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Chapter 12: Politics of the Roaring Twenties Americans Struggle with Postwar Issues I. Post-War Fears and Unrest A. Fear of Communism/Red Scare 1. What is Communism? a. Karl Marx—founder. b. Social, political and economic system. c. Struggle between “Haves” and “Have-Nots.” d. Supported the violent overthrow of industrial capitalist governments. What was the Red Scare? 2. Americans feared that communists would try to overthrow the US government like Lenin and the Bolsheviks had done in Russia. How did American React? 3. The Palmer Raids—From 1919 to 1920, Palmer and J. Edger Hoover began a series of raids on suspected communists. – 100s deported w/out trial. – Violated civil rights – Never turned-up a conspiracy. B. Fear of Foreigners/Nativism—“Keep America for Americans.” 1. Many viewed immigrants as radicals/extremists. 2. Trial of Sacco and Vanzetti. What happened? 3. Ku Klux Klan (KKK). a. In membership. 1924—4.5 million members. b. Domestic terrorism. 4. Emergency Quota Act of 1921. a. Dramatically limited immigration. b. Only 150,000 immigrants admitted per year. C. Labor Unrest 1. In 1919, there were over 3,000 strikes involving 4 million workers. 2. Striking workers were called, “Communists.” 3. Three major strikes: a. Boston Police Strike. b. The Steel Mill Strike. c. The Coal Miners’ Strike. 4. The strikes of the 1920s hurt labor unions. Why? a. Immigrants and farmers were difficult to organize. b. Unions excluded African-Americans and women. Primary Source Reading Questions Source: Bartolomeo Vanzetti’s Speech to the Jury 1. What crimes did Vanzetti maintain he did not commit? 2. Did Vanzetti believe that Judge Thayer had been fair and impartial? Why or Why not? 3. What accusation did Vanzetti make against the prosecuting attorney, Mr. Katzmann? 4. Vanzetti claimed he had suffered for his guilt. What “crimes” did he mention? 5. How does the Sacco and Vanzetti case illustrate the attitude of the times (early-1920s)? Can you think of a similar example in history or today? Explain. Chapter 12: Politics of the Roaring Twenties Section 2: The Harding Presidency I. Warren G. Harding A. Election of 1920 1. Was elected on the campaign slogan, “A return to normalcy.” 2. What did he mean? a. Domestic/international peace. b. Material prosperity. c. Order. B. Struggles for Peace 1. Problems in Europe: war debt, arms control and reconstruction. 2. Washington Naval Conference— 1921 • Agreed that no warships would be built for 10 years. 3. Kellogg-Briand Act—1928 a. 15 countries agreed. b. Renounced war! 4. Tariffs and Reparations a. UK and France owed the US $10 Billion. Germany owed 35 billion. How would they pay? b. The Fordney-McCumber Tariff prevented them from selling their goods to the US. Why? c. UK and France turned to Germany. But, Germany could not pay and defaulted! • In Nov. 1923: 4.2 trillion marks=1 US dollar. Solution: Dawes Plan: Did it work? C. Scandal 1. Hired good people: Hughes, Hoover and Mellon. 2. But, also bad—the Ohio gang. Who were they? 3. Corrupt friends took bribes. 4. Teapot Dome Scandal a. Sec. of Interior, Albert B. Fall, transferred oil-rich land (Teapot Dome, Wyoming and Elk Hills, Calif.) from the Navy to his office. b. Secretly leased the land to oil companies. c. Fall made $400,000. d. Found guilty of bribery. Chapter 12: Politics of the Roaring Twenties Section 3: The Business of America I. The Growth of American Business A. Business and the American Government 1. President Coolidge: “The business of the American people is business.” What did he mean? 2. President and Congress did everything possible to help out industry: • • • • Lowered taxes. Raised tariffs. Made credit easier to get. Very few restrictions on what businesses could do. B. The Influence of the Automobile 1. Changed America forever. 2. Changed the Landscape. • • • • • Roads. Gas Stations. Bridges. Hotels. Tunnels, etc… 3. Rural families were not as isolated anymore. 4. Created urban sprawl=Suburbs C. The Airplane Industry 1. Began as a way to carry mail around the country faster. 2. Lindbergh and Earhart. 3. By the late 1920’s, passenger flights within the U.S. to major cities was fairly common. C. Standard of Living 1. Higher average incomes. – – – – Automobiles. Electricity . Started in cities, spread to rural areas slowly. Appliances like refrigerator, stove, washing machine. 2. Advertising Industry spreads – Comes up with catchy slogans for non – essential products. – Billboards and Radio promote goods and services. 3. Charitable Organizations grew in size – Upper class people had more income – Felt compelled to help the needy D. A Superficial Prosperity 1. Worker productivity was up 50% in 10 years. • Due to better technology mainly. • Big income gap between management and regular employees. • Sometimes… excess supply caused prices to lower and businesses suffered (farm & railroad industry). 2. Average person’s standard of living was higher… BUT – Mostly due to people buying stuff on credit. – Eventually, it became difficult for people to make all the payments.