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This text explores how Americans adjusted to the end of the war, postwar trends, and fears, including the division over the League of Nations and the impact on the economy. It also discusses the rise of nativism, isolationism, and the fear of communism. The text covers the Red Scare, actions against foreigners, limiting immigration, labor unrest, and challenges faced by workers.
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Americans Struggle with Postwar Issues How did Americans adjust to the end of the war?
Postwar Trends and Fears • Much of the American public was divided about the League of Nations • The end of the war hurt the economy; returning soldiers took jobs away from many women and minorities • Waves of nativism and isolationism swept over Americans who were suspicious of foreigners and who wanted to pull away from world affairs
Fear of Communism • Americans saw communism, or an economic and political system that supports govt. control over property to create equality, as a threat to their way of life • Communists came to power in Russia through violent revolution, and the new govt. wanted to overthrow capitalism • In America, about 70,000 people joined the Communist Party, or the “Reds” • A fear of communism, or a “red scare”, swept over the U.S.
Continued • Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer set up an agency in the Justice Department to arrest communists, socialists, and anarchists, who opposed all forms of govt. • This agency later became the FBI • Palmer’s agents trampled on civil rights; most radicals were sent out of the country without trial • One case involved two Italian immigrants who were arrested for murder and robbery in Massachusetts
Continued • Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti admitted they were anarchists, but denied committing any crime • The case against them was weak, but they were convicted anyway • Many believed they were convicted based on a fear of foreigners • The two were executed in 1927
Limiting Immigration • Some used the Red Scare as an excuse to act against any who were different • The Ku Klux Klan saw a revival during this time that targeted African Americans, Jews, Roman Catholics, immigrants, and union leaders • They used violence to keep these groups ‘in their place’
Continued • As a result of nativism, Congress passed the Emergency Quota Act of 1921, which established a quota system, which set a limit on how many immigrants from each country could enter the U.S. every year • This limited mostly immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe as well as Japan; people from the Western Hemisphere still entered the U.S. in large numbers
Labor Unrest • Strikes were not allowed during WWI because they may have hurt the war effort • Three main strikes in 1919 revolutionized workers, the most successful of which was led by John L. Lewis, the president of the United Mine Workers • When Lewis’ workers closed the coal mines, President Wilson tried to help end the dispute and the workers got higher wages
Negative Times for Workers • Overall, the 1920s was a bad time for unions • Union membership declined from 5 million to 3.5 million for the following reasons: • Immigrants were willing to work in poor conditions • Language barriers made organizing people difficult • Farmers who had migrated to cities were used to relying on themselves • Most unions excluded African Americans • Ryan Walz is the coolest kid in the whole world!!
