1. Ch 20 Notes

2. Post War Trends
Rise in Nativism- prejudice against foreign born citizens
Rise in isolationism- do not want to get involved in affairs of other nations

3. Fear of Communism
Because of Communist revolution in USSR US is worried communism might spread here, against “American way of life”
Red Scare
Communist Party forms in US
IWW (labor union)

4. Palmer Raids
Aug 1919, Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer appoints J. Edgar Hoover as special assistant, together they hunt down any one suspected of being communist, socialist, or anarchist
Violate Civil Rights
Invade private homes
Jail without legal counsel
Deportation w/o trial
Raids do not turn up any hidden communist, public loses faith in him

5. Sacco and Vanzetti
Italian immigrants, did not fight in WWI, both anarchists
Accused of the robbery and murder of a payroll master in MA (May 1920)
No evidence against them and both had alibis
Found guilty and sentenced to death (electrocuted Aug 23, 1927)
Many protests, evidence of extreme nature of nativism and red scare

6. Limiting Immigration
Fear of immigrants causes US to limit number allowed
Emergency Quote Act (1921): set up quota system or max. # of people who could enter US from a foreign country
Goal is to cut European immigration (esp. from South and East Europe)
Amended in 1924 to further lower number and prohibit Japanese immigration

7. Labor Unrest Labor strikes went down during war but after war increase
Boston Police Strike: police not had raise since before WWI, mad about lack of pay, not allowed to unionize. Go on strike after a representative was fired when asking for pay raise. Gov. Calvin Coolidge calls in National Guard to send strike
Calvin Coolidge become president of US in 1920

8. Steel Workers Strike
Steel Mill Strike: want shorter hours and more money, union recognition, and collective bargaining rights
Sept 1919 US Steel Corporation refuses to meet with Union reps, workers go on strike
Force is used against strikers
Accused of being communists
Strike ends in 1920
Eventually get 8 hour day

9. Coal Miners Strike United Mine Workers (1919) led by John L. Lewis
Protest long hours and low pay
Go on strike but forced back to work by government, workers don’t go back to work for a month
Eventually demands are met

10. Labor Loses Appeal 1920’s Labor Union membership goes down. Why:
Labor force made up of immigrants who put up with conditions
Hard to organize immigrants (language barrier)
Unions don’t included all groups of workers

11. Warren G. Harding Becomes president in 1921 “Return to Normalcy”
Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928)
Attempt to secure future peace
5 major naval powers (US, GB, Jap, Fr, and Italy) meet
Lower number of warships
OUTLAWS WAR!

12. Tariffs and Dawes Plan
US trying to get money back it loaned Europe during war. To do this:
Fordney-McCumber Tariff:
Highest ever
Taxes on imports 60%
Dawes Plan:
Result of Germany not paying reparations back to to GB
US loan $ to Germany, then Germany pay $ back to GB, GB pay back US

13. Scandals for Harding Ohio Gang Teapot Dome:
Oil lands set aside in WY and CA
Sec of Interior Albert B. Fall
Bribes for leasing land
Scandals hurt Harding’s presidency

14. Changes for Americans Automobiles Rise in Airplanes
Urban Sprawl
Rise in Airplanes
Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart (transatlantic flights)
Electric Appliances
Advertising
Makes people buy the new items

15. Not all is okay Buying on credit Too many goods not sold
Buying stocks on margins
All will cause Great Depression in the 1930’s