1. Post War Politics

2. Called for a “Return to normalcy”
President Harding
Republican
President from
#29 Warren Harding
Called for a “Return to normalcy”

3. Return to Normalcy
Simpler times - Harding was a conservative. He felt that the Progressive Era had complicated things.
A return to Laissez Faire. Harding felt that Progressive Legislation was un American and hurt our industrial capacity.
Isolation - Harding believed that the less we were involved in foreign affairs the better. While he did deviate from this on several occasions his foreign policies were always directed towards reducing the chances of being involved in another conflict.

4. Return to normalcy

5. Russian Revolution and Red scare

6. Russian Revolution
Bolsheviks took over Russian in 1917
Civil War broke out, ended in with Lenin and the Bolsheviks in control

7. Russian Communism Government owned all land and property
A single political party controlled the government
The needs of the country always took priority over the rights of individuals

8. Communism vs. socialism vs. capitalism

9. In order for communism to work, Lenin believed it needed to spread
This intention scared Americans
Feared European immigrants would bring communism to U.S.
Russian-backed communists tried to overthrow German gov’t in 1919
Communists took over Hungary

10. Supreme Court developed “clear and present danger “ doctrine
Schenck Vs. U.S.
During WWI, Charles Schenck was caught mailing letters to draftees urging them not to report for duty
Convicted of breaking the Espionage Act
Schenck argued free speech
Supreme Court developed “clear and present danger “ doctrine
Expanded power of supreme court

11. Palmer Raids 1919 bombing attacks occurred in several cities
One damaged the house of Palmer (U.S. Attorney General)
He escaped injury, but became convinced of radical overthrow conspiracy

12. Palmer Raids
Used “clear and present danger” doctrine to root out radicals
Targeted communists, socialists, anarchists
Resulted in the deportation of over 500 immigrants, some perhaps guilty, most innocent
1920, NY State Assembly expelled 5 democratically elected socialists

13. Both Italian immigrants and anarchists Accused of murder
Sacco and Vanzetti
Both Italian immigrants and anarchists
Accused of murder
Had guns when they were arrested
Little to no evidence of their guilt but they are convicted
Likely because they were immigrants with radical beliefs
Executed in April 1927

14. Immigration Fear of communism is tied up with fear of immigrants
Nativism is surging (favoring native born Americans over immigrants
Patriotism
Religion
Urban conditions
Jobs
Red scare
Immigration quotas
Only accept a limited number of immigrants from each area

15. Immigration legislation
National Origins Act 1924
Only accept 2% of the number of immigrants from a certain place
Based on the 1890 census
Severely limited immigration from Italy, Poland, and Russia
Prohibited entry of “aliens ineligible to citizenship”
Referred to Japanese
Chinese already prohibited (Chinese Exclusion Act)