Chapter 12 Section 1 Notes Economic problems after WWI 1. Returning soldiers want jobs back Took jobs from women, blacks, and immigrants who fled Europe during war Raised the unemployment rate 2. Cost of living increased People had to make more $ to afford the same life 3. Businesses and Farmers didn’t have an automatic buyer for their products anymore

Economic Problems lead to fear Isolationism not getting involved in foreign affairs. We stayed out of League of Nations… remember!

Nativism prejudice against foreign – born people.

Anarchism Belief that all forms of govt. should be abolished (done away with) Use force to achieve this Anarchy symbol Anarchists set off bombs near stock exchange on Wall Street in NY City (1920)

Communism Belief that the government should take ownership of all private property and redistribute wealth equally to the public. No rich… No poor… All the same. Biggest Fear for U.S. Govt And Big Business Owners By Far WHY? They have the most to lose!

Summarize the feelings represented by the 2 cartoons above

Spread of Communism in U.S. after WWI successful Communist Revolution in Russia Based on writings of Karl Marx’s book The Communist Manifesto Vladimir Lenin was the leader Bolsheviks were his followers (Reds) Establishment of Communist Party in the U.S. Only 70,000 people… many were union members. Some began to take action in an attempt to abolish capitalism examples = protests, bombs, strikes

Red Scare The Govt. started to take action led by A. Mitchell Palmer (U.S. Attorney Gen.) Raided homes of suspects without warrants Jailed suspects without trials or lawyers Deported suspected non – citizens Very little evidence was collected to support the suspected Communist takeover It sure “scared” U.S. citizens used to having Civil Rights

Sacco and Vanzetti Italian immigrants that openly opposed the U.S. govt. suspected of robbery & murder Very little evidence (all circumstantial) judge was openly prejudicial towards them Many around the world protested the trial found guilty & executed (electric chair) trial represents the popular nativist and anti – communist feelings throughout most of society at the time.

The Rise of the Ku Klux Klan over 4 million members by the mid 1920’s almost all white, native – born males of Western European ancestry (WASP’s) anti – black, immigrant, jew, catholic, union, booze (equal opportunity haters) influential in politics during the 1920’s

Legal Limits placed on Immigration U.S. started setting quotas (limits) in 1920s for the 1st time. Most countries except Canada and Mexico have less people enter Germany actually increased (smart people allowed in) Focused mostly on “undesirable people” (pg. 416 of textbook) Eastern and Southern Europe Catholics and Jews Communists Japanese (none allowed) Nativists wanted stricter limits

The Status of Labor Unions During the War not allowed to strike (govt. needed max. production) After the War lots of strikes low wages, long hrs, bad conditions

Summary of Union activity during the 1920’s Membership dropped because immigrants willing to get low $ in bad conditions difficulty in organizing (a lot of different languages) most unions excluded African – Americans people not interested in joining with possible “Communist” label attached. (Media scared workers into staying away from unions)