Frank's notes: The sentiment of "Americanization" was a movement started by people who were called "Americanizers". These "Americanizers" were mostly Anglo-Saxon Americans or people who were several generations deep in the United States. The KKK was also a large supporter of Americanization and showed large political support for politicians that were considered "Americanizers".

The height of "Americanization" came during the Red Scare. Many people feared that Bolshevism would make its way from Russia and the Balkans and would bring down American democracy. These fears were increased with the large number of massive worker strikes. Many of the people who were striking were immigrants who wanted more pay. It was thought that these same workers were trying to spread Bolshevism among other immigrant groups.

One thing that "Americanizers" wanted to do was to limit immigration from certain countries and areas of the world. Mostly they wanted to limit immigration form Asia and southern and eastern Europe. Many "Americanizers" did not like the fact that Anglo-Saxon immigration was largely outnumbered by immigration from these parts of the world. Actually done with restrictions on immigration from China and Japan first and then from countries such as Italy, Greece, Poland, and all Balkan states. An example of the sentiment that brought about these immigration restrictions can be found in a speech made by Rep. L.W. Parrish. It reads as follows:

Now is the time to . . . keep from our shores forever those who are not in sympathy with the American ideals. It is the time now for us to act and act quickly, because every month's delay increases the difficulty in which we find ourselves and renders the problems of government more difficult of solution. We must protect ourselves from the poisonous influences that are threatening the very foundation of the Governments of Europe; we must see to it that those who come here are loyal and true to our Nation and impress upon them that it means something to have the privileges of American citizenship. We must hold this country true to the American thought and the American ideals. -- Rep. L. W. Parrish (Dem., Texas), April 20, 1921, speaking in n support of a bill to restrict immigration.

Another thing that was alarming to "Americanizers" was that the birth rate among immigrants was much higher than that of native-born Americans. They feared that one day immigrants and their first generation children would outnumber native-born Americans and their children. And if Bolshevism were to take a stronghold with these immigrants they might become a strong voting force which could one day bring a Communism party into power.

The issue was brought up again during WWI. Many "Americanizers" questioned whether or not immigrants would remain loyal to the United States or to their homeland if the United States were to find itself at war with these countries. And in fact there was a lot of protest, mostly by ethnically-based organizations, during the United States policy of neutrality that they not enter the war on the side of the British; these organizations charged Wilson with being pro-British. Once the United States did enter the war on the side of the British things like banning the teaching and speaking of German were done as part of a "Americanization" campaign.

"Americaniztion" also established programs teach immigrants English and American History as a way of solidifying immigrants in question into American society. At the time there was a popular idea of the "White Man's Burden". This was a social responsibility to civilized and improve upon the societies in the colonies of Great Britain and the United States; also in the United States there was a responsibility to the "Negroes" within the country. "Americanizers" brought up an even greater responsibility that they called the "Anglo-Saxon Burden". The "Anglo-Saxon Burden" was to 'nourish, uplift, and inspire all these immigrant peoples of Europe that, in due course of time, even if the Anglo-Saxon stock be physically inundated by the engulfing flood, the torch of its civilization and ideals may still continue to illuminate the way'.

Because Irish and German-American opposition to the United States entering WWI provide proof to "Americanizers" that immigrants and their children maintain loyalties that would make them likely to betray their adoptive country, "Americanizers" came up with five goals for battling these oppositions to "Americanization." First was to combat all anti-American tendencies, activities, and propaganda. Second was to work to educate immigrants in the principles of Americanism. Third was inculcate the ideals of Americanism in the citizen population that the interest of all the people is above those of any special interest or so-called class or section of the people. Forth was to spread throughout the people of the nation information as to the real nature and principles of American government. And fifth was to foster the teaching of Americanism in all schools.

Sarah writes: The ideals of the United States an being and "American" are very prevelent now [in the postwar years]. New prejudices and racial disputes begin to arise with the increase in immigration. After an immense increase in immigration in the [prewar year]s, Americans begin to restrict immigration. Immigrants from Asia, and Eastern Europe were already being restricted. . . . After WWI, Americans begin to see an increase in the emigration process again. Many refugees and others are beginning to emigrate to the U.S. after losing their homes and possessions back in their homeland.

At the end of WWI, Americans were facing many internal problems with race and labor strikes. In 1920, many people were deported in the Palmer Raids because of the threat they [allegedly] posed to American culture and society. The new quotas "explicitly used 'race' to determine desireable and undesireable immigrants." Americans feared the alien radicals and wanted to keep them away at arm's length. The U.S. began to judge everyone. Would Irish-Americans be able to forget their hatred towards the English or would German-Americans forget their link with the fatherland? They used this idea to prove that [immigrants] lacked committment to core American values.

By 1921, immigration had suffered further restrictions. Religion began to play an important role and deciding factor in immigration. The Irish-Catholics were now being criticized for their un-American beliefs. Racial stereotypes became more prevelent everywhere. Lower class immigrants were having more children much later into their lives than the "native" Americans were having. They began to fear being expelled as a race. . . . . There were fewer and fewer Anglo-Saxon babies than foreign babies. Plus, foreigners married earlier and had children longer into life. There were 3x more foreign children being born than native born. The birth rate for Americans declines with the influx of immigration. Childless marriages were one-third less frequent among foreigners.

The immigrant radical became the new national enemy. Immigrants were seen as mean, sneaky people that would stab you in the back any chance they had. They also brought the threat of Communism and Socialism with them into the country. They were not Americans so they could not possibly understand the ideals and goals of the U.S. The idea of Americanism began to spread through the general population. The American hero was usually a veteran that had come home to join the American Legion. They were big, strong men that could fight off anything and anyone. Teddy Roosevelt II, Teddy Jr., said that "Americanism is love of American loyalty to her institutions the best yet devised by man to secure life, liberty, individual dignity, and happiness; and the willingness to defend our country and flag against all enemies, foreign and domestic." The idea of Americanism was to keep America alive, teach the ideals in schools and to educate the immigrants in ideals of the culture. The cartoon with the veteran honorable batting off the influence of communism is the very idea of Americanism and they used ideas like these to Americanize the foreigners that they could not keep out.

Kim notes: The beginning of the 20th century marked many significant changes within America.