Post WWI and the Roaring 20’s

Nativism Rises as a Result of Post WWI AnxietyNativism- desire to protect “Old Stock” Americans from

immigrants and those that possess other differencesCauses

Inflation and economic Recession which resulted from Demobilization of WWI.

Racial/ Ethnic tensions grow as white boys began competing for Jobs filled by minorities and immigrants during the war.

Russian Revolution led to fear of Communists(Red Scare)Economic turmoil leads to worker strikes- strikes seen as

“communist” Immigration -By 1921 Immigration levels had risen to pre-war

levels but most came from Eastern and Southern Europe instead of Western Europe Many brought different ideas, cultural norms with them.

Demobilization leads to economic turmoil• Demobilization- the return to a peacetime economy• Government agencies let go of their controls on Industry– Businesses raised prices they had been forced to keep

low during the war-demand for consumer goods outsripped supply

leading to the ________ in prices. (cost of living doubled)Effects: Rapid inflation- the lowering of the value of

money.If prices for the cost of living go up your money buys

you less. During the war, industries were forced to raise wages

(concessions given to workers) inflation caused workers to lose their economic gains.

Inflation caused operating costs for companies to rise- employers wanted to keep wages low.

Demobilization leads to economic turmoil Cont.• Post War Recession• Government cancelled about $2 billion in

war contracts. (heavy industry)• Factories responded by cutting back

production and laying off workers. • Farm Crisis- American farmers were

expanding to produce food for European markets during the war – When Europe began producing their own food demand dropped- Farmers lost land.

Economic Turmoil leads to Racial Tensions

The Great Migration- 300,000-500,000 AA move to North during war to fill jobs.

Post war- job Competition/economic turmoil led to race riots 1919 race riots broke out in

over 20 Northern cities.Chicago- black boy swam

onto beach restricted to whites, Whites allegedly stoned boy-he drowned.

Violence spread to South1921- Tulsa Riot1923- Rosewood

See video Clip

Inflation leads to StrikesLabor strikes seen as “communist”Seattle General Strike (1919) – all workers

not just workers from one industry.The Steel Strike – 350,000 steelworkers,

higher pay, shorter hours and union recognition.Company broke up strike by using anti-

immigrant feelings to divide workers.The Boston Police Strike (1919) – 75% of

the Boston police force went on strike. All the men were fired.Calvin Coolidge MA governor “There is no right to

strike against the public safety by anybody, anywhere, anytime.”

The Red Scare 1919-1920Russian Revolution leads to fear of communism

(1919- creation of Communist International)Worker strikes added to fear of possible communist

plot.(other bad ideas, anarchism and socialism included).

30 bombs were intercepted by US post office, addressed to prominent business leaders and politicians.

June-1919 eight bombs exploded in 8 cities simultaneously – seeming to confirm fears of a attempted takeover-blamed on communists and other radicals. (one destroyed part of Attorney General Mitchell Palmer’s House)

The Palmer RaidsPalmer established the General Intelligence

Division (predecessor to FBI)Headed by J Edgar Hoover.

Palmer organized raids of various radical organizations, particularly Communist

Focused on foreign residents and immigrantsAgency often disregarded the civil liberties of

suspects. Suspects were mistreated held for indefinite

periods of timeDetained and deported suspects from the

country. Raids failed to turn up evidence of

revolutionary conspiracy.

Nativism and the Legal System-The Sacco-Vanzetti Case2 men shot and killed two employees of a shoe

store in Braintree Ma, Robbing it of $15,000.Sacco and Vanzetti two Italian immigrants

were arrested, charged, and tried for the crime.

Men were anarchists (someone who opposes all forms of government)

Sacco owned a gun similar to the one used in the crime- bullets matched.

No conclusive proof to their committing of the crime.

Both were found guilty and sentenced to deathGuilty or victims of prejudice? See reading

Nativism and RacismEugenics movement – false scientific movement that deals with the ability to improve hereditary traits.

Social Darwinism in its scientific form. Human inequalities are inherited and the ending of the procreation of the “unfit” and “inferior.”

