1. Postwar Issues
Chapter 20 Section 1

2. Nativism & Isolationism overtake the country
Communism becomes a huge fear for many Americans
The fear of communism is known as the “Red Scare”
The communist party in the US formed after WWI and included the IWW (Industrial Workers of the World Union)

3. Attn. Gen. Palmer & Hoover hunt down communists, socialists, and anarchists
The raids did not turn up anything substantial

4. Nicola Sacco & Bartalomeo Vanzetti
Italian immigrants
Anarchists
Evaded WWI draft
Arrested in 1920 for a robbery b/c they were Italian
Convicted and sentenced to death even though they had alibis
Many protests throughout the world
Executed Aug. 23, 1927

5. New Immigration Act Emergency Quota Act 1921
Limit # of people admitted to the US
Becomes more harsh in 1924 & 1939

6. Revival of KKK By 1924 over 4.5 million people
Help elect many office holders
Decrease power by end of decade b/c too much criminal activity

7. More Labor Troubles Boston Police Strike Steel Mill Strike 1919
Put down by MA Governor Calvin Coolidge
Steel Mill Strike 1919
Want to unionize
Labeled as “Communists” to the public
Broken in 1920
Am. People learn of harsh working conditions in the mill
Steel Co. leaders cut workday to 8 hrs. but workers still can’t unionize
Coal Miners Strike 1919
John L. Lewis (president of union) won wage increase for miners

8. President Harding
Chapter 20 Sec 2

9. 1920 Harding is elected to the presidency (29th) with Calvin Coolidge as his Vice President
Goal is to Make Peace
1921 conference with World powers
First major dismantling of world powers military ships
1928 Kellogg-Braind Pact
Renounce war as a national policy

10. We Want Our $ Back Want $ back from WWI
Put high tariffs on goods, and makes it difficult for Fr. & Br. To pay back loans (Forney-McCumber Tariff)
Germany doesn’t have $ to give to Fr. & Br.
Fr. & Br. Become angry with US b/c of loans given to Germany to help build economy

11. Corruption in the White House
Harding appointments to his cabinet were mixed (some good and some bad)
Ohio Gang (old gambling buddies) cause problems
Lots of corruption and bribery
Teapot Dome and Elks Hill scandals
Sec. of Interior Albert Fall leased public land to two private oil companies, in return he got $ and property
Harding dies Aug. 2, 1923
Coolidge becomes 30th President and was reelected in 1924

12. New & Improved
CHAPTER 20 Section 3

13. Themes of the 1920’s Postwar US economy boomed
America withdrew from international politics (isolationism)
US focused on taking advantage of world economic power shift
Industrialization

14. The Open Road New developments
Route 66—highway going from Chicago to LA
Connected small towns with large cities
Allowed mass migration to West
Added to consumer culture
Driven by and added to development of auto industry
Traveling, tourism, roadside attractions

15. Urban sprawl
Additional highways (and cars) caused cities to expand rapidly
People bought cars, moved out
Population shift demanded more roads to be built
More roads, more cars, led to more people move out

16. The Friendly Skies US Air Mail begins 1918
Ford’s tri-motor plane (1924) allows for passenger service
Pan Am (first domestic airline) established 1927
Allowed the country to become physically “smaller”—shorter travel times between long distances
Started eliminating many regional identities, creating an “American” culture

17. Better Homes & Gardens
Avg. household income rose 35% in 1920’s ($522 to $705)
Allowed for people to upgrade modern conveniences w/ disposable income
New “electrics”—vacuums, sewing & washing machines
Led to development of modern advertising
Birth of brand names—ex. Listerine, Clorox,
Sell products that will improve your life and give you belonging
Fed into consumer culture development from mail order catalogs of 1900