Nativism

 

The Interwar years were a time of great change.  Technological advancements, global politics, and domestic social movements combined to transform the country.  However when a society is drastically changed, especially in such a short period of time, there is always a reaction.  This reaction can take many shapes, from political oppression by the state to revolution by the people.  Throughout history a common reaction to societal changes has been an increase in nativist sentiment or mood.  Nativism can be loosely defined as a general fear and distrust of anything foreign and is characterized by extreme patriotism and a strong aversion to minorities.  Lynchings by the Ku Klux Klan, not hiring Irish-American workers, and hate crimes against Jews are all examples of nativist behavior.

In the Kansas City area, along with the rest of the country, there was a strong anti-German sentiment in the years surrounding the First World War.  People of German ancestry who had lived in the United States since the 1800s were required to register as “alien enemies” and many German or Austrians who applied for citizenship petitioned for name changes, so that they might not be recognized as foreign so easily.  The language used in federal documents at the time also reflects nativist behavior.  Registrants were described physically as having “large” “sloping” or “larger” features, terms that reflect a feeling that these people were not of the same quality as the Americans living here already.

While nativist sentiment has long been a part of our country’s history, it’s something that can still be changed.  I hope that soon people can look past their differences and learn to tolerate and respect everyone, regardless of nationality or origin.