It is evident that the First World War was an important factor in the changing policy towards immigration in America in the 1920s. During World War I, efforts were made by many businessmen across America to try and ‘sell’ the war to Americans and generate German hatred within the country. Due to this, xenophobia increased within the country during the war and as a result, Americans grew more hostile towards immigrants. Many changes were made to American policy which reflected this change as many German immigrants were discriminated against. For example, the German language was no longer taught in schools, many Germans had to change their names to avoid abuse and conflict and the German dish Sauerkraut was changed to Liberty Cabbage. This fear of German culture was emphasised through reports of German disasters as stated by Tindall and Shi; “highly exaggerated reports of German atrocities were convincing to Americans”, thus further extending the hostility in America. These changes are evidence of the increased xenophobia within America as they show the extent that the Americans went to in order to rid the country of foreign culture. However, despite the discrimination against the Germans, many other immigrants were targeted. World War I revealed that many immigrants still had tentative sympathies for their home country that Americans feared might threaten their own society and beliefs. The quota systems introduced in America by the Emergency Immigration Law in 1921 were to limit the number of immigrants allowed to enter the USA. They targeted mainly the immigrants from Southern Europe and Asia, therefore it can be argued that they were considered more of a threat than the Germans. Also, America further excluded itself from the rest of the world through their policy of isolation and their refusal to join the League of Nations, further showing the hostility towards non-Americans and the fear of getting involved with another European affairs. The war therefore changed the American policy on immigration as there was an increased feeling of hostility towards foreign members of society, meaning it can be argued that it had more of an influence than the fear of Communism.
As well as Communist fears and the results of World War I, there were many significant social fears that contributed to the changing American policy on immigration. In the 1920s, many unskilled and poorly paid ‘new’ immigrants lived in poor conditions and in big cities. Many Americans resented these immigrants as they blamed them for running-down the areas they lived in and due to increased crime (linked to the Italians) and increased drinking (linked to the Irish and Southern Germans), hostility towards immigrants increased further. Many journalists, reformers and politicians held the increasing crime rates in cities as proof of the bad influence of immigrants. It can however be argued that social fears were of limited influence in this changing policy as most crimes committed were petty and associated with poverty rather than ethnicity. As well as the influence of crime rates, education was another factor which was influential in America’s changing policy. Many schools tried to refuse entry to many immigrants and were impervious to the efforts of political bosses to allow the students in. This further emphasises the hostility felt towards these immigrants as despite the complains about their lack of education, many felt they should not be allowed into prestigious universities. Pressure groups were formed to try and help immigrants into education, however they were no match for the White Anglo Saxon Protestant (WASP) establishment who refused to change their views. These social fears therefore were evidently influential and due to the evidence of discrimination, they can be argued to have had a more significant influence than the fear of Communism.
In the 1920s, there were significant economic fears in America which can be argued to have had an influence on the changing American policy on immigration. When World War 1 ended, wartime industries reduced production, therefore many people were put out of work. Americans further resented immigrants during this time as immigrants were more likely to work in poorer conditions and for much less money, thus many Americans found it harder to get a job. Due to this, Trade Unions resented them as they put American citizens out of work and blamed the immigrants for lowering the standard for working conditions and pay. It can be argued however, that despite immigrants taking American jobs, they were doing jobs that many Americans did not want as they were dangerous and dirty. Also many bigger corporations and agricultural communities benefited from the cheap labour and it can be argued that the immigrant workers helped to repair the economy as the recession lasted until 1921. Therefore it is evident that economic fears were significant in the changing policy towards immigration, however due to the many benefits of them, it can be argued that the fear of Communism was more significant.
Significant religious fears existed in America in the 1920s which can be argued to have had an influence on the changing American policy on immigration. The different religious beliefs of the immigrants created increased tension and resentment towards them as Americans felt that new foreign religions were dangerous and damaging to traditional WASP values. This is evident through the hostility and fear from the Protestant population towards Catholic immigrants from places like Poland, Greece and Mexico. Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe faced similar hostility as WASPs believed that new modern ideas were a threat to traditional teachings. The extent of this hostility is shown with the popularity of racial groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. The KKK had a large support base, claiming between 2 and 5 million members by the mid-1920s. They stood for anti-Black, anti-Catholic and anti-Jewish values and had significant political power, expressed through the support they received through their marches past the Whitehouse and their influential members such as police offices, judges and politicians. Before this march however, many people in big cities saw the Klan as a joke due to the number of poor and uneducated members. After the march however, this view changed as they witnessed 40,000 members of the Klan marching past the Whitehouse, showing how popular and how feared the Klan was. Due to this it is clear that religious fears were significant in explaining the change in American policy towards immigration in the 1920s as it was clear that Americans feared for their traditional beliefs and due to the support of the KKK, it can be argued to have been more influential than the fear of Communism.
In conclusion, the changes in American policy towards immigration in the 1920s was partly due to the fear of Communism however many other factors were of great significance. The fear of a Communist revolution in America was largely present and due to the support given to politicians such as Mitchell Palmer acting against ‘radical’ immigrants, hostility was evident, however due to the exaggeration of the Bolshevik threat its influence is limited. The xenophobia resulting from World War I also contributed greatly to this changing policy and also, the Immigration Acts that were passed to limit the amount of immigrants entering America were greatly influential and arguably more significant than the fear of Communism. Due to social fears in America such as poor housing and growing crime rates being blamed on immigrants it can be argued that they were significant in the changing policy on immigration and due to the strong evidence on discrimination, they can be argued to have had more of an influence that the fear of Communism. Economic fears in America also contributed to this changing policy as hostility grew towards immigrants due to them willingly working for lower pay and in poorer conditions however, due to the benefits of this labour to the country it can be argued to have had less of an influence than the fear of Communism. Also, the growing fears of foreign religions in America also played a part in this changing policy as many Americans believed that they were a threat to their WASP society and due to the support of groups such as the KKK there is an argument that these religious fears were more significant than the fear of Communism. Overall, it is evident that the fear of Communism was a significant factor in the changing American policy over immigration, however due to many other - some more significant - factors, its significance is limited.
