Unit 3: The 1920’s & 1930’s

The Aftermath of War Following World War I, the United States and world as a whole had changed… It strove for normalcy and healing

1. There was a growing “Red Scare” as Americans feared Communist Russia Intense fear of communism and other extreme ideas

Vladimir Lenin changed the Soviet economy He put all privately-owned farms, industries, land, and transportation under government ownership His followers were the bolsheviks Lenein came to power in November 6, 1917 But in 1918, a civil war errupted between Reds (Lenins guys) and whites (former landowners, government officials, and army leaders whose investments in Russia had been sezied by Lenin and his men)

Lenin turned Russia into the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) And/or the soviet union There was rebellion for a while…but by the 1920s, he held solid power and created the USSR

With Communism, the government makes all economic decisions… the government owns all property a single political party holds power citizens are not given any specific rights

Because Communism was so hostile to American beliefs, fears of the “Reds” caused Americans to seek out Communists to be jailed or exiled Against capitalism Private enterprise First amendment right Subversives were tried (some found guilty because it was wartime) (first amendment righst are suspended)

People were arrested and tried, thousands were jailed…most were innocent More than 500 immigrants were deported Eventuallly the public began to think lines were being crossed