago. • This made ‘Americans’ even more fearful of immigrants and blamed them for the social problems caused by drinking. Immigrants were again stereotyped as being criminals and dangerous

  35. Crime Case Study 2 - Sacco and Vanzetti The Case Seemed To Confirm The Link Between Political Extremist, Foreign Influence & Crime - Yet Showed Racism & Prejudice At The Time • They were arrested in May 1920 and charged with armed robbery and murder • Both men were fromItalyand both spoke little English • Both were known to be anarchists and draft-dodgers • 61 people claimed that they saw both men at the robbery/murders • BUT 107 people claimed that they had seen both men elsewhere when the crime was committed… • Regardless of this both men were found guilty & spent 7 years in prison while their lawyers appealed • Despite many public protests and petitions, both men were executed by electric chair on August 24th, 1927 This case showed that Americans were very weary of immigrants and scared of their beliefs.

  36. Pupil Task • Using your notes from the PP, Kerr Textbook & Changing Attitudes booklet answer the questions. • Make sure you include enough detail and constantly think about the question – why did attitudes towards immigrants change. • This is the information you should be using for your social fears paragraph. Remember; Relevant, Accurate, Detailed Knowledge Arguments why social fears changed attitudes (A) Arguments why social fears were not as significant (A+)

  37. Paragraph (Social Fears) • Knowledge Ghettos showed that immigrants were not mixing in society (raised tension between immigrants and ‘Americans’) Rise in Slum Housing Rise in crime associated with immigrants (Mafia, prohibition, Sacco & Vanzetti) • Analysis New Immigrants mainly settled in major cities with significant communities of people from their own cultures in ghettos. This was seen as anti-American. Working class Americans experienced rising rents because of the increased demand for housing. This meant landlords did not have to improve conditions and slum housing worsened. Immigrants were blamed for high crime rates with strong links between Italian Immigrants and the Mafia. High profile case of Sacco & Vanzetti amplified this fear. Prohibition allowed immigrant groups to make money.

  38. 4. Economic Fears • 4 million demobbed soldiers (competition for jobs) • New Technology lowered demand for skilled labour • Strikes – immigrants as strike breakers

  39. Competition for Jobs We already know that anarchists/communists only made up 0.1% of the population therefore there must be another explanation to the strikes & unrest in America… At the end of WWI, approximately 9 million people worked in war industries such as steel; wheat fields (food for allies) & munitions factories, while another 4 million were serving in the armed forces Once the war was over, these people were left without jobsand war industries were left without contracts - unemployment more than doubled from 5.2% to 11.7% by 1921

  40. Competition For Jobs As a result of competition, there was increased anger towards the seemingly endless pool of cheap labouring immigrants as they were blamed for ‘stealing jobs’ WASPs believed that they were either being deprived of work or forced to accept lower wages because of the abundance of cheap immigrant labour Employers could pay immigrant workers less because they were desperate for work and were willing to accept lower wages than WASP workers.

  41. Unskilled Labour There were also a technological advancement after the war and new production methods could be used to create goods faster and cheaper. Instead of employing skilled workers (WASP’s) who had previously been paid well employers could give jobs to relatively low skilled workers (new immigrants) This ‘production line’ method meant that employers could make huge profits by paying immigrants less. This obviously increased resentment from American workers towards the new immigrants ‘taking their jobs’

  42. Acceptance Of Poor Working Conditions Many of these immigrants were unskilled and therefore accustomed to long hours, low pay and harsh working conditions as desperate for work The acceptance (by immigrants)of these poor working and living conditions angered poor, native-born Americans who believed that the abundance of immigrant labour kept wages low & condemned them also to poverty &terrible conditions Trade unions believed that anything they did to improve conditions or wages was wrecked by Italian or Polish workers who were prepared to work for longer wages for lower wages Employers would not negotiate with trade unions because there was a wealth of workers who would accept the current pay & conditions

