Libertyville HS

20s Isolationism: The US Turns Inward  Impact of WWI & the disillusionment w/ the peace Treaty of Versailles ○ Unjust treatment of Germany ○ War Guilt Clause ○ Reparations ○ Disarmament ○ New Map of Europe League of Nations ○ Article X ○ Enforcement? Partisan fighting ○ Henry Cabot Lodge v. President Wilson

20s Isolationism: The US Turns Inward  Election of 1920 Reaction to Wilson’s failing health, progressive reforms Revolutions abroad, strikes and dissent at home TR died in 1919; no obvious heir to progressive mvt  Warren Harding (GOP) – compromise candidate (“smoke filled room”)  James Cox (D) – OH gov., newspaper ed.  Harding’s “A return to normalcy” resonated w/ US Results Harding404 ECV / 16.1 million Cox127 ECV / 9.1 million

Economic Isolation  Tariff increased over the 1920s 1913 = 29% 1922 = 38.5% 1929: Smoot-Hawley = 59.1% (record high)  Effects Int’l trade stagnated Europeans unable to pay debts to US US, a creditor nation, developed bad feelings towards Europe Key component causing Great Depression A = Smoot Hawley enacted

Cultural Intolerance  Isolationism compatible with intolerance Great Migration led to… ○ Ghettos ○ Rebirth of KKK  Scopes “Monkey “ Trial May evolution be taught in schools? Scopes (TN teacher) defended by Clarence Darrow Prosecuted by William J. Bryan (anti-evolution) Verdict: guilty, fined $1 Inherit the Wind: Hollywood version

Prohibition  1919 Volstead Act Banned the manufacture, sale transport of 0.5% alcohol Exception: medicinal, religious purposes Implemented 18 th Am.  “The Noble Experiment” “Wet “= opponent “Dry” = supporter

Prohibition  Was prohibition successful? NO!!! Rise of organized crime ○ Al Capone (Chicago) ○ “Speakeasies” (illicit bar) ○ “Hooch” (illicit alcohol)  1928 Wickersham Commission Prohibition should be continued, despite being a failure  1933: 21 st Am. Repealed 18 th Am (local option) Can morality be legislated?

Restrictions on Immigration  Causes Rejection of Europe Domestic labor abundance Americanization very slow Non-payment of war debt  Legal restrictions Chinese Exclusion Act of Gentleman’s Agreement (US, Japan) ○ No more Japanese immigration ○ No discrimination against current Japanese residents

Restrictions on Immigration  Legal restrictions 1921 Emergency Quota Act ○ Total of 350k immigrants ○ Each nation allowed 3% of the # currently in the US, as of Immigration Act ○ No Asians allowed ○ Each nation allowed 2% of its 1890 base currently in the US 1929 National Origins Act ○ Total of 150k immigrants ○ Each nation allowed 2% of its 1920 base currently living in the US  Impact of restrictions Huge waiting lists Immigration reduced to a trickle

Labor Strife 11919 – over 2000 major strikes Reaction to restrictions of war EExample UMW strike Boston Police strike “There is no right to strike against public safety by anybody, anywhere, any time!” Gov. Coolidge

“Red Scare”  1920: Pres Wilson’s AG Mitchell Palmer identified a communist threat in US Led to “Palmer Raids”: 6000 immigrants detained, 566 deported Five socialists expelled from NY Assembly

“Red Scare”  1921: Nicola Sacco & Bartolomeo Vanzetti case Murder case of a payroll clerk Liabilities (against them) ○ Immigrants ○ Anarchists ○ Atheists ○ Italian Executed in 1927