In the 1920s and 1930s, nativist values were very common among the American people. Something that can be cited as a cause for this was the anti-German propaganda still relevant in American society following World War I. Many US citizens felt a strong aversion against anything that could be conceived as “un-American” or that threatened their traditional ways of life.
In 1924, the Immigration Act granted the wishes of these nativists by only allowing the immigration of 2% of the total number of people of each nationality in the United states according to the 1890 census. This especially discriminated to southern and eastern Europeans, who were particularly looked down upon by Americans.
The KKK is a clear embodiment of these nativist sentiments. The 1920’s was a time of growth for this extremist uprising against diversity and modernity. Fueled by anti-black, anti-Jewish, anti-Catholic, anti-pacifist, anti-communist, and over all anti-foreign sentiments, the KKK gained popularity spreading into the midwest. The Klu Klux Klan even went as far as to gain control of several state governments.
Nativist Values can also be seen in the isolationist attitude of the US following World War I. President Wilson returned home from the Paris Peace Conference hoping to receive support for the Treaty of Versaille and the League of Nations from the American people. Instead, Wilson was greeted by an attitude of isolationism from both republican-dominated congress and the American People. The isolationist belief of not surrendering control of one’s country to foreign influence is very much in line in the nativist belief of not surrendering the culture and traditions of one’s country to foreigners.
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