Chapter 12 the Roaring Twenties Section 1 Americans Struggle with Postwar Issues

Why does the United States have a long history of opposition to socialist ideas? Communism is a theory. It says that one day all the people/workers will own all the ways of making money—all the land, all the machines, all the stores (so there will be no private business, and there will be no way for one person to become very rich). In this theory, socialism is when you’re on the way to communism. (Today, many people believe in socialist ideas without necessarily believing in communism). Some signs of socialism would be government owning of major private businesses (like banks); government owning of major public services (like hospitals and healthcare); and laws that make rich people contribute more taxes so that there isn’t a huge difference between rich and poor.

Why does the United States have a long history of opposition to socialist ideas? In the United States, there’s been a long history of fear of communism and suppression of socialist ideas because the ideas of communism and socialism threaten the individual’s right to private wealth

In the early 1900s, many people in the United States believed in socialism. Why? Industrialization created a huge gap between rich and poor and when people looked around, they thought that wasn’t fair. Many people joined labor unions. Not all labor unions were socialist. Some, like the American Federation of Labor (A.F.L.), thought they would be more successful by only organizing skilled workers. But some labor unions, like the International Workers of the World-I.W.W., were socialist—wanted all workers to unite (black, white, men, women, skilled, unskilled).

In the early 1900s, many people in the United States believed in socialism. Why? In 1917, the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia established a communist country. Many people in the United States were inspired by their success. Others were very scared by the potential spread of communism. At this time, some people were also anarchists—people who didn’t believe in any government. Some anarchists thought the government should be overthrown with violence. Although anarchists, socialists, and communists shared some of the same ideas (for example, they all opposed government protection of private wealth), they represented different theories.

The Red Scare

The Palmer Raids

Sacco and Venzetti

Ku Klux Klan

Quota System

Labor Unrest 1919- more than 3,000 strikes Employers didn’t want to raise wages, nor let workers join unions employers labeled striking workers as Communists

Boston Police Strike Boston police officers denied raises, the right to unionize police decided to strike but were shut down by National Guard striking police were fired

Steel Mill Strike workers demanded – shorter hours, higher wages, start a union 300, 000 went on strike against U.S. Steel Corporation Striking workers were beaten by police, state troops steel companies attempted to convince public that workers were Communists Workers finally got an 8 hour day but no union

Coal Miners’ Strike John L. Lewis head of United Mine Workers Attorney General Palmer gets court order and Lewis rejects it President Wilson appoints a judge miners receive 27% wage increase

Labor Unions drop immigrants willing to work in poor conditions difficult to organize migrant farmers used to self- reliance exclude African-Americans

Review Were Americans justified in their fear of radicals and foreigners in the 1920’s? In the fights between management and union members, which side won in the 1920’s?