Discrimination

• The USA had a history of racism ad in the south african americans had worse education and housing and couldnt vote.
• African americans also faced violence and intimidation from the KKK. Between 1919 and 1925, 300 african americans were lynched.
• Membership in the KKK surged in the early 20s, it peaked at 4.5 million in 1925. Many african americans moved to the north to find work and freedom.
• After the russian revolution in 1917 a fear of communism increased in the US.
• Post war economic problems lead to strikes and riots, this turned into a Red Scare.
• Americans were particularly suspicious of immigrants from europe. Some were accused of being communist and planning bombings, some were deported.
• In 1927, 2 italian immigrants, sacco and vanzetti were tried found guilty and executed for burglary and murder. The judge was prejudice.
• Fears of immigrants and their political impact meant quotas were introduced. The first restrictions were created in 1921, by 1924 the US was accepting 150,000 per year as opposed to 500,000 before 1914.
• Those who arrived had poor housing and poorly paid jobs.
• The Great Depression made things worse for immigrants. They were blamed for taking jobs that americans could have done instead.