Postwar America American Isolationism Americans did not want to be involved in world problems. Americans became more and more suspicious of foreigners.

Red Scare Americans were afraid of the threat of Communism after the Russian Revolution Communists wanted to overthrow capitalist governments and give the workers control 70,000 U. S. citizens joined the Communist party Americans feared “Reds” would take over the U. S.

Red Scare During the Palmer Raids government agents hunted down suspected communists, invading homes and private businesses and ignoring people’s civil rights Foreigners were arrested and deported without trial

A Resurgence of Nativism In the 1920s, racism and nativism increased Ethnic prejudice was the basis of the Sacco and Vanzetti case, in which two immigrants were accused of murder and theft They were tried and sentenced to death by a racist judge and jury

A Resurgence of Nativism The Emergency Quota Act of 1921 limited immigration from southern and eastern Europe The National Origins Act of 1924 made immigration restriction a permanent policy, which lasted until the 1960s

A Resurgence of Nativism The KKK led the movement to restrict immigration They targeted Blacks, Catholics, Jews, immigrants and other groups they believed to have “un-American” values Scandals and poor leadership led to the Klan’s decline in the late 1920s

Labor Unrest More than 3,000 strikes occurred during the year 1919 Union members were believed to be secret Communists The National Guard was called in when Boston police went on strike protesting low wages Steel mill owners used violence to break the steel workers strike