Politics and a Thin Prosperity

A Slipping economy

Americans Confront Postwar Controversy

• 1919 Boston Police go out on strike

• No wage increased• Cost of living had doubled• Appealed to the Police

Commissioner who promptly fired them all

• No police protection• Looting / gambling

became commonplace

• Governor Cal Coolidge called out the National Guard to restore peace

Coolidge said, “There is no right to strike against the public safety by anyone, anywhere, anytime”

The Boston Police Strike (1919)The Boston Police Strike (1919)

• The police commissioner The police commissioner fired all of the police fired all of the police officers who lobbied for a officers who lobbied for a raise. raise.

• Those police officers who Those police officers who were not fired chose to go were not fired chose to go on strike. on strike.

• As the strike ended the As the strike ended the police commissioner police commissioner refused to rehire the refused to rehire the striking police officersstriking police officers

• The newly hired officers The newly hired officers received everything the received everything the strikers asked forstrikers asked for

Russian Revolution Russian Revolution (1917)(1917)

• A civil war occurs to gain A civil war occurs to gain power over Russia.power over Russia.

• The White’s (supported by The White’s (supported by the US who actually sends the US who actually sends troops) are defeated by the troops) are defeated by the Bolsheviks (Reds) who Bolsheviks (Reds) who change their name to change their name to CommunistsCommunists

• Russia became known as the Russia became known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) or Soviet Republics (USSR) or Soviet Union with Vladimir Lenin as Union with Vladimir Lenin as their leader.their leader.

The Red ScareFear of a communist workers revolution1919 saw over 3,000 strikes

• Was it the beginning of a Communist workers revolution?

• Since the Russian Revolution, many Americans were afraid a Bolshevik revolution could happen here

Reality of the Strikes

• Wages had not kept up with prices

• Employers would not give workers a pay raise

• Returning war veterans had difficulty finding jobs

The Red ScareThe Red Scare• There were about 70,000 There were about 70,000

people who joined the people who joined the Communist party in the U.S. Communist party in the U.S. shortly after the Russian shortly after the Russian Revolution.Revolution.

• Most had ties to labor unions Most had ties to labor unions like the Industrial Workers of like the Industrial Workers of the World.the World.

• Despite the small number, Despite the small number, some Americans became some Americans became very fearful of a communist very fearful of a communist revolution in the U.S.revolution in the U.S.

The Red ScareThe Red Scare

• People feared that if People feared that if communism came to the communism came to the U.S., it would mean the U.S., it would mean the government abolishing government abolishing private property & private property & government ownership of government ownership of factories, railroads, & all factories, railroads, & all other businesses.other businesses.

• People feared that “reds” People feared that “reds” or “communists” would or “communists” would violently takeover the U.S.violently takeover the U.S.

Political Cartoon

A. Mitchell Palmer – Attorney General

• Palmer Raids – against alleged communists and

• Anarchists-those who oppose all forms of government

• Civil liberties were often violated during the raids

The Palmer RaidsThe Palmer Raids• Under Palmer’s leadership, Under Palmer’s leadership,

government agents were government agents were allowed to use tactics that allowed to use tactics that went beyond the Constitution.went beyond the Constitution.

• Agents invaded private Agents invaded private homes, meeting halls, and homes, meeting halls, and private offices without usingprivate offices without using search warrantssearch warrants..

• Suspects were jailed for Suspects were jailed for weeks without being allowed weeks without being allowed to to see their lawyers.see their lawyers.

• Visitors of jailed suspects Visitors of jailed suspects were arrested.were arrested.

• Hundreds of suspects Hundreds of suspects (immigrants) were deported (immigrants) were deported without the benefit of a trial.without the benefit of a trial.

After a Palmer Raid

The Ku Klux Klan Resurges in the TwentiesThe Ku Klux Klan Resurges in the Twenties• The Ku Klux Klan claimed to be The Ku Klux Klan claimed to be

devoted to “100 percent” devoted to “100 percent” Americanism.Americanism.

