Tensions of the 1920s

US HistoryMrs. Housenick2/15/13

Postwar Economic Downturn After end of WWI, US suffers major economic

downturn Causes:

End to wartime production As soldiers return home from war want jobs back,

many left out of work Effects:

Women, African-Americans and immigrants fired first

Lots of competition for jobs▪ Often develops into class and racial tension as groups

struggle to get their piece of the pie.

Political Scandals

President Harding brought much scandal to office Often ranked worst president in US

History Lots of corruption and bribery Let friends get away with breaking the

law Teapot Dome Scandal

Worst scandal of Harding’s presidency Secretary of Interior leased US naval oil

reserve to private interest for a bribe. Destroys Harding’s reputation

Labor Unrest

Workers very unhappy after war, not afraid to protest Inflation, but no wage increases

Record number of strikes Some successful—United Mine

Workers strike won wage increases However, most workers faced harsh

opposition from companies, government and public.

Labor unions often accused of spreading communism.

DURING 1920s, UNION MEMBERSHIP DECREASED GREATLY

Radicals and Bombs

Two radical groups Communists—wanted worldwide

workers revolution Anarchists—wanted no

government Most peaceful, some turned to

violence In early 20s, anarchists planted

bombs at homes of political officials and industrialists

Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer had his house bombed Determined to destroy radical

groups

The Red Scare

Government coordinated attacks on radicals and foreigners

A. Mitchell Palmer got law enforcement to deport or arrest “Reds” or communists.

Palmer Raids—ordered police to raid headquarters of radical groups, often without warrants Many innocent people arrested

and deported

The Red Scare ctnd.

Increased anti-immigration sentiment Connected immigrants with

radicals 1924 National Origins Act—

set quotas on number of immigrants coming to US, especially limited immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe

Set limit at 2% of number living here in 1890

No Japanese

Red Scare

Theories of diversity in 20s: Cultural pluralism▪ Kallen—each ethnic group should preserve

own cultural identity▪ Bourne—in America, racial groups mix

together (melting pot) Some citizens protested government

methods during Red Scare American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

formed

The Sacco and Vanzetti Trial

Robbery at factory where paymaster and guard killed

Police arrested two Italian immigrants, Sacco and Vanzetti who were known anarchists

Prosecution lacked concrete evidence but jury convicted both after only 6 hours of deliberation

Many believe Sacco and Vanzetti were victims of Red Scare and xenophobia.

Rising Intolerance

Rising racism and segregation after WWI

In 1915, rebirth of KKK White, Protestant, nativist Lead by Hiram Wesley Evans Hated long list of people: Catholics,

blacks, Jews, immigrants, homosexuals, Asians, “wild women”

By 1924, over 4 million members—many of them mayors, congressmen, police officers

Rising violence, especially lynching.

From Racial Intolerance to Violence

Increase racial violence in 20s

Red Summer of 1919—over 20 major race riots across Northern cities Hundreds killed

Lynchings increase 1920: 53 blacks and 8

whites lynched

Marcus Garvey and Black Pride Jamaican immigrant, founder of

UNIA (Universal Negro Improvement Association)

More radical message of black pride.

On of the first popular black nationalists—argued that blacks needed their own, independent nation.

Urged a return to Africa. Also, promoted African-American

business. Much support in working class

community Eventually deported by US

government for mail fraud

Science vs. Religion Debate

Debate between scientists who emphasized evolution and Creationists who believed in literal interpretation of Bible.

Tennessee passed a state law forbidding teachers to teach about evolution.

John Scopes, a biology teacher, challenged the law

Put on trial SCOPES TRIAL (aka “Monkey Trial”

Even though Scopes found guilty, in long run, it was the fundamentalists who looked silly and lost power.

Prohibition

1919: 18th Amendment enforced by Volstead Act

Popular in South and West In cities, refusal to comply

Bootlegging, speakeasies, moonshine

Enforcement lacking Led to increase in

organized crime and gangsterism Al Capone By 1930s, organized crime

made more money than US government