Causes of Anti-Immigrant Prejudice in the 1920s:
1. Xenophobia – Fear of outsiders, especially of certain foreign cultures and nationalities, was rampant in the 1920s, fueled by the predominance of nativist sentiments in the United States at the time.
2. Nativism – American born citizens with American descent were largely in favor of immigration restrictions and exclusion of foreign-born.
3. Economic Turmoil – The U.S. experienced a significant economic downturn in the early 1920s causing a large number of Americans to blame immigrants for taking jobs away from American citizens.
4. Scapegoating – Immigrants, being a visible and distinct group, were an easy group to target when trying to find someone to blame for America’s problems.
5. Legislative Mandates – The Johnson-Reed Act in 1924 drastically restricted immigration further fueling anti-immigrant sentiment in the U.S.
Effects of Anti-Immigrant Prejudice in the 1920s:
1. Diminished Human Rights – Immigrants were subject to unfair treatment, discrimination and even violence without proper retribution.
2. Loss of Opportunity – Unfair restrictions on immigration and job opportunities barred many potential immigrants from entering the United States.
3. Alienation – Numerous laws and restrictions of the 1920s functioned to create a sense of alienation between immigrants and U.S. citizen, further fueling prejudicial sentiment.
4. Increased Surveillance – Increased immigration restrictions and regulations passed in the 1920s led to increased policing and surveillance of immigrants and communities perceived to be foreign.
5. Severe Racism – The anti-immigration sentiment of the 1920s led to a general rise in racism and bias against many nationalities and ethnicities.