• Its members claimed to be Its members claimed to be “white male persons, native-“white male persons, native-born, gentile citizens.”born, gentile citizens.”

• The Klan’s social positions The Klan’s social positions were:were:– Anti-BlackAnti-Black– Anti-Immigrant or ForeignerAnti-Immigrant or Foreigner– Anti-Labor UnionAnti-Labor Union– Anti-CatholicAnti-Catholic– Anti-JewAnti-Jew– Anti-Urban IntellectualAnti-Urban Intellectual– Anti-EvolutionAnti-Evolution– Anti-Wet (Wets were people Anti-Wet (Wets were people

who drank).who drank).– Pro-ProhibitionPro-Prohibition– Pro- Fundamentalist Pro- Fundamentalist

Protestant ChristianProtestant Christian

Xenophobia – fear of foreigners

The Ku Klux Klan Resurges in the TwentiesThe Ku Klux Klan Resurges in the Twenties

• Anti-Immigrant feelings in the Anti-Immigrant feelings in the 1920s refueled the Ku Klux 1920s refueled the Ku Klux Klan membership.Klan membership.

• The Great Migration of African The Great Migration of African Americans that began during Americans that began during World War I & continued in World War I & continued in the 1920s also led to the KKK the 1920s also led to the KKK reaching its highest reaching its highest membership numbers in membership numbers in Northern states.Northern states.

• In fact, Indiana had more KKK In fact, Indiana had more KKK members in the 1920s than members in the 1920s than any other state in the Union.any other state in the Union.

• Even Indiana’s governor had Even Indiana’s governor had KKK ties.KKK ties.

The Ku Klux Klan Resurges in the TwentiesThe Ku Klux Klan Resurges in the Twenties

• KKK Grand Wizard Hiram Evans KKK Grand Wizard Hiram Evans described his members as: “plain described his members as: “plain people…the everyday, not highly people…the everyday, not highly cultured, overly intellectualized, but cultured, overly intellectualized, but entirely unspoiled…citizens of old entirely unspoiled…citizens of old stock.”stock.”

• Klan members felt very threatened Klan members felt very threatened from the changes that started to from the changes that started to occur during World War I and occur during World War I and continued in to the 1920s.continued in to the 1920s.

• They did not like the new job They did not like the new job opportunities that African opportunities that African Americans gained during World Americans gained during World War I.War I.

• They worried about immigrants They worried about immigrants taking their jobs.taking their jobs.

• They worried that foreigners They worried that foreigners threatened the American way of threatened the American way of life.life.

• They felt that urban intellectuals They felt that urban intellectuals threatened their values.threatened their values.

The Ku Klux Klan Resurges in the TwentiesThe Ku Klux Klan Resurges in the Twenties

• The Klan The Klan expressed their view with parades and racial violence

• The Klan embraced The Klan embraced racial violence and often racial violence and often committed violence and committed violence and murder without being murder without being punished.punished.

• Many Klan led lynching's Many Klan led lynching's occurred with no arrests occurred with no arrests or convictions.or convictions.

The Ku Klux Klan Resurges in the TwentiesThe Ku Klux Klan Resurges in the Twenties

• This picture was This picture was taken in 1925 taken in 1925 when almost when almost 60,000 Ku Klux 60,000 Ku Klux Klan members Klan members marched down marched down Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Avenue in Avenue in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.

The KKK Yesterday and Today

Sacco & VanzettiSacco & Vanzetti• At the height of the Red Scare in April of At the height of the Red Scare in April of

1920, the Sacco & Vanzetti case revealed 1920, the Sacco & Vanzetti case revealed the fear of foreigners (xenophobia) & the fear of foreigners (xenophobia) & immigrants that was resurging in the immigrants that was resurging in the 1920s.1920s.

