Excluded from Reform Chapter 21, Section 4
What is discrimination? Definition: unequal treatment because of your race, religion, ethnic background, or place of birth. During the Progressive period, the majority of Americans were white and Protestant. Anyone else faced DISCRIMINATION!
Religious Discrimination Anti-Catholicism: discrimination against Catholics. - Some Americans believed that Catholics were going to take over our country. - Formed the American Protective Association (made up of Anti-Catholic Iowans) – from the state of Iowa.
Religious Discrimination (cont) Anti-Semitism: discrimination against Jews. - Most of the Jews came from Europe. - Anti-Semitism is the main reason for the Holocaust during World War II.
Racial Discrimination Anti-Asian: discrimination against Asians (people from Asia – mostly China and Japan). - Example: Do you remember the Chinese Exclusion Act?? In 1907, the Gentleman’s Agreement was signed by Teddy Roosevelt. This was an agreement to help limit the number of Japanese immigrants to America.
Racial Discrimination (cont) Anti-African American: discrimination against African Americans. Although officially free, African Americans were denied basic rights and considered second-class citizens. Plessy vs. Ferguson: court case that allowed “separate but equal” facilities. (this was legal segregation)
Ku Klux Klan (KKK) In 1915, a new Klan was formed in Georgia. This Klan wanted to restore white, Protestant America. Supported all forms of discrimination Were racist in every possible way. Disliked anyone not considered to be a white Protestant. Were responsible for several lynchings.
Lynchings More than 2,600 African Americans were lynched between 1886 – Most lynchings took place here in the South. Lynchings were also used to terrorize Chinese immigrants in the West.
They were left out of reforms: Most of the Progressives were middle and upper class White Protestants. The reforms they supported often ended up discriminating against one group as they tried to help another group. - Example: trade unions did not allow African Americans to join.
Booker T. Washington Founded the Tuskegee Institute in The Tuskegee Institute taught African Americans farming and industrial skills. Booker T. believed this would help African Americans PROGRESS
W.E.B. Du Bois He received his doctorate degree from Harvard. He joined others in forming the NAACP. He did not like Booker T’s ideas for job skills and instead wanted to fight for the right to vote.
Ida B. Wells She wrote for an African American newspaper in Memphis, TN. She was forced to leave town after publishing the names of people involved in a lynching.
Ida B. Wells (cont) Two of her friends were lynched in Tennessee, and after the destruction of her presses, Wells never stopped fighting for justice. She encouraged church groups and women's clubs to be more aggressive in demanding political and civil rights and helped to create a number of national organizations.
George Washington Carver He was a chemist. Carver was known for helping improve the economy of the South by discovering new plant products. He worked at Tuskegee Institute.
Maggie Lena Fought for women’s rights. She was the first female ever to serve as a bank president.
Native Americans and Mexican Americans They also fought against discrimination during the Progressive Period. Native Americans formed the Society of American Indians. Mexican Americans formed mutualistas, or self-defense associations.