Big question 7 Flashcards
Why were people fleeing to the USA
To escape poverty in Italy
What was the melting pot theory
All immigrants would forget their culture and beliefs to become Americans
What was the red scare
Many Americans were scared that immigrants were bringing radical political beliefs with them
Give an example of beliefs immigrants were supposedly bringing with them
Communism
Bolshevism
Anarchism
What evidence did Americans have to be scared
Workers went on strike, immigrants in Boston complained strikes due to low pay long hours and terrible working conditions
What did Americans really think?
They thought it was communist interference meaning the workers might take control
Of industry
Why were their fears justified
Many immigrants did have radical views including overthrow of the government
What did immigrants do to justify Americans worry
In April 1919 a bomb killed ten people in Milwaukee church
In May bombs were posted to 36 prominent Americans
What happened to those with radical political beliefs
Bad evidence was used to round up these people and they were nearly always immigrants
Who was responsible for the purges
J Edgar Hoover a appointed by Palmer, a sinister figure in American history
What did Hoover do
Built files on 60000 suspects in 1919 10000 people were told they were to be deported
What happened to Palmer
He tried to use fear to build support to run for president, made insane predictions that would never happen
Who were Sacco and Vanzetti
They were immigrants arrested in 1920
On suspicion of armed robbery and murder
What happened to Sacco and Vanzetti
Their trial then became less of a trial for murder and more based on the hatred
Of their beliefs
How did Sacco and Vanzetti did
They were executed in July 1927 after six years of legal appeals