Forced sterilization of African American women

The Re-emergence of the Ku Klux KlanOriginal KKK response to emancipation of the slaves

Re-emergence included hatred towards Catholics, Jews, and Immigrants.

Public Relations campaign claiming that the Klan was fighting for “Americanism” solicited 4 million members nationwide

See Political cartoon

Nativism and Public PolicyImmigrants Seen as a threat to cultural orderThreat to soldiers of WWI who needed jobs in

the post-war weak economy.Emergency Quota act (1921) – created a

quota system limiting immigration.Only 3% of the total population of an ethnic group that was living in the US as recorded in the 1910 US census could be admitted into the US per year.

Result is that it discriminated heavily against Immigrants from eastern and southern Europe.

Nativism and Public Policy Cont.The National Origins Act (1924)- made

immigrant restriction a permanent policy.Set quotas at 2% of people living in the US of a

particular nationality as recorded in the 1890 census.

Result: scaled back where immigrants could come from- favoring Northern Europe

Second part of the act that took effect in 1929 limited immigration to 150,000 people a year.

Exempted people from the Western Hemisphere

Huge influx of Mexicans to fill need of cheap labor in agriculture, mining, railroads

Political Cartoons – On Immigration

1921 2007

The Economics of the 1920’s- Creating a BoomRepublicans controlled the

Whitehouse from 1920-1932Both Harding and Coolidge

believed in laissez-faire “The business of America is

business”

The Roaring 20’s beginCauses of Boom

• Supply-side economics• New Business Techniques (assembly

lines, mass production, advertising, credit)

• Rise of New Industries (automobile, radio, motion picture, advertising, other consumer goods)

• New attitude

Economic Philosophy of the 20’sto promote economic growth

Supply-side economics a.k.a Trickle Down economics

Leads to an uneven distribution of wealth.

The Roaring 20’s BeginBetween 1923 and 1929 earnings

increased 22 % while work hours decreased

What made this Possible?Expansion of Mass Production and

Assembly Line system into most industries.

Effect – more products at a lower cost

Ford MotorsModel T 1908- $850 1914- $490 (mass production) 1924- $295 (improved

assembly line techniques)

Question: What other industry’s began because of the automobile?

New Technologies lead to New IndustriesAirlineBeginning planes during WWI1918- government created first airmail

service1925 – Kelly Act –postal officials were allowed

to contract with private airplane providers to carry mail nationwide

1926- Air Commerce Act – provided federal aid for building airports

1927- Charles Lindberg 1st solo flight across the Atlantic – won popular support for commercial flights

1928- 48 airlines serving 355 American cities.

The Radio Industry1913 – Edwin Armstrong Invented Radio1926 – National Broadcasting Company

(NBC) created.1927 – NBC has 700 stations nationwide1928 – Colombia Broadcasting System

(CBS) created a coast to coast network Both sold advertising time and hired

popular musicians, actors and comedians to appear on their shows

1928 – sold $1 million of advertising time to Republicans and Democrats.

The Consumer Society EmergesNew industries led to more employment

opportunities and higher wages (8%)Higher Wages and shorter workdays (more

leisure time) resulted in a decade long buying spree

Shift in attitude – people went from being “thrifty” to wanting to consume goods.Let go of the “Protestant Ethic”

Installment plans – buying things now and paying for them over time People bought cars, radios, phones, washing machines with the use of credit

New Industries lead to the Rise of Mass Advertising• Mass advertising emerged to respond to

the “need” to create “needs” for new inventions.

• Consequently has become one of the largest industries in US.

Advertisers created appealing, persuasive messages that linked their clients’ products with qualities associated with the modern era. i.e. progress, convenience, leisure, successComparing Ads

How Stable is this economy?In 1929 Henry Ford recorded a personal

income of $14 Million dollars While the average personal income was $750

Disposable income did grow during the decade 9% for most while the top 1% gained a 75% increase in the disposable income

Overall increase in production-Worker productivity increased 32% while wages increased only 8% Where does the excess go?