Immigration, Racism and the KKK in the 1920s

• • 1.2 mill immigrants arrived in Canada from 1919-1931
  • Numbers decreased due to higher standards and money to move
  • Canadian government preferred potential farmers, agricultural workers, domestic servants
• • Government ads encouraged white migrants
  • Racist policies made it impossible for people of colour to immigrate in early 20th century
• • 1923 - Parliament passed Chinese Immigration Act, barred Chinese immigrants - Humiliation Day
• Prohibited Immigrants

  1. Mental disabilities or addiction
  2. Infectious diseases
  3. Prostitutes, women with immoral purposes
  4. Anarchists
  5. People over age of 15, unable to read
• Ku Klux Klan

  • Message of KKK - racial and religious hatred
  • Symbol of KKK - ritual burning of crosses
  • People belonged to this group because they did not accept the people who were apart of mainstream Canada 
  • Terrorism to promote white supremacy. Attacks on Roman Catholics, Jews, immigrants