The 1920s, also known as the “Roaring Twenties,” was a decade of significant social, cultural, and political change in the United states. It was a time of both progress and paradoxes, with conflicting views and values. One of the significant paradoxes of the 1920s was the tension between nativist and immigrant beliefs. Nativism was a movement that opposed immigration and supported the interests of native born americans. This tension was exemplified by the trial of sacco and vanzetti in 1920-1927. Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were Italian immigrants who were accused of murder and robbery in Massachusetts. The trial was highly controversial and became a symbol of the conflict between nativist and immigrant views. Many believed that the trial was unfair and that Sacco and Vanzetti were convicted because of their immigrant status and anarchist beliefs. Despite worldwide protests, Sacco and Vanzetti were executed in 1927. Another paradox of the 1920s was the tension between religion and science. This conflict was exemplified by the trial of John Scopes was a high school science teacher who was accused of violating Tennessee’s Butler Act, which prohibited the teaching of evolution in …show more content…
Many native born Americans felt threatened by the changes that these immigrants brought with them, including different languages, customs and religions. Nativist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, gained popularity during this time and advocated for strict immigration laws and white supremacy. On the other hand immigrants faced a number of challenges including discrimination poverty and limited opportunities. Many immigrants were forced to work in low paying jobs and lived in crowded unsafe conditions. Despite these challenges immigrants also brought with them a rich cultural heritage that helped to shape American