1. Post-War Tensions
Learning Target: I will be able to describe the effects that postwar tensions had on American society.

2. Bell Ringer
Make sure you have your Birth of a Nation documents and have read through, and get into the following groups once the announcements are over.
Katelyn, Hayden, Jasmine, Jillian
Maddie, Colton, Cat
Hayley L., Brendan, Justine, Zane
Meagan, Hunter, Kelsey
Caleb, Hayley S., Marissa
Hannah, Destiny, Erika
Sarah, Sabryn, Nathan
Cassie, Kilee, Kyle

3. Bell Ringer
Make sure you have your Birth of a Nation documents and have read through, and get into the following groups once the announcements are over.
Katelyn, Hayden, Jasmine, Jillian
Maddie, Colton, Cat
Hayley L., Brendan, Justine, Zane
Meagan, Hunter, Kelsey
Caleb, Hayley S., Marissa
Hannah, Destiny, Erika
Sarah, Sabryn, Nathan
Cassie, Kilee, Kyle

4. Bell Ringer
1. Why did the NAACP, which had a record of defending First Amendment rights of free expression, urge officials to prohibit the showing of the film and/or delete certain scenes?
2. Why were local and state governments reluctant to censor Birth of a Nation?
3. What do these documents reveal about the nature, extent, and acceptance of racism at this point in American history?
4. Was the NAACP justified in trying to censor Birth of a Nation?

5. Emerging Economic Tensions
Widespread Unemployment
World War I had created great economic prosperity in the US
The government, however, was not prepared to convert to a postwar economy
100s of factories that had produced war materials closed
Crop prices fell as overseas demand dropped
By 1920, 5 million Americans were out of work

6. Rising Labor Tensions Businesses Return to Prewar Labor Practices
During World War I, the government encouraged businesses & labor to cooperate
When the war ended, workers struggled to keep the gains they had made in the war years
Businesses, however, reduced wages & paid less attention to employee safety
Some even tried to increase the average workday from 8 hours to 12 hours

7. Rising Labor Tensions Workers Organize
Many Americans responded to businesses by joining a union for the first time
American Federation of Labor – Concentrated on improving wages & working conditions
Industrial Workers of the World – Saw socialism as the solution to workers’ problems

8. Rising Labor Tensions Workers Go On Strike
In 1919, unions staged more than 3,600 strikes across the country
1 out of every 10 workers walked off the job at some point that year
The most controversial strike involved the Boston police force
City officials had cut their wages & refused to negotiate
At first, the people of Boston sympathized with the police
The city, however, lapsed into anarchy
Governor Calvin Coolidge called in the National Guard to keep order

9. Rising Labor Tensions Unions Lose Public Support
Overall union membership declined in the 1920s
People began to see them as a threat
Strikes failed to achieve many of the workers’ goals
Many unions excluded women, blacks, & most immigrants
Supreme Court decisions further weakened unions
The Court rejected child labor laws, minimum wage for women, etc.

10. Growing Political Tensions
A Bomb Scare Fuels Fear
In April 1919, 2 government officials received packages containing bombs
34 more bombs were eventually discovered
Many Americans saw the bomb scare as a sign that radicalism was on the rise
Socialists – Called for public ownership of land & factories
Communists – Wanted a classless society brought about through a working class revolution
Anarchists – Opposed all systems of government

11. Growing Political Tensions
Red Scare Leads to Raids
The postwar fear of radicals became known as the Red Scare
The Red Scare intensified when in June 1919, 8 bombs exploded in 8 cities at the same time
One target was Attorney General Mitchell Palmer’s house
As a result, Palmer conducted searched places he thought might house radicals
These Palmer Raids were conducted without warrants

12. Rising Labor Tensions Civil Liberties Suffer
The fear of radicalism led people to react
30 states passed sedition laws
Books considered to be offensive were removed from libraries
Palmer hoped to use his notoriety to help him win the presidency
He announced that a plot to overthrow the government would begin in NYC on May 1, 1920
When nothing happened, his ambitions were ruined

13. Increasing Social Tensions
The Revival of Nativism
After World War I, immigration into the US increased
Many feared that these immigrants would never become 100% American
This triggered a resurgence of nativism & calls for restrictions on immigration

14. Increasing Social Tensions
New Laws Restrict Immigration
1921 – Emergency Immigration Act
Set the maximum number of immigrants allowed in the US each year at 375,000 people
Introduced a quota system limiting the number of immigrants from each country to 3% of its residents in the US in 1910
1924 – Immigration Act of 1924
Reduced the number of immigrants allowed in to the US each year to 164,000
Cut quotas to 2% of a country’s residents in the US in 1890
Banned all immigration from Asia

15. Increasing Social Tensions
The KKK Targets “Alien” Influences
The Ku Klux Klan was reborn in Atlanta, GA in 1915
Restricted its membership to native-born white Protestants
Targeted Africans Americans, immigrants, Catholics, & Jews
By the early 1920s, the Klan had 3-4 million members
Lawmakers supported by the Klan won control of state legislatures in Oregon, Oklahoma, Texas, & Indiana
Klan members held marches in Washington, DC & other major cities

16. Enduring Racial & Religious Tensions
Americans Face Discrimination
Asian immigrants faced severe legal discrimination
Barred from becoming citizens
Could not own land or marry a white person in many states
African Americans faced continuing discrimination as well
In some places, lynching made a comeback
During the Red Summer of 1919, tensions erupted in race riots
Led to support for Marcus Garvey’s Back-to-Africa movement

17. Enduring Racial & Religious Tensions
Catholics & Jews Fight Prejudice
The increase in Jewish immigrants stirred up anti-Semitism
Gave birth to the Anti-Defamation League to protect the rights of Jews
Catholics were also targets of religious prejudice
1928 – Democratic Party nominated NY Governor Al Smith, a Catholic for president
Soon there were rumors that if Smith was elected, the pope would run the US

18. Roaring Twenties
Each person will receive a reading detailing some key changes of American culture/lifestyle in the 1920s. Once finished reading, each group will choose from a concept below. Your task is to defend why your choice is the most important development of the 1920s. Remember to think about that period but also the impact into the future. Each group will present when finished, and then we debate…
Advertising/Installment Buying
Automobiles
Radio
Phonograph/Music
Literature
Spectator Sports
Film