• Nicola Sacco & Bartolomeo Vanzetti were Nicola Sacco & Bartolomeo Vanzetti were Italian immigrants who were anarchists & Italian immigrants who were anarchists & draft evaders.draft evaders.

• The two men were accused of shooting & The two men were accused of shooting & killing a factory paymaster in Braintree, killing a factory paymaster in Braintree, Massachusetts & running off with Massachusetts & running off with $15,000.$15,000.

• Circumstantial evidence• Judge not impartial• Found guilty and sentenced to death

Warren G. HardingPresident 1920 – 1923 Republican

“I have no trouble with my enemies…but mydamn friends, …they’re the ones that keep me walking the floor at night” Harding

• Ohio politician – not well respected

• Return to Normalcy and Isolation • No government interference with

business • No social welfare programs• US did not join League of Nations• Made “questionable” political

appointments • Ohio Gang – his poker playing

Ohio buddies given political positions

• Scandalous and corrupt Administration

• Died of a heart attack in 1923

Cal CoolidgePresident 1923 – 1928 Republican

“The chief business of the American people is business” Coolidge

• Harding’s vice-president• “Silent Cal” a simple and

honest man • Kept taxes down and business

up• “Keep Cool with Coolidge”

campaign slogan in 1924• Business boomed• Many new consumer goods

which used electricity• People bought on credit using

installment plans• Banks provided low interest

loans

The Business of America is Business

Planned obsolescence

It won’t last so you’ll have to buy more!!

• Assembly line mass produced goods revolutionized industry

• Advertising was used to sell products you didn’t need

• Overproduction occurred – huge overstock of goods

• Installment plan buying due to easy credit

• Speculating (making risky investments) on the stock market by the average guy

• Farmers already feeling the coming depression

• Farmer’s had borrowed heavily during WW I to produce more food and already had huge debts

Selling new productsAdvertising

Henry Ford revolutionized the way we produced goods in America

New Products in a modern society

Appealing to the public

These products made life easier and more interesting

The changing kitchen

Edison’s phonograph Everyone loved it

Labor Movement Struggles in the TwentiesLabor Movement Struggles in the Twenties

• Although labor union Although labor union membership rose during the membership rose during the World War I era, labor unions World War I era, labor unions were outlawed from striking, were outlawed from striking, greatly limiting the power of greatly limiting the power of labor unions.labor unions.

• The government threatened The government threatened workers to either “work or fight.”workers to either “work or fight.”

• Immediately following World Immediately following World War I, strikes broke-out in great War I, strikes broke-out in great numbers.numbers.

• There were over 3,000 strikes There were over 3,000 strikes in 1919, but striking and union in 1919, but striking and union membership declined after membership declined after 1920.1920.

Labor Movement Struggles Labor Movement Struggles in the Twentiesin the Twenties

• During World War I & continuing into During World War I & continuing into the 1920s, wages had not kept up with the 1920s, wages had not kept up with prices.prices.

• Employers tried to avoid wage Employers tried to avoid wage increases & tried to discourage labor increases & tried to discourage labor unions.unions.

• Many employers tried to stir up rumors Many employers tried to stir up rumors that union members were planning that union members were planning revolution.revolution.

• Newspapers published fearful Newspapers published fearful headlines like:headlines like:– ““Crimes Against Society”Crimes Against Society”– ““Conspiracies Against the Government.”Conspiracies Against the Government.”– ““Plots to Establish Communism”Plots to Establish Communism”

• The picture shows an IWW labor union The picture shows an IWW labor union office that was raided by federal office that was raided by federal authorities searching for communist authorities searching for communist revolutionary activities.revolutionary activities.

President Wilson deals with labor strikes in 1919

• The Steel Strike – Difficult and dangerous working conditions– Seven days a week, 12 hours a day– US Steel refused to meet with Union reps so they walked off the

job– They demanded the right to shorter working hours and a living

wage– US Steel hired non-union workers or strikebreakers (scabs) and

used force– Propaganda campaign against