Understanding Postwar Tensions The 1920’s Understanding Postwar Tensions

Emerging Economic Tensions During WW1  low unemployment, booming industry, economy heavily controlled by government WW1 ends  contracts cancelled, factories closed, crop prices ↓, millions out of work Soldiers returning and looking for work ($60 and a one-way ticket) = MESS!!!

Rising Labor Tensions During the war: wages and working conditions ↑ Remember: National War Labor Relations Board After the war: Government backs away What recourse do workers have? They joined unions

Rising Labor Tensions American Federation of Labor (AFL): group of unions, represented skilled laborers Focus: improving wages and working International Workers of the World (IWW) = “Wobblies” Socialism is the answer 1919: 3500 strikes across country including general strike in Seattle

Rising Labor Tensions Unions lose support Viewed as radical, anarchists, ineffective, discriminatory Supreme Courts rulings against unions

Growing Political Tensions Many Americans worried that radicalism was threatening public order Many blames socialists, communists, and anarchists What’s the difference??? Communists influenced by Lenin and the Bolshevik Revolution “The Red Scare” Many Americans were terrified that Communism would spread to the US

Growing Political Tensions The Palmer Raids June, 1919: 8 bombs explode around the country including Wilson’s AG Palmer’s house Palmer raids “subversives” Looking for weapons, and evidence many times without warrants or permission 6,000 arrested Many foreign born deported Found 3 pistols Many Americans were willing to give up civil liberties to stop radicalism

Increasing Social Tensions 1905-1914: 1million immigrants/year 1914-1920: immigration ↓ during WW1 Post WW1: immigration ↑ As immigration ↑, nativism ↑ Immigration Act of 1921 375k immigrants max Quota system: 3% of a country’s residents in the US in 1910 Immigration Act of 1924: 164k max immigrants Quota: 2% of country’s residents in the US in 1890 Banned Asian immigration

Increasing Social Tensions ↑ nativism → ↑ KKK “America for Americans” Most powerful bloc of the Dem party Anti African Americans, immigrants, Catholics, Jews, unions American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Formed in the 1920’s by social activists to protect freedom of speech Defending unpopular people and positions Palmer Raids, Wobblies,

Enduring Racial and Religious Tensions Italians, Asians, and African Americans discriminated against More than 70 lynchings of African Americans in 1919 Marcus Garvey “Back to Africa” movement Should African Americans create a separate society or work toward integration?

Enduring Racial and Religious Tensions Anti-Semitism and anti-Catholic prejudice ↑ Anti-Defamation League formed to stop prejudice against Jewish people 1928: Al Smith: Dem candidate for President Catholic Lost