1920S DOMESTIC, IMMIGRATION AND LABOR1920S DOMESTIC, IMMIGRATION AND LABOR Mr. Goddard | PLUSH | Feb 2009Mr. Goddard | PLUSH | Feb 2009

AMERICAN POSTWAR ISSUESAMERICAN POSTWAR ISSUES The American public was exhausted from WWI Public debate over the League of Nations had divided America An economic downturn meant many faced unemployment A wave of nativism swept the nation - Prejudice against foreigners

THE KLAN RISES AGAINTHE KLAN RISES AGAIN Organized in Georgia by William J. Simmons Original Klan accepted almost anyone, 1919’s Klan was thoroughly anti-foreign, anti-Semitic, and anti-Catholic Opposed evolution, endorsed religion, immigration restrictions, short skirts and “demon rum” Especially motivated to keep black Americans “in their place” As the Red Scare and anti-immigrant attitudes reached a peak, the KKK was more popular than ever By 1924, the Klan had 4.5 million members Example of Nativism at work

ISOLATIONISM Many Americans adopted a belief in isolationism Isolationism meant pulling away from involvement in world affairs

FEAR OF COMMUNISMFEAR OF COMMUNISM One perceived threat to American life was the spread of Communism Communism is an economic and political system based on a single- governmental party, equal distribution of resources, no private property and rule by a dictatorship.

SOVIET UNION COMMUNISMSOVIET UNION COMMUNISM Russia was transformed into the Soviet Union in 1917, a Communist state Vladimir Lenin led the Bolsheviks and overthrew the Czarist regime He was a follower of the Marxist doctrine of social equality A Communist party was formed in America, too Lenin

AMERICAN COMMUNISMAMERICAN COMMUNISM 75,000 Radicals joined the party Many were from the IWW or Industrial Workers of the World Bombs were mailed to government and people thought the communists did it

RED SCARERED SCARE As a result of the Russian Revolution, Americans imagined Communists as the worst possible threat to their way of life The ideals of Socialism and Communism were tied, often erroneously, to the American labor movement

RED SCARERED SCARE

PALMER RAIDSPALMER RAIDS A. Mitchell Palmer was the U.S. Attorney General He appointed Herbert Hoover as special assistant. They hunted down suspected Communists, socialists and anarchists Trampled Civil Rights Invaded Homes and Offices Deported Radicals Never found any real evidence Palmer Hoover

ANARCHISTS Were targeted in the Raids People who oppose ANY form of government

SACCO & VANZETTISACCO & VANZETTI The Red Scare fed nativism in America Italian anarchists Sacco & Vanzetti were a shoemaker and a fish peddler Convicted of robbery and murder despite flimsy evidence, their execution was symbolic of discrimination against radical beliefs during the Red Scare

CONGRESS LIMITS IMMIGRATIONCONGRESS LIMITS IMMIGRATION Congress, in response to nativist pressure, decided to limit immigration from southern and eastern Europe – Roman Catholics and Jews Prohibited Japanese Immigration Did not stop Mexican Immigration The Emergency Quota Act of 1921 set up a quota system to control and restrict immigration America changed its formally permissive immigration policy

A TIME OF LABOR UNRESTA TIME OF LABOR UNREST Strikes were outlawed during WWI - WHY 1919 there were more than 3,000 strikes involving 4 million workers

BOSTON POLICE STRIKEBOSTON POLICE STRIKE Boston police had not received a raise in years and were denied the right to unionize Members asked for a raise and were fired so the police started to strike The National Guard was called out to maintain order by Coolidge the Mass Gov. New cops were hired Made Coolidge a hero and became Harding’s running mate in 1920.

STEEL MILL STRIKESTEEL MILL STRIKE In September of 1919, the U.S. Steel Corporation refused to meet with union representatives In response, over 300,000 workers struck Scabs were hired while strikers were beaten by police and federal troops The strike was settled in 1920 with an 8-hour day but no union

COAL MINERS’ STRIKE JOHN J LEWISCOAL MINERS’ STRIKE JOHN J LEWIS In 1919, United Mine Workers led by John L. Lewis called a Strike on November 1 Lewis met with an arbitrator appointed by President Wilson Lewis won a 27% pay raise and was hailed a hero Lewis

1920S: TOUGH TIMES FOR UNIONS1920S: TOUGH TIMES FOR UNIONS The 1920s hurt the labor movement Union membership dropped from 5 million to 3.5 million Why? African Americans were excluded from membership and immigrants were willing to work in poor conditions Ford Foundry workers in 1926; only 1% of black workers were in Unions at the time

1920 LABOR KEY POINTS1920 LABOR KEY POINTS Labor couldn’t strike during WWI. But went bonkers right after! Tougher economic times after the war Steel Workers, Coal Workers and Police wanted better pay and working conditions. Owners blamed the strikes on “REDS” Owners and government used force against them. Many Strikers were hurt or injured Unions lost power because – they didn’t accept African-Americans as members – immigrants would work for lower pay and not join unions