Final answer:
Discrimination against immigrants in the 1920s stemmed from nativist attitudes and economic concerns. Prejudices brought over from Europe and the scapegoating of immigrants for urban issues led to their poor treatment. Such hostility resulted in restrictive immigration laws like the Immigration Act of 1924.
Step-by-step explanation:
Immigrants in the 1920s were discriminated against due to prejudices carried from Western Europe against those arriving from Southern and Eastern Europe, whose different physical appearances, languages, religious practices, and cultural customs made them easy targets. The Dillingham Commission report of 1907 reinforced this view by emphasizing the contrast between newer immigrants and old-stock Americans. This sentiment was further exacerbated by economic challenges, such as job scarcity and housing problems, which led to immigrants being blamed for these issues.
Furthermore, the demographic shift in urban areas, where many immigrants settled, led to an association of these groups with urban problems. Anti-immigrant prejudice was pervasive in the cities, and this was displayed most evidently through the scapegoating of immigrants for issues like the Great Chicago Fire. This discrimination culminated in restrictive policies, such as the Immigration Act of 1924, which was designed to curb the influx of immigrants viewed as undesirable.
The prejudice against immigrants and the influence of nativism led to legislation like the Immigration Act of 1924, implementing a quota system to limit the number of Southern and Eastern European immigrants, and by proxy, Catholics and Jews. Discriminatory attitudes towards these groups were influenced by concerns about the purity of the American race and the economic impact of newcomers on the job market.