WWI ended in 1918The US now back to Isolationism- policy of

pulling away form involvement in world affairs

Economy changedUnemployment for returning soldiers (or took

jobs away from women and minorities)Farmers and factory workers suffered as wartime

orders diminishedNativism- prejudice against foreign-born

people

Post War Review

Fear of Communism- Red Scare• Communism—economic, political system, single-party government

• Ruled by dictator• No private property

• 1919 Vladimir I. Lenin, Bolsheviks, set up Communist state in Russia

• U.S. Communist Party forms; some Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) join

• Bombs mailed to government, businesses; people fear Red conspiracy

Palmer Raids- US Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer, hunted down communists, socialist, and anarchists

-Failed, could not find evidence of a revolutionary conspiracy

Post War Review

Red Scare fed people’s suspicion of foreigners and immigrants“Keep America for Americans”Anti immigrant attitudes had been

growing in the US ever since the 1880s when immigrants were arriving from southern and eastern Europe.

Red Scare affect on immigration

Nativists believed that because the US now had fewer unskilled jobs available (coal mining, steel production, textiles) then fewer immigrants should be let into the country. The need for unskilled labor decreased after the war

Immigration after the war: 600% increase 1919-141,0001921- 805,000

Emergency Quota Act of 1921- set up Quota System Limited immigrationSet the max number of people allowed from specific

countries 2% of the population that was in the US in 1890. Targeted

southern and eastern Europe (Roman Catholics and Jews)Prohibited Japanese Immigration (broke the Gentleman’s

Agreement)

Quota System

Groups of people used anti communism as an excuse to harass groups of people unlike themselves

The KKK- devoted to 100% Americanism 1924 membership reached 4.5 million“white male persons, native-born gentile

citizens”KKK opposes blacks, Catholics, Jews,

immigrants, unions, saloonsKlan controls many states’ politics

Ku Klux Klan

“Power of the Purse”Only shop at KKK approved stores

During war- strikes forbidden (could not interfere with war effort)

After war- 3,000 strikesEmployers did not give raises, forbade unions,

saw strikers as communist4 million workers walked off the job

Post War Labor

Union membership declinesMuch of the workforce consisted of

immigrants willing to work in poor conditionsSince immigrants spoke in different

languages, it was hard to organize immigrants into a union

Farmers who had migrated to cities to find factory jobs were used to relying on themselves

Most unions excluded African Americans

Labor Unions Decrease

Harding PresidentRepublican President 1921-1923

“normalcy” or the simpler days before the Progressive Era

1921 Washington Naval CollegeInvited several major powersSec of State Charles Hughes

“no more warships be built for 10 years” Urged 5 major powers: US, France, GB, Japan, Italy scrap many of

the battleships, cruisers, and aircraft carriers*** First time in history powerful nations agree to disarm*** foreshadow ***

1928- 15 world power nations sign the Kellogg-Briand Pact which renounced war as a national policy

Side Note!!Kellogg vs Kellogg

Frank Kellogg- diplomat

Will Kellogg- cereal guy

VS

High tariffs- help American businesses Britain and France repay war debts ($10

billion)Pay in one of two ways: selling good to the US

(imports) or collecting reparations from Germany

In 1922, Forney- McCumber Tariff60% tax on import

Ex: A foreign good cost the US $300. US citizens will have to pay_______ with the 60% tax?

What does this tariff encourage Americans to do?

Harding- High Tariffs

Limited role for government in businesses (Laissez Faire)

Cabinet members- people who advise the presidentHoover-sec of commerceAndrew Mellon- sec of the treasury (wealthiest

man in US)Ohio Gang- the president’s poker playing

croniesUsed their office position to become wealthy

through graftTeapot Dome Scandal- sec of interior Albert

FallOil rich public land in Teapot Dome

Wyoming and Elk Hills, CA reserved for Navy- Fall leased land to 2 private oil companies. This means $$$ for Fall.

Scandalous Harding

Republican president 1923-1929Favored government policies that would keep taxes

down and business profits up, and businesses more available credit in order to expand.

Goal- keep government interference in business to a minimum and to allow private enterprise to flourish

Continued to place high tariffsReduced income taxes- people had more $$ in

their pocketsWages and productivity rose because of new

technology

Calvin Coolidge

1920-1929 prosperous Annual income rose 30% from $522 to $705

Installment Plan- buying goods on creditPushed by advertisers Some economist and business owners not for

installment plan. Saw it as getting out of handBanks loaned money with low interest rates

Standard of living

Goods and Prices, 1900 and 19281900

wringer and washboard $5brushes and brooms $5Sewing machine (mechanical) $5

1928 washing machine $150 vacuum cleaner $50 sewing machine (electric) $60

Most Americans focused on present, not worried about future

Idea: what could go wrong with economy?

Technological and economic changesLaissez FaireLife seemed easier and more enjoyable

for manyLittle warning for what is about to come

1920s Economic Legacy

18th amendment- prohibition 191919th amendment – women’s suffrage 1920Bootleggers, speakeasies, organized crimeModernism vs Traditionalism

fundamentalism-living based off of biblical text Scopes trial- fight over evolution and the role of

science and religion in public schools and societyUrban SprawlFlapperDouble standardTeens turn rebellious- spinning more time with

friends and less time with familyHarlem Renaissance

1920s societal change

1910-1920 Great Migration5.2 million moved to cities

New goalsMigration was an expression of their

changing attitude toward themselves “black is beautiful”

Push- racial violence, economic discrimination, natural disasters in south (1927 flood)

Pull- job opportunities, better pay in the north (still encountered discrimination

Harlem Renaissance

Marcus Garvey- Jamaica, AA live in a separate societyRadical messages of black prideCreated the UNIA and 1918 move to NY

Black nationalist fraternal organization founded by GarveyMass meetings, heartfelt speeches, parades, message

of pride Encourage followers to go back to Africa to help

natives throw off white oppressors Convicted of mail fraud and jailedLegacy: black pride, economic independence,

reverence for Africa

Marcus Garvey and the UNIAUniversal Negro Improvement Association