Politics in the Roaring Twenties Chapter 20

Americans Struggle with Postwar Issues Section 1

Postwar Trends A wave of nativism (1) and isolationism (2) swept over America as people became (1)suspicious of foreigners and (2)wanted to pull away from world affairs.

Fear of Communism Americans saw communism as a threat to their way of life. Communism is an economic and political system that supports government control over property to create equality. In 1917, the Russian czar, or emperor, stepped down. Later, a group of revolutionaries called Bolsheviks took power. Their leader was Vladimir I. Lenin. They established the world’s first communist state. This new government called for worldwide revolution. They wanted to overthrow capitalism.

Continued The ideas of the communists, or “Reds,” frightened many people. A fear of communism, known as the “Red Scare” swept the nation. Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer set up an agency in the Justice Department to arrest communists, socialists, and anarchists -opposed all forms of government. (The agency later became the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or FBI) Palmer’s agents trampled on people’s civil rights.

Continued One case involved two Italian immigrants, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti. Sacco and Vanzetti were arrested for robbery and murder in Massachusetts. They admitted they were anarchists, but they denied committing any crime. The case against them was weak. But they were convicted anyway. Sacco and Vanzetti were executed in 1927.

Limiting Immigration Some Americans used the Red Scare as an excuse to act against any people who were different. For example, the Ku Klux Klan, which had threatened African Americans during Reconstruction, revived. Now the Klan turned against blacks, Jews, Roman Catholics, immigrants, and union leaders. They used violence to keep these groups “in their place.” Congress passed the Emergency Quota Act of 1921, it established a quota system -set a limit on how many immigrants from each country could enter the U.S. every year.

A Time of Labor Unrest Strikes were not allowed during WWI because they might have hurt the war effort. But in 1919, three important strikes occurred: 1. Boston police officers went on strike for a living wage. 2. A strike by steelworkers began at U.S. Steel Corporation. 3. A more successful strike was led by John L. Lewis, the president of the United Mine Workers.

Continued Overall, the 1920s was a bad time for unions. Union membership declined from 5 million to 3.5 million for the following reasons: Immigrants were willing to work in poor conditions Language barriers made organizing people difficult Farmers who had migrated to cities were used to relying on themselves Most unions excluded African Americans

The Harding Presidency Section 2

Harding Struggles for Peace 1921, Warren G. Harding (29 th president) invited several major world powers to the Washington Naval Conference. SOL-first president elected when women could vote Once there, Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes urged that no more warships should be built for ten years and that the five major naval powers-U.S., Great Britain, Japan, France, and Italy- would scrap many of there existing warships. For the first time, nations agreed to disarm and reduce their weapons.

Continued Americans wanted to stay out of world affairs. But the United States still wanted France and Britain to repay the money they had borrowed during WWI. To make matters worse, Congress passed the Fordney- McCumber Tariff -protected American business from foreign competition, high tax on imports. The tariff made it impossible for Britain and France to sell their goods in the United States.

Continued To avoid another war, American banker Charles Dawes negotiated a settlement to end the loan crisis. Under the Dawes Plan, as the solution was called, the U.S. loaned money to Germany to pay back Britain and France, which then repaid their American loan. Thus, the U.S. ended up getting paid with its own money.

Scandal Hits Harding’s Administration Some of Harding’s cabinet appointments were excellent. But others caused problems. Three honest members of his cabinet were Charles Evans Hughes, Herbert Hoover, and Andrew Mellon. Hughes was Secretary of State. He later became chief justice of the Supreme Court. The talented Herbert Hoover became secretary of commerce. Secretary of Treasury Andrew Mellon reduced the national debt by about a third.

Continued Other cabinet appointments caused problems. Some were part of the so-called Ohio Gang -the president’s poker-playing buddies from back home. They caused the president a great deal of embarrassment. One of the worst cases of corruption was known as the Teapot Dome Scandal -involved pieces of land called Teapot Dome and Elk Hills. This land was owned by the government and help large reserves of oil. Albert B. Fall, Harding’s secretary of the interior, secretly leased the land to two oil companies. He received money and property in return.

The Business of America Section 3

America’s Industries Flourish The new president, Calvin Coolidge (30 th president) said, “The chief business of the American people is business.” Both Coolidge and his Republican successor, Herbert Hoover, favored government policies that promotes business and limited government interference. The automobile changed the American landscape. New roads were built, and new businesses sprang up such as gas stations, repair shops, public garages, motels, tourist camps and shopping centers. Automobiles ended the isolation of rural families and gave young people and women more independence.

Continued Cars also made it possible for people to live farther from their jobs. This led to urban sprawl -outward expansion of cities, as cities spread out in all directions. Cities in Ohio and Michigan grew as major centers of automobile manufacturing. The automobile also became a status symbol. The airline industry also grew. Planes carried the nation’s mail. Passenger services began.

America’s Standard of Living Soars Another major change was the spread of electricity. In the 1920s, electric power stretched beyond big cities to the suburbs. Farms lacked electricity. Americans began to use all kinds of electrical appliances. Radios, washing machines, and vacuum cleaners became popular. Businesses used advertising to sell goods. They tried to use people’s desire for youth, beauty, and popularity to sell products. Some brand names became known nationwide.

A Superficial Prosperity The stock market reached new heights, but this prosperity hid two big problems: 1. First, business was not as healthy as it seemed. As businesses grew, business managers made much more money than workers did. Mining companies, railroads, and farms were not doing well. 2. Second, consumer debt rose to high levels. Businesses encouraged customers to buy on the installment plan -a form of borrowing. Customers could make low payments over a period of time. That way people could afford to buy more. Banks also provided money at low interest rates.