Chapter 9 Section 1- Labor Issues and Immigration Control after WWI

The Red Scare Rise of the Bolsheviks American Reaction Americans worried about a new enemy. The Bolsheviks, a revolutionary group led by Vladimir I. Lenin, gained control of Russia during World War I. Five years later Russia became part of a new nation called the Soviet Union. The Bolsheviks wanted communism, a new social system without economic classes or private property. Lenin believed all people should share equally in society’s wealth. Soviets called for the overthrow of capitalism and predicted communism would inspire workers to rise up and crush it. American Reaction Many Americans were frightened by communism. Americans embraced capitalism and feared a rise of the working class. The picture of “the Hun,” a German symbol, Americans focused hatred on during WWI, was replaced by a new target: communists, known as Reds. Communist parties formed in the U.S. after the war, some advocating violent overthrow of the government. A Red Scare, or widespread fear of communism, gripped the nation.

Red Scare Events Charles Schenck mailed letters urging men to avoid military service. Schenck was convicted of breaking the Espionage Act. In his appeals, Schenck said he was exercising his freedom of speech. The Supreme Court said that the government is justified in silencing free speech when there is a “clear and present danger.” Schenck v. U.S. Socialist Bernard Gitlow published calls for the violent overthrow of the government. He was convicted of criminal anarchy. The Supreme Court upheld his conviction, stating that he had urged people to engage in violent revolution. Gitlow v. New York Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer ordered the arrest of thousands of suspected “subversives” (people trying to overthrow the government) without evidence. Many were innocent, yet more than 500 were deported. The Palmer Raids Two anarchists were accused of a robbery and murder. Many people believed that they were singled out because they were both radicals and immigrants. After a trial that many believed was unfair, the jury found them guilty and sentenced them to death. Sacco and Vanzetti

One mail bomb was sent to Attorney General A One mail bomb was sent to Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer, who launched the Palmer Raids in 1920. Police arrested thousands of people. Some were radicals; others were simply immigrants. Hundreds of people were deported without a trial. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) formed in 1920 to protect people’s rights and liberties.

Immigration Control Competition for jobs was fierce, and combined with the Red Scare, a backlash against foreigners struck the nation. The rise of nativism, or distrust of foreigners, produced a culture clash between the country’s earliest immigrants and its newer ones. Many nativists were Protestant Christians whose roots were Northern and Western European, and they targeted newer arrivals from Southern and Eastern Europe. Many of the newer arrivals were Catholics and Jews, and nativists argued that these groups were less willing to become “Americanized.” Labor leaders, along with nativists, pushed for immigration restrictions because new arrivals were usually willing to work for low wages.

Reactions to Immigration Government A 1921 law established a quota, or set number, of immigrants to be allowed into the U.S. from various nations. Then, the National Origins Act of 1924 set quotas for each country at 2 percent of the number of people from that country currently living in the U.S., clearly to reduce immigration from certain countries. The act nearly eliminated immigration from Asian countries. The KKK Nativism produced a 1920s revival of the Ku Klux Klan. The Klan’s terror group had originally targeted African Americans in the South but began also to target Jews, Catholics, and radicals. The Klan slogan of the 1920s was “Native white, Protestant supremacy.” The Klan moved from the South into other parts of the country.

Beginning in 1915, there was a resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan. Trends such as urbanization, modernism, and increasing diversity made some people lash out against change. Beginning in 1915, there was a resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan. The Klan promoted hatred of African Americans, Jews, Catholics, and immigrants. By 1925, the Klan had between 4 and 5 million members. 9

In 1924, the National Origins Act set up a quota system for immigrants. For each nationality, the quota allowed up to 2% of 1890’s total population of that nationality living in the U.S.

Others embraced the idea of racial, ethnic, and religious diversity. Many valued the idea of the United States as a “melting pot.” Groups such as the NAACP and the Jewish Anti-Defamation League worked to counter the Klan and its values. By the late 1920s, many Klan leaders had been exposed as corrupt.

Economic troubles also caused problems in the United States. A recession, or economic slowdown, occurred after the war. Many women and African Americans lost their jobs to returning soldiers. Tension over jobs and housing led to race riots in some cities. Scarcity of consumer goods and high demand caused inflation, or rising prices. 13

Many unions went on strike for higher pay and shorter workdays. Because rising prices made it harder to make ends meet, inflation caused labor unrest. Many unions went on strike for higher pay and shorter workdays. In 1919, more than 4 million workers went on strike. The workers succeeded in some strikes, but lost far more. Some strikes turned violent. 14

Labor Struggles After the War Labor Strikes

Voters rejected President Wilson’s idealism. In the 1920 presidential election, Republican Warren G. Harding based his campaign on a call for “normalcy,” a return to a simpler time. Voters rejected President Wilson’s idealism. Harding won the election in a landslide. Republicans also won control of Congress. 16

Harding was a popular, fun-loving president who trusted others to make decisions for him. Some advisors, such as Mellon and Hoover, were honest, capable, and trustworthy. Others, including a group known as the “Ohio Gang,” were not so civic- minded. 17

Some Scandals of Harding’s Administration Charles Forbes, head of the Veterans’ Administration, wasted millions of dollars on overpriced, unneeded supplies. Attorney General Harry Daugherty accepted money from criminals. Secretary of the Interior Albert Fall took bribes in return for federal oil reserve leases. 18

The Teapot Dome scandal became public. In 1921, Fall took control of federal oil reserves intended for the navy. He then leased those reserves to private oil companies. Fall was sent to prison. President Harding did not live to hear all of the scandal’s details. He died in 1923. 19

Coolidge was a quiet, honest, frugal Vermonter. In August 1923, Vice President Calvin Coolidge became President. Coolidge was a quiet, honest, frugal Vermonter. As President, he admired productive business leaders. 20

The middle and upper classes prospered, especially in cities. Coolidge believed that “the chief business of the American people is business.” Coolidge continued Mellon’s policies to reduce the national debt, trim the budget, and lower taxes. The country saw huge industrial profits and spectacular growth in the stock market. The middle and upper classes prospered, especially in cities. 21

Postwar Intolerance Video