History Assignment

RQ #4: The 1920s in the United States were marked by a surge of nativism, or intense favoritism toward native-born Americans over immigrants. This sentiment arose in response to rapid social changes, economic uncertainty, and fears of cultural and political disruption following World War I. Waves of immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe were met with hostility, as many native-born Americans viewed them as threats to jobs, social stability, and “traditional” American values. This era saw the passage of restrictive immigration laws such as the Emergency Quota Act of 1921 and the Immigration Act of 1924, which established strict limits on immigration, especially targeting those from non-Western European countries. Nativism also manifested in the revival of the Ku Klux Klan, which expanded its targets to include not only African Americans but also Catholics, Jews, and immigrants. Fueled by xenophobia, economic competition, and cultural anxiety, nativists demanded conformity to their vision of what it meant to be “American.” These demands raise critical questions about identity, belonging, and loyalty in a nation defined by immigration. What does it mean to be “American”? How did nativist attitudes in the 1920s shape the definition of American identity? Additionally, draw comparisons to contemporary examples of nativism or debates over immigration in the United States today in 2026. How do questions of identity and belonging continue to shape American society, and what lessons can we learn from the 1920s?