Part 1: Communism, Anarchism, and Labor Strikes Mr. Braff

Communism Economic and political system based on a single party government with the goal of equalizing power and wealth for everyone. Goals Get rid of private property Create one social class (no more rich or poor) Other Facts Usually represented by the color red Other names: Bolsheviks (“the majority”), Marxists Many Communist organizations around the world Example: Industrial Workers of the World (IWW or Wobblies) During the 1910s and 1920s  Violent Associated with European immigrants

Anarchy Absence of government and belief of absolute freedom Anarchist Goals Get rid of government and strong business leaders Very violent Other Facts Represented by the color black Associated with European immigrants

Labor Strikes Bad Economy  After WWI, 4 million American men came back to America and jobs were scarce Strike  work stoppage caused by workers to fight bad practices by employers Why strike?: higher wages, better working conditions and more 4 Million Americans went on strike in 1919 Labor Union or Union  Legally recognized organizations which represent workers of particular trades Examples: Teacher Union, Police Union, Coal Miner Union, etc. The American Federation of Labor (AFL)  Largest labor union in the world

The Palmer Raids A. Mitchel Palmer  US Attorney General Espionage and Sedition Acts Palmer Raids Arrested suspected radicals (communists and anarchists) Many European immigrants  could be deported Disregard for civil rights  Law enforcement broke laws Many were innocent  no trials

Sacco and Vanzetti Many native born Americans distrusted foreigners Nativism  prejudice against foreign born people Nativist belief  Foreigners = communism/anarchism Sacco and Vanzetti Italian immigrants Anarchists May 1920 – both men were arrested for murder and robbery Arrest was based on no evidence Sentenced to the electric chair Mass protests against their trial