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

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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).

5. 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.

6. The Red Scare

7. The Palmer Raids

8. Sacco and Venzetti

9. Ku Klux Klan

10. Quota System

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

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

16. 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?