How did Americans Adjust with Post War Issues? U.S. History & Government 11th Grade Boys/Girls 7 May 2019

War’s Effect on America Public opinion divided about the League of Nations Economy was hurt Returning soldiers took jobs away from women and minorities Some faced unemployment Social Division Nativism & isolationism swept over America

Communism was viewed as a threat to American way of life Fear of Communism Communism was viewed as a threat to American way of life Communism: an economic and political system that supports government control over property to create equality Some communists also believed in only one party Communists’ use of violent revolution – Bolsheviks under Lenin’s leadership created 1st communist state in Russia.

Fear of Communism Red Scare Many Americans join U.S. Communist Party Many People feared the “Reds” An agency (Later FBI) was created by the Justice Department to arrests socialists and anarchists by A.G. Mitchell Palmer Palmer threw many radicals out of the country

Red scare………… Many people suffered because of the abuse of power Sacco and Vanzetti Trial They were executed in 1927

Limiting Immigration Some people used Red Scare as an excuse to act against anybody who looked different KKK was revived Acted against blacks, Jews, Roman Catholics, immigrants and Union leaders Nativism (anti-immigrant feelings) caused the Congress to pass Emergency Quota Act of 1921 1924 limited immigration from Eastern and Southern Europe and banned immigration from Japan

Boston Police Officers’ Strike for living wage Labor Unrest 3 Major Strikes Boston Police Officers’ Strike for living wage which was put down by force by MA governor C. Coolidge Steel workers’ strike by workers at U.S. Steel Corporation Demanded the right to make union Public opinion forced the company to give 8 Hour work-day, but no union

United Mine Workers’ led by John L. Lewis Labor Unrest United Mine Workers’ led by John L. Lewis Wilson Mediated Workers got high wages but no shorter work-day 1925: Founding of “Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters” by Philip Randolph for African Americans Few blacks joined

Declining Labor Unions Union Membership declined in the 1920s for following reasons: Immigrants were willing to work on poor conditions Language barrier made organizing people difficult Farmers who migrated to cities were used to relying on themselves Most unions excluded African-Americans

Home Work Questions 1, 2, & 3 on page 624