  43. STRIKE BREAKERS Following WWI, there were many strikes in 1919 (as we know) across the USA as emerging trade unions fought for better wages, shorter working hours and better conditions While trade unions were trying to get better working conditions for their members by striking, employers were able to break these strikes by employing immigrant workers to replace the strikers They had no bargaining power when employers knew that they could always use cheap immigrants to break their strikes Immigrants therefore gained the reputation of ‘strike-breakers’ or ‘black legs’ - this caused huge resentment and an increase in the desire to stop immigrants coming into the country

  44. Pupil Task • Using your notes from the PP, Kerr Textbook & Changing Attitudes booklet answer the questions. • Make sure you include enough detail and constantly think about the question – why did attitudes towards immigrants change. • This is the information you should be using for your economic fears paragraph. Remember; Relevant, Accurate, Detailed Knowledge Arguments why economic fears changed attitudes (A) Arguments why economic fears were not as significant (A+)

  45. Paragraph (Economic Fears) • Knowledge Competition for jobs after WWI – increased unemployment. Strike Breakers No improvement to working conditions (or pay) • Analysis The short-term depression at the end of WWI created hostility towards immigrants as they were seen as strike breakers who were “stealing” jobs that should have been available for US citizens & lowering wages and working conditions De-mobbed soldiers felt that they were competing for jobs ad housing with immigrants and this added to the hatred and resentment felt towards immigrants. • Analysis + The jobs taken by immigrants not those wanted by the old immigrants, who were better educated. Immigrants were less likely to move to the USA when there was high unemployment. Large numbers of unskilled workers resulted in employers adopting new technology so this also created unemployment. Immigrants were also consumers and they increased demand for goods. Some immigrants set up their own businesses e.g. as bakers, tailors. The number of Jews in business = 3x above the national average for ethnic groups. Thus they were not taking jobs away from others.

  46. 5. Isolationism • “A policy of remaining apart from the affairs or interests of other groups, especially the political affairs of other countries.” • World War One began in 1914, but in the years before this, the USA had followed an ‘isolationist’ foreign policy.

  47. Isolationism, Neutrality and WW1 • America’s initial reaction to the outbreak of war was neutrality –as per the isolationist policy. • American’ people were firmly on the side of neutrality, wanted to focus on America. • President Woodrow Wilson (1913 – 1921) supported neutrality: • He said America should not become involved in Europe’s ‘Civil War.’ • He urged Americans to be “impartial in thought as well as action.” Wilson's campaign used the popular slogans "He kept us out of war" and "America First" to appeal to those voters who wanted to avoid a war Wilson was re-elected for another term as president in 1916 so was popular with US citizens

  48. Historiography - Choose a quote When the war broke out, “shock in the United States gave way to gratitude that an ocean stood between America and the battlefields.” – Historians Tindall and Shi. “Our isolated position and freedom from entangling alliances… inspire our press with cheering assurance that we are in no peril of being drawn into European conflict.” – Literary Digest – US magazine from the time.

  49. America enters the war March 1917 – German submarines sank five American merchant vessels in the North Atlantic. This was on the back of the sinking of the Lusitania off the coast of Ireland in 1915 when 128 Americans died AND The Zimmermann Telegram in February 1917*. 2nd April 1917 *A coded telegram sent from Germany to Mexico, intercepted and decoded by Britain. Germany offered an alliance and financial aid to Mexico in case of war between Germany and the USA. If Mexico attacked the USA, it would recover “lost territory” in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.

  50. WWI When America entered the war in 1917, it soon emerged that sympathies in America were mixed, which caused great tensions and a split in American society The 1910 census showed that out of the US population of 92 million, 32 million were 1st or 2nd generation immigrants who retained close ties to their home countries… More than 10 million were immigrants from the nations of the Central Powers and supported their mother country e.g. Germany & Italy • At the outbreak of war, many were criticised for being too sympathetic towards the German Empire • Former president Theodore Roosevelt denounced “hyphenated Americanism", insisting that dual loyalties were impossible in wartime

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