Culture Collision Immigration Issues in the Post WWI Era

Anti-German Sentiment during WWI People with German Surnames lost jobs Orchestras refused to play Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms Towns changed their names Schools stopped teaching German Books by Germans removed from libraries German-Americans attacked

Renamed Words German Measles = Liberty Measles Hamburger = Salisbury Steak Sauerkraut = Liberty Cabbage Dachshunds = Liberty Pup German Shepherds = Alsatians

Immigration Very little from Europe during the war Dramatic increase after WWI especially Southern and Eastern Europe Earlier immigrants (19 th Century, ’s; ’s) were from Western Europe

Red Scare Immediate Fear of a Communist Revolution (Bolshevik Revolution, Russia 1917) Communist party formed in the US Mainly radicals, some were involved with Unions

Bombings of bombs were mailed to leading politicians and industrialists Many were found before they exploded An Italian Anarchist exploded outside the U.S. Attorney Generals House Law Enforcement officials were convinced of conspiracies and plots

Sacco and Vanzetti IN 1920 a guard and paymaster were killed in a robbery 2 Italian immigrants were arrested – they were known to be anarchists, labor organizers, and had avoided the draft for WWI Public opinion was against them Were found, tried, found guilty, and executed Many felt the verdict was political

Palmer Raids Unions, communists, socialists, anarchists, and especially aliens were targeted Civil Rights were violated, homes invaded, people were jailed without legal consuls Foreign Radicals and aliens were deported without trials

1924 Immigration Act Limited the number of immigrants from other countries This was 20% less than the numbers coming in before WWI Eastern and Southern Europe were particular limited The immigration Act did not apply to Mexicans or Canadians