1. Politics of the 1920s

2. The Russian Revolution, 1917 During WWI, Russia underwent a sweeping revolution  Lenin came into power The Soviet Union became a Communist county under Lenin & the Bolshevik party Communism is an economic/political system controlled by the government  Usually associated with a dictator Lenin in the Soviet Union  End private property & the government would own everything We are afraid of an attempted Communist takeover in the USA

3. The Red Scare, 1920s Fear of the Communist takeover in the USA The Communist Party formed in the USA & many radicals joined the party  How do we feel about radicals? Several bombs were mailed to the government, which seemed to confirm our suspicions.  Link: Red Scare Video Link: Red Scare Video What do you know about how we feel about immigrants?  What do you think we’re going to do?

4. The Palmer Raids Attorney General of the USA (Head of the Justice Dept.) USA government began hunting people who were a threat to our government  Communists, radicals, socialists & anarchists Didn’t abide by due process, trampled on peoples’ constitutional & civil rights Failed to turn up any evidence of a Communist takeover in the USA Was he just trying to boost his image, after all, he did aspire to become President Fueled fear of foreigners & immigrants

5. Link: Palmer Raids Video

6. Sacco & Vanzetti, 1920 Link: The Trial Link: The Trial Italian immigrants who just so happened to be anarchists (watch out)  Avoided the draft during WWI = unpatriotic Arrested & charged with robbery & murder of a paymaster “Appeared to be Italian” Judge in trial the made racial remarks Jury found them guilty & they were sentenced to death "What I wish more than all in this last hour of agony is that our case and our fate may be understood in their real being and serve as a tremendous lesson to the forces of freedom, that our suffering and death will not have been in vain.“ - Vanzetti to Sacco’s son the day he was executed Link: Sacco & Vanzetti Documentary There are 15 parts to the documentary, about 90 minutes total. The link shows evidence & transcripts from the trial

7. Millions of people around the world supported Sacco & Vanzetti in their quest for a fair trial

8. Despite international support, both men were executed on August 23, 1927. The trial proves there was no real interest in justice or innocence We were going to make an example out of them to serve as a warning to others  Radicals, Communists, immigrants, etc. 1960s: Ballistic evidence proved that 1 bullet was fired from Sacco’s weapon, but no way to determine who actually fired.

9. Results of the Red Scare A rise in nativism swept the nation Anti-immigrant attitudes had been on the rise since the immigration boom of the late 1800s Organizations & federal guidelines were created to combat the immigrants

10. Emergency Quota Act, 1921 Result of the immigration boom of the late 19 th Century  Immigration up 600% Established the maximum number of people that could come to the USA from a foreign country  ie: We will only accept 500 Serbian immigrants Goal was to decrease the number of European immigrants  Especially from S. & E. Europe & Japan  Chart on page 622 in the book

11. Rise of the KKK “100% American” 4.5 million members by 1924 Main goals were: “Put blacks in their place” Attack Unions Forcing Jews, Catholics & immigrants out of the USA Dominated state politics, especially in the South Began to decrease by end of the 1920s KKK Resurgence The 1915 release of “The Birth of a Nation” helped revitalize KKK ideals

12. Labor Unrest on the 1920s Strikes were illegal during the war  Most companies/workers agreed, it was good for the war effort  Putting in extra time, working for little pay etc. After the war, many workers went on strikes wanting to be recognized for their war effort  More pay Unions become associated with Communists  Industry claimed these strikes were Communist plots

13. Strikes 3 strikes in particular grabbed our attention Boston Police Strike: Seen as striking against public safety Steel Mill Strike: Showed people how bad working conditions were  Still not allowed to unionize Coal Miner’s Strike: Forced the gov’t. to negotiate with union  John Lewis: Strong leader of the Miner’s Union

14. Decline of Unions Immigrants were willing to work in bad/unsafe conditions Language barriers made unions difficult to organize Associated with Communists

15. Warran G. Harding, 1921 - 1923 Won the 1920 election Republican Wanted a “Return to Normalcy”  Go back to simpler times, before Progressivism  Link: Harding's delivers "Return to Normalcy“ Link: Harding's delivers "Return to Normalcy“ Wanted limited government involvement in business

16. Fordney-McCumber Tariff, 1922 Protective tariff; raised taxes on all imports to 60%!  Done to protect American business Made it difficult for England & France to make money & repay war debt  Demanded German reparations & France threatened to go back to war – the crazy cheese eaters The Dawe’s Plan: US industry would loan Germany $2.5 million so Germany would repay France & England  France & England would then repay what they owed the USA  US getting paid with its own money!

17. The Ohio Gang Harding’s poker buddies who sat on his cabinet  What is this called? Involved in many scandals that would have a negative impact on Harding’s administration Illegally selling gov’t. supplies to private companies & taking bribes

18. Teapot Dome Scandal Teapot Dome was on oil deposit in the West set aside for Naval use only Albert Fall (Sec. of Interior) sold the oil reserves to the oil industry & received over $100,000 mysteriously  Almost $1.3million today “I have no trouble with my enemies…But my friends…they’re the ones that keep me walking the floors at night!” - Harding Harding died of a stroke in 1923

19. To put it bluntly…

20. Calvin Coolidge, 1923 - 1929 Republican Became Pres. after Harding’s death & won the 1924 election Had a pro-business business  “The chief business of the American people is business” Used laissez-faire policies – limiting gov’t. involvement in business  Wanted to protect American profits, keep taxes down & allow businesses to expand by issuing more credit  BUY! BUY! BUY! If you see 10 troubles coming down the road, you can be sure 9 will run into the ditch before they reach you.

21. Farmers & Coolidge After WWI, farmers still overproducing for the war effort  No longer need such large quantities & the market is flooded with agricultural products  Too many products caused prices to decline – Fast!  Farmers were losing money Farmers asked for help from the Fed. Gov’t. & asked for price supports  A minimum purchase price Coolidge failed to pass price supports for farmers  Will effect the American economy in the 1930s!

23. Kellogg- Briand Pact, 1928 Made offensive war illegal & renounced war as a national policy Signed by 15 countries No real way to enforce it  What international organization was created to prevent war from starting?