Historical story

How did nativism relate to the red scare?

Nativism, a prejudice against immigrants and foreign-born people, intensified during the Red Scare. Many native-born Americans feared that immigrants, especially those from southern and eastern Europe, brought radical ideas and were more likely to be communists. This sentiment led to discriminatory policies and practices, including the Immigration Act of 1924, which restricted immigration from certain countries. The Red Scare exacerbated these nativist sentiments, further associating immigrants with communism and threatening their place in American society.