The United States Enters a new Decade.

1. The United States Enters a new Decade. Political Change & the Red Scare Chapter 22 Section 1 Notes

2. Return to Normalcy • When President Wilson returned from his time in Europe he was met with hostility from the American public. • There were several contributing factors that put the Democratic party out of office. • Wilson’s mishandling of the Treaty of Versailles – couldn’t influence the allies • An economic failure: when the war ended returning soldiers could not find work due to a post war recession.

3. Continued… • During the war Unions made a no-strike pledge, however in the post war period labor disputes eventually led to increased strikes. • The Red Scare swept the country, many feared that communists would overthrow the government.

4. Republicans and Warren Harding • During the election of 1920 favor shifted to the Republican’s favor • Warren G. Harding was elected as president riding on his campaign promise of “A return to Normalcy.” • Harding was a firm supporter of business thus he appointed business acquaintances to his cabinet positions. Andrew Mellon was selected as his Secretary of the Treasury. • One of his accomplishments was a dramatic slash of the federal budget.

5. Scandals • Harding’s Administration is considered one of the most corrupt and least effective presidencies in American history. • Many of his personal cabinet appointees abused their position of power to profit in business. • Most notable was the Teapot Dome Scandal. Albert B. Fall, The Secretary of the Department of the Interior was caught secretly leasing government property to a oil businessman.

6. Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president. • President Harding did not live through his entire term. In 1923 Harding suffered a massive heart attack and died. • Calvin Coolidge, his vice-president was elected President upon his death. • Coolidge worked very hard to undo the damage of the Harding administration. He was re-elected on a wave of prosperity entering the 1920’s.

7. Foreign Policy • Many Americans favored returning to Isolationism after World War I. • U.S. still participated in the World’s affairs. • The U.S. encouraged disarmament, the limiting on weapons. • Joined the Washington Naval Arms Conference, which limited the size of powerful navies.

8. Foreign Policy continued… • Sponsored the Kellogg-Briand pact, which outlawed war. • Coolidge also believed in protecting American business abroad. Troops were sent to Nicaragua to end a revolution that was taking place.

9. The Red Scare • Alarm about Communism affected American foreign policy. • The rise of the Communist state in Russia led to a world wide fear of Communists, also known as Reds. • The emergence of postwar strikes made many Americans fear that a revolution was beginning. • After a series of bombings by anarchists communists were hunted down, arrested, and deported.

10. Red Scare Continued • Anti-communist and anti-immigrant sentiments came to a boiling point when two Italian immigrants Sacco and Vanzetti were arrested and executed for robbery and murder. • He stressed that fact that they were both foreigners and anarchists in order to influence the jury.

11. Limiting Immigration • Fear of radicals and competition for jobs led to the United States limiting its quota on immigration. • Laws were developed to limit immigration from eastern and southern Europe. • Immigration from Asia was completely cut off.