The USA in the 1920’s

Chapter’s 20 and 21Immigration

The USA’s Reaction to WWI

League of Nations – President Woodrow Wilson urged membership but he needed the approval of the US Congress. Most Americans feared if America joined the league, they’d be obliged to interfere in foreign conflicts.

Isolationism

Americans wanted to remain cut-off from other countries to avoid any further conflict.

Isolationism

Effects of Isolationism

• kept USA out of European affairs- weakening the league of Nations.

• linked with Racism & The Red Scare.

• helped bring about tariffs.

Why did people want to come to the USA?

1. “Land of Opportunity” – higher wages, more jobs, natural resources

2. “Land of the Free” – freedom of religion, speech

3.“Melting Pot” – variety of different people, races, religions, etc.

Immigration Pre WWI America had an ‘open doors policy’,

now some Americans started demanding this ‘door’ be closed.

America was seen as a ‘melting pot’ and a ‘land of opportunity’ because it was rich, there were jobs & was self - sufficient.

• The Immigration Law (1917) -immigrants had to pass a literacy test.

Anti-Immigration Laws:

Americans started experiencing Xenophobia- or fear of foreigners. The USA quickly passed a series of laws including:

• The Emergency Quota Act (1921) –limited immigrants to 357,000 per

year. Not to exceed 3% of the number from that country already living in the USA in 1910.

• The National Origins Act (1924) reduced the quota to 2% & set the date back to 1890

• The Immigration Act 1929- reduced the number to 157,000 immi- gration from Asia was blocked.