Post War Politics

Called for a “Return to normalcy” President Harding Republican President from 1921-1923 #29 Warren Harding Called for a “Return to normalcy”

Return to Normalcy Simpler times - Harding was a conservative. He felt that the Progressive Era had complicated things. A return to Laissez Faire. Harding felt that Progressive Legislation was un American and hurt our industrial capacity. Isolation - Harding believed that the less we were involved in foreign affairs the better. While he did deviate from this on several occasions his foreign policies were always directed towards reducing the chances of being involved in another conflict.

Return to normalcy

Russian Revolution and Red scare

Russian Revolution Bolsheviks took over Russian in 1917 Civil War broke out, ended in 1920 with Lenin and the Bolsheviks in control

Russian Communism Government owned all land and property A single political party controlled the government The needs of the country always took priority over the rights of individuals

Communism vs. socialism vs. capitalism

In order for communism to work, Lenin believed it needed to spread This intention scared Americans Feared European immigrants would bring communism to U.S. Russian-backed communists tried to overthrow German gov’t in 1919 Communists took over Hungary

Supreme Court developed “clear and present danger “ doctrine Schenck Vs. U.S. During WWI, Charles Schenck was caught mailing letters to draftees urging them not to report for duty Convicted of breaking the Espionage Act Schenck argued free speech Supreme Court developed “clear and present danger “ doctrine Expanded power of supreme court

Palmer Raids 1919 bombing attacks occurred in several cities One damaged the house of Palmer (U.S. Attorney General) He escaped injury, but became convinced of radical overthrow conspiracy

Palmer Raids Used “clear and present danger” doctrine to root out radicals Targeted communists, socialists, anarchists Resulted in the deportation of over 500 immigrants, some perhaps guilty, most innocent 1920, NY State Assembly expelled 5 democratically elected socialists

Both Italian immigrants and anarchists Accused of murder Sacco and Vanzetti Both Italian immigrants and anarchists Accused of murder Had guns when they were arrested Little to no evidence of their guilt but they are convicted Likely because they were immigrants with radical beliefs Executed in April 1927

Immigration Fear of communism is tied up with fear of immigrants Nativism is surging (favoring native born Americans over immigrants Patriotism Religion Urban conditions Jobs Red scare Immigration quotas Only accept a limited number of immigrants from each area

Immigration legislation National Origins Act 1924 Only accept 2% of the number of immigrants from a certain place Based on the 1890 census Severely limited immigration from Italy, Poland, and Russia Prohibited entry of “aliens ineligible to citizenship” Referred to Japanese Chinese already prohibited (Chinese Exclusion Act)