1. Adjusting to Peace Topic 4.6
Conflict in the 1920s
Adjusting to Peace
Topic 4.6

2. Adjusting to Peace:
America returns to the idea of isolationism
War time spending stops
Stagnating economy – price of food and clothing doubles
Millions of soldiers return home to no jobs
Labor tensions remain a problem

3. Rise of Nativism & Racism
Nativism: a dislike of foreigners
The Great Migration led to an increase in racial tensions in the North
Ku Klux Klan found new life in 1915 on Stone Mountain in Georgia.
Klan members were hostile to immigrants, Catholics, Jews and African Americans
Used violence and intimidation to terrorize
At its height in the 1920s – 4 to 5 million members
Dominated politics through corruption and legitimate election

4. The RED SCARE Russia had two revolutions in 1917
One overthrew the Tsar
Other was a Communist revolt led by Vladimir Lenin
Communists threaten to spread their revolution to other countries
European Anarchists (those that favored a stateless government) coming to the U.S. -- this created a wave of panic!

5. Palmer Raids – January, 1919
Italian anarchist set bomb off outside home of Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer
One of a series of attacks that day throughout the country
Country is outraged!
Palmer orders a round-up of suspects---without warrants…about 4,000 arrested.
Many later released, about 600 deported!

7. Anti-Immigration Reform
Quota system – placed a limit on the number of immigrants that could enter the United States based on nationality.
Emergency Quota Act of 1921 3%
Immigration Act of 1924 2%

9. The Sacco and Vanzetti Case
Two Italian immigrants
Convicted of murder during a robbery
Allegedly trying to get funds for an anarchist revolution

10. The Sacco and Vanzetti Case…
Pressure from around the world to release them
U.S. didn’t want to appear weak, so they were convicted and executed in 1927
Supports felt they were killed due to their anarchists views

11. Social Darwinism and Eugenics
Social Darwinism in America - Believed white Protestant Americans were superior to others
Concern that immigrants would hurt America’s economic and political power
Believed immigrants had undesirable traits that would make them unproductive in American society
Based on eugenics – people could be bred to create a more perfect society
Wanted to exclude some people because they might “pollute” American society
Some even wanted to control who could have children

13. Fight Against the Klan
Organizations like the NAACP and the Anti- Defamation League battled against the Klan.
NAACP – continued its anti- lynching crusade
Anti-Defamation League – fought against anti-Semitic (anti-Jewish) slurs in newspapers.

14. Values in Conflict Clash between urban areas and rural regions Urban
Openness toward social change and new discoveries in science
Valued secular over religious beliefs
Consumerism
MODERNISM – acceptance of new ideas and beliefs that challenge society’s traditions
Rural Regions
Embraced traditional religious views and ideas
Didn’t think science should challenge God and the Bible
Valued minimalism
TRADITIONALISM – continued support of long standing values and morals/beliefs

15. Attempts to Preserve Traditional Values
Prohibition:
Protestant reformers saw alcohol as the cause of poverty and crime – root of evil in American society.
Wanted to prohibit the manufacturing and sale of alcohol.
Women thought this would protect the family – both economically and physically.
Reduction in domestic abuse.

16. Attempts to Preserve Traditional Values
Key Voices –
Frances Willard – elected President of the National Women’s Temperance Union in
Served for 19 years and formed the Prohibition Party.
Paid off when the 18th amendment was passed – banned sale and manufacturing of alcoholic beverages.
American reaction –
Many thought it forced one groups moral beliefs on all of America.
Put people out of work in bars, breweries, and distilleries.
Growth of lawlessness and rise of organized crime – loss of respect for the law.

17. Attempts to Preserve Traditional Values
Many just refused to the ban.
Alcohol was available at “speakeasies” and other underground establishments.
Even President Harding drank in the White House!!!
President Hoover supported prohibition as it was the law of the land.
Prohibition Ends –
21st Amendment (1933) repealed the 18th Amendment.
Proved that unpopular laws were sometimes unenforceable.

18. Attempts to Preserve Traditional Values
The Scopes “Monkey Trial” of 1925 –
Tennessee was the first state to pass a law against teaching Darwin’s theory of evolution.
Believed it contradicted the Bible’s account of the creation of man.
1925 – John Scopes arrested for teaching it to his biology students.
Trial drew nationwide attention – conflict between religious beliefs and new science – first trial to be broadcasted over the radio.
State represented by William Jennings Bryan, Clarence Darrow defended Scopes.
Convicted for teaching evolution and fined $100 – later overturned.

19. Scandal in the White House
Harding known for appointing friends to office – the Ohio Gang – led to corruption.
Teapot Dome Scandal - his Secretary of the Interior leased oil-rich government lands at Teapot Dome, Wyoming to two businessmen in exchange for bribes.
Uncovered shortly after his death in 1923
American People lost faith in government
Other scandals started to emerge – stained his reputation as President.