America Struggles with Post War Issues How are civil liberties attacked in the post-war era?
Post War Sentiment World War I left Americans exhausted (tired) & horrified (scared) ● Many Americans want to see a return to isolationism, let’s focus on America & not the rest of the world Nativism (which is Anti-foreign sentiment) sweeps across US
Red Scare Spreads Russia becomes communist under Lenin- a great panic hits the US Communists (Reds) called for a worldwide socialist revolution American people & businesses feared a communist takeover of America Some 70K workers (including IWW members) joined the American Communist Party around 1918 When several bombs were mailed to government agencies, Atty. General A. Mitchell Palmer went to work ● Palmer Raids: Palmer & his assistant J. Edgar Hoover, hunt down suspected communists ● No bomb making materials or evidence of a revolution are found but hundreds are deported without trials
Immigrant Backlash: America for Americans Ku Klux Klan (KKK) increases in membership b/c extreme nativist sentiment 1921: To cut immigration Congress passes the Emergency Quota Act Sacco & Vanzetti is one of the best known anti-immigrant cases The two anti-govt Italian immigrants were accused of robbery & murder the two are found guilty with little evidence – both are executed The act establishes a maximum number of people who could enter US
Post War Labor Unrest E mployees want raises owed during WWI ● M anagement labeled strikers as “communists” out to wreck the capitalist system of America S trikes were illegal during WWI so after the war some 3,000 strikes occurred in the US (4mil workers) Boston Police Strike Boston police hadn’t had a raise since start of WW I When some ask for a raise they are fired, remaining officers strike Mass Gov Calvin Coolidge sends in National Guard to end strike, says no strikes in public safety
Steel Mill Strike Coal workers under John L. Lewis do better with unionism Steel workers want shorter hours, better pay, right to form union US Steel refuses to meet with workers reps (say union not legit) 300k workers walk off job, US Steel hires “scabs” to replace them Striking workers beaten by police, but US Steel uses propaganda to make it seems like strikers are communists Public report shows how bad conditions are in steel mill Workers get decreased hours & higher pay but still can’t form union However, overall union membership drops from 5 mil. to 3.5 mil.
Reaction against Discrimination In addition to the NAACP, other organizations form to protect rights Anti-Defamation League (ADL) founded in 1913 in response to anti-Semitism and discrimination against Jews Brought attention to discrimination in housing, employment & college admission American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) forms in 1920 in response to attacks on civil liberties Fought against Palmer Raids & to have those arrested under Sedition Acts freed from jail