Intolerance and Prejudice

Discrimination Faced by Immigrants and African Americans

Immigrants Suffered Discrimination in their Daily Lives

  • WASPs vs. New Immigrants

    • Northern European vs. Southern and Eastern European immigrants

  • Disapproval of New Immigrants

    • Poor, unskilled workers

    • Fear of job competition and wage decrease

    • Xenophobia and cultural differences

  • Integration Issues

    • Separate communities and languages

    • Different religious beliefs

  • Blamed for Social Issues

    • Crime, alcoholism, diseases

  • Exploitation by Employers

    • Long hours, low pay, poor housing

New Restrictions on Immigration

  • Literacy Test and Quota System

    • Required literacy test for entry

    • Emergency Quota Act of 1921

    • Johnson-Reed Act of 1924

  • Racial Restrictions

    • Limited entry for Africans, Asians, Arabs, and certain Europeans

African Americans Faced Discrimination throughout the USA

  • Segregation in the South

    • Separate facilities and poverty

  • Migration to the North

    • Seeking work and facing racism

  • Limited Employment Opportunities

    • Unskilled, low-paid jobs

  • Living in Ghettos

    • Run-down, overcrowded areas with high rents

This illustrates the discrimination faced by immigrants and African Americans in 1920s America, highlighting social, economic, and racial challenges.