Americans Struggle Post WWI 12.1 Notes Roaring 20’s Politics
Post WWI Trends Fear of Communism Why did U.S. involvement in WWI lead to a rise in nativism? ( What is nativism anyway?) What is isolationism? Fear of Communism What was the Red Scare?
Postwar Issues Public is exhausted League of Nations issue divided U.S. Economy adjusting back Men returning from war – need jobs back Minorities and women fired Cost of living rising Response = nativism and isolationsim
Fear of Communism Economic/political system based on single-party government and ruled by a dictator Equalized wealth by No private property Government owned factories, railroads, etc. Red Scare 1919 – Lenin and Bolsheviks overthrow government and establish a Communist state Advocated worldwide revolution U.S. Communist Party established Radicals, IWW members Bombs mailed to government offices
Palmer Raids Attorney General – A. Mitchell Palmer J. Edgar Hoover assisted in hunt for anarchists Civil rights violated Invaded homes, offices Jailed suspects with no lawyer Deported immigrant radicals w/ no trial No real evidence of revolutionaries found
Sacco and Venzetti “Red Scare” targeted immigrants Suspicion, nativist attitudes Ruined reputations and lives Niccola Sacco and Bartolomeo Venzetti Italian immigrants, anarchists, draft dodgers Shoemaker, fish peddler Arrested/charged w/ robbery, murder of a factory paymaster in MA