Chapter 26 Study Guide

Sacco and Vanzetti Trial The murder trial and conviction of two Italian immigrants which raised questions about America’s founding ideals of equality and rights under the law. They were executed.

Red Scare The postwar fear of radicals, reds being communists, in which most Americans viewed them with suspicion.

Palmer Raids Ordered by Attorney General Palmer in response to being targeted with a bomb. The raids were conducted by J. Edgar Hoover the Director of the FBI and were directed at the homes of suspected subversives looking for weapons.

Quota System In response to fears of radicalism among immigrants and anti immigration pressure, Congress put limits on the number of immigrants coming into the country. It could be no more that 3% of current populations already in the country.

American Civil Liberties Union Founded by pacifists and social activists the organization defends those it views as targeted by the government because of their political or religious beliefs. It opposes the limitations put on individuals rights.

Back To Africa Movement In response to violence and prejudice, Marcus Garvey created a movement for blacks to return to Africa because they would never be treated fairly in the U. S. by white males who controlled the government.

Anti Defamation League In response to anti-Semitism, prejudice against Jews, the organization was created to stop the defamation, false accusation, of the Jewish people.

1. The Cancellation of the government military contracts led to hundreds of factory closures. Crop prices fell as overseas demand for farm products dropped. Millions of Americans were thrown out of work, a situation made worse by the return of millions of soldiers. Unemployment combined with inflation to cause a decline in economic activity and property.

2. Violent labor strikes and the actions of anarchists and communists created fears that radicalism was threatening public order. Bombs sent by mail added to American's fears. As a result, attorney General Palmer launched a series of raids on suspected subversives. Critics saw those raids, the arrests of radicals, and the deportation of foreign born suspects as an affront to civil liberties.

3. Nativists and labor union members called for restriction on immigration. Congress responded with several new laws that capped the number of people allowed into the country and applied a quota system to limit the number of immigrants from each country. Anti immigration feelings also helped to revive the Ku Klux Klan.

4. The Klan terrorized African Americans, immigrants, Catholics, and Jews with whippings, kidnappings, cross burnings, arson, and murder. They also worked to elect sympathetic senators and governors and they held massive marches in the nations capital and other large cities.

5. African American even though they had served and sacrificed their lives in the war, still faced racism and discrimination at home. Like other African Americans, black veterans had trouble finding jobs, and racial violence saw a comeback. Tensions between blacks and whites erupted into riots. In this climate of violence, Garvey’s Back- to-Africa message was appealing to blacks who had given up hope for equality in the United States.

6. Strong Anti-Catholic sentiment in many parts of the country hurt the Smith candidacy. Rumors spread that if Smith were elected, the Catholic Pope would run the country. Wherever Smith campaigned, he had to spend time explaining that his Catholicism did not pose a threat to the nation.