A Republican decade

Setting the Scene Memories of war Economic downturn Warren G. Harding (R) Call to normalcy

Karl Marx Marxism: Revolution by proletariat (Working Class) Government run by proletariat All land owned by government Everyone lives PERFECTLY equal

The Red Scare The Russian Revolution Leninism (Lenin’s Communism) Civil war between “Reds” and “Whites” Leninism (Lenin’s Communism) Government owned all land and property A single political party controlled government Needs of the country outweigh needs of individuals Stalinism terror

American Fears Russia intends to spread communism Blamed Europeans for WWI America feared immigrants Workers strike in America Viewed as “revolution” Newspapers sensationalized stories American fear grew

Court cases of fear Schenk v. U.S. Gitlow v. New York The government is justified in silencing free speech when there is a “clear and present danger” Espionage act Gitlow v. New York Bill of Rights applies to state laws not just federal

Palmer Raids A. Mitchell Palmer – Attorney General January 2, 1920 33 cities Thousands of suspected radicals arrested No evidence Charged with anarchy 500+ convicted and deported

Labor Strikes 1919-1920 – number of annual strikes from 175 to 370 Seen as Communism (not true) Cost of living soared Wages stagnant Boston Police Strike Calvin Coolidge condemned strike Won national attention

Labor Strikes Steel and Coal Strikes Strikes decline Agreed not to strike during war War is over Strikes decline Americans opposed strikes “Crime against civilization” – President Wilson

Review Why do Americans fear communism? How did the court rule concerning the limits of free speech? How did Americans view labor strikes?

Harding Presidency Gave appointments to office to friends Foreign Policy Isolationism – avoid political or economic alliances with foreign countries Disarmament – program in which the nations of the world would voluntarily give up their weapons Promoted expansion of trade Pushed for lessening of all European debts (Germany included)

Harding Presidency Domestic Issues Teapot Dome Scandal Nativism Patriotism, religion, urban conditions, jobs, Red Scare Placed quota on immigration White republicans fear immigration Teapot Dome Scandal Corrupt administration Albert B. Fall – Secretary of Interior Gave secret oil rights to private companies

Coolidge Presidency President Harding Died August 3, 1923 Won re-election 1924 Laissez Faire “The chief business of the American people is business” Fueled economic boom Lowered income tax and inheritance tax Refused to help in natural disasters

Kellogg-Briand Pact Left foreign affairs to Sec of State – Frank B. Kellogg French Foreign Minister – Aristide Briand Wanted countries to agree to never go to war against each other 15 nations agreed not to use threat of war 60+ nations eventually joined No provisions for enforcement

Election of 1928 Coolidge did not run Herbert Hoover republican nominee Prohibition & Religion Election demonstrated Rural-Urban split

Closure What are some major differences between Marxism, Leninism, and Stalinism? Why do Americans fear communism? What caused the rise in Nativism in the 1920s? What is Laissez Faire?