Immigration and migration in 1920s America after World War One

Immigration

The Impact of Immigrants and Migrants on America

The First World War ended in 1918 but spanned four years and involved many nation states. When it was over, many of the people around the world who were affected wanted to make a new start, to find wealth or simply to be happy. The Paris Peace Conference and the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 were supposed to signify a new world order because the Allies had been victorious over the Germans. This was a time of new starts - so, picture America in 1920: Women were fighting for their right to vote and we as a nation had seen the possible devastation of modern day war. During those times, there were fears of increased immigration and migration because of the war and the citizens of American cities are seeing all new prejudices, race riots and industrial conflicts. As a reporter assigned by World Immigration magazine, I have researched this story and aim to present my findings on immigration and migration in the 1920 America to you the reader. Thus, this essay attempts to present the impact of immigrants and migrants on America during the 1920's and to show how those times in American history still affect us today.

Immigration

Immigration during the post WWI era lead to many surprising human rights situations throughout the United States' cities as well as governmental legislation. During the war new restrictive laws like the 1917 espionage Act passed, the 1918 Sedition Act passed, and a draft of the Civil Service Act passed. There were many more obvious attempts to restrict the civil rights of new immigrants and certain social or ethnic groups. Of course Germans were seen as guilty before innocent in post war America like when the CPI tried to stamp out all traces of German culture in America and when the American Protection League fomented anti-German hysteria throughout New York. But many other nationalities also saw a great many prejudices directed at them like the Polish, Russian, and other Baltic state immigrants. Events like the Red Scare sweeping across America as well as mass racism against our own citizens as black soldiers returned home from Europe.

Migration

There was more to this era than simply immigration into the United States from Europe. There was a strong migration period at the same time. For example, black Americans were beginning to migrate out of the southern states into the north for an opportunity to increase their wealth in northern cities like Chicago and Detroit. The Great Migration as it was known saw hundreds of thousands of Southern Blacks migrate to northern cities. With that, new Black communities began to flourish in places like Harlem. But the negative side of the migration saw various race riots in cities like St. Louis and Houston. It was obvious that soldiers returning from war expected the same economic advances to match their new found freedoms and social rights.

One example of how America changed during the post WWI period in 1920 can be demonstrated by the 369th Infantry Division of the United States Army. The unit was an all black division that fought with valor during the war in France and Belgium. "These soldiers were called "Hell Fighters" by their French commanders in recognition of their valor." (SlaveryInAmerica) Prior to their momentous fighting, these soldiers were disgraced by the American military leaders. "American authorities warned French officers that the black soldiers were potential rapists, who had to be kept away from civilian populations. Of the 380,000 black men serving in WWI, only 42,000 served in combat units. The rest were relegated to latrine and cooking duty and general cleaning and hauling work." (SlaveryInAmerica)

But more important to the story of immigration and migration in the 1920's, these soldiers are an example of what it meant to be on the outside looking in regarding social and economic acceptance in America. Just as it was important fro Russian immigrants to move out of New York for fear of racism and social disgrace, these black soldiers showed why it was important to have a mass migration. "When black soldiers returned home after the war, they were met with rage and anger from white Americans. Seventy African-Americans were lynched in 1919, and ten of them were soldiers -- some were killed in their uniforms. Many of these returning soldiers were so disgusted with the Jim Crow South that they moved to mid-western and eastern cities and towns in the decade following the war." (SlaveryInAmerica)

Conclusion

In conclusion, the First World War ended in 1918 and spanned four years and involved many nation states. When it was over, the people of the world wanted a new start. This led to many mass migration and immigration movements during the 1920's. The United States was so affected by these movements that we still feel their effects today. In order to escape prejudice, social disgrace, acceptance or simply to be happy, people moved and began new lives. During those times the fears of increased immigration and migration caused stirs of prejudices, race riots and industrial conflicts. As a reporter assigned by World Immigration magazine, I have attempted to present some of my findings from the 1920's America to you the reader and I hope that I have shown you how those times impact America today.