During the 1920s, there were many different races, religions, ethnicities, and backgrounds in America. The Progressive Era, which lasted from the 1890s until the 1920s, was a time when industrialization, urbanization, and immigration led to a flood of people coming into America.1 It brought a multitude of new challenges and presented new targets for the Klan. There was much happening at this time regarding basic civil rights. African Americans were free of slavery, but they were not free in many other aspects. Jim Crow Laws were in full effect, segregating their entire lives. There were also many Catholics in the United States, and along with them came Catholic schools and churches. Many Protestants viewed this as a threat to their religion. Also, many Jews and various other immigrants had begun to populate America. America was truly the world 's melting pot. The KKK 's response to all that happened in this time had a significant impact on society. The 1920s effectively ended tolerance of racial, ethnic, and religious difference.2 Aside from all of the turmoil that was occurring, there was a great victory that was happening within America at the time. After a long, brutal fight for suffrage, women obtained the right to vote on …show more content…
The 1920s, and all of the events that accompanied it, provoked the KKK to rise up once again. This revitalized Klan is often referred to as the second wave of the Klan.5 It was established in 1915 by William J. Simmons. Simmons, a minister, claimed that he had been given a vision by God. In this vision, God told him to gather white, native-born Protestant men in battle against forces of evil and immorality that were consuming the nation.6 So, Simmons gathered 33 men, climbed to the top of Stone Mountain in Georgia, and set a cross on fire, signifying the beginning of a movement.7 While the first Klan had just been a phenomenon, the 1920s Klan was a legitimate organization, with over 6 million members joining in between 1920 and
The 1920s were a time of change in the United States, change demarcated by the rise of consumerism and progressive feelings about minority groups; however, certain aspects
Additionally, women changed socially throughout the 1920s in America. After the passing of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote,
On the one hand, the decade was marked by a general trend towards isolationism and a desire to avoid international conflict after the trauma of World War I. The United States remained neutral in global affairs, and there was a general feeling of apathy towards politics. However, this isolationist tendency was accompanied by a rise in nativism and xenophobia, as evidenced by the passage of the Immigration Act of 1924, which severely restricted immigration from non-Western European countries. At the same time, the 1920s also saw the emergence of progressive movements, such as the labor movement and civil rights movement, which challenged the status quo and fought for greater social and economic justice. The decade saw significant advancements in women's suffrage and civil rights, with the passage of the 19th Amendment and the Harlem Renaissance.
The 1920's was a period of prosperity and confidence for many Americans. Women who were largely restricted to certain jobs were now granted more opportunities. They besieged the offices of publishers and advertisers; they sold antiques, sold real estate, opened smart little shops, and finally invaded the department store (Document 2). These new job opportunities caused the inequality between women and men to be looked over during this time. African Americans also felt a spirit of optimism and positivity.
Roman Catholic immigrants, particularly of Irish or Italian descent, were often the target of KKK discrimination. They made and drank wine, thereby violating Prohibition and showing disrespect for law and order. They also sent their children to parochial schools, thereby demonstrating that they weren’t rearing their children to be
Jim Crow laws were still prevalent and continued to restrict their freedom (Doc D). During the 1920s, the American economy took a giant step forward. Economic prosperity put the “roar” into the twenties. A new
This act was later replaced with the Immigration Act of 1924 which changed the quota from 3 percent to 2 percent. The only exception to this quota was canadian and latin American immigrants. The immigration conflict also grew from immigrants taking jobs and housing in the U.S. this caused tension and resentment towards immigrants. The fear and resentment of immigrants caused a rise in KKK membership. The outcome of the Immigration conflict was a restriction on immigration into the U.S. and racial tensions rose against immigrants.
However, by 1925, it was discovered that the KKK was a fraud and very corrupted. This caused the Klan’s influence and membership to decline expeditiously. Notwithstanding, the events that occurred in the 1920’s still had a positive effect on the lives of Americans because social reform during this time was the only reason why the KKK shrunk in size in the first place. Many people were able to become
As the leader of the Ku Klux Klan at the height of its influence in the 1920s, Hiram Wesley Evans was the man solely
The 1920s carried much change in society. Some of these changes were more rights for women, jazz music, and prohibition. The people of the 1920s were disillusioned by society lacking in idealism and vision, sense of personal alienation, and Americans were obsessed with materialism and outmoded moral values (The Roaring Twenties).Cultural changes were strongly influenced by the destruction of World War I ending 1918. America needed to recover and with it youth rebelled against the norms of the older generations.
The magnitude of the Klan helped the organization become publicly establishing a concrete line of racism in America. Because of the division in America many immigrants, and other social
The 1920s were the first years of the new, modern America, with a growing consumer society and new ideas and rules. America saw many changes throughout this decade, including but not limited to social, economic and political changes. Throughout this time, new values were made with the growth of new forms of entertainment and education. After the Progressive Era, the ideas of political figures changed with a new focus on conservative politics and less labor issues. With the new ability for people to buy other products than basic needs, their money went to new inventions, causing new industries to grow.
During this time, Klansmen were holding public parades and initiations throughout the nation while projecting their racist beliefs of purifying American society with native-born White Protestant males along with their White supremacy. With their massive growth, their
The Ku Klux Klan or KKK has created centuries of fear. They originated in Pulaski, Tennessee. The famous hate group was out to re establish white supremacy. The KKK has influenced local governments and people in power. It has also had an impact on American people and specifically black minorities.
The 1920s were a very eventful time in United States history giving it the title “The Roaring 20s” but when observed more closely an abundance of injustices are discovered. On the surface, the 1920s supported a lot of innovation and improvements in the economy, but in reality, many people suffered from debt and only the rich got any new technologies. Immigration and migration in the 20s seemed good on the surface but a plethora of racial injustices occurred along the way. Civil Rights and Civil Liberties made a great stride in the 1920s but the vast amount of racial discrimination and racial terrorism was still a major problem for many people in the United States. The 1920s should not be called the roaring 20’s because many people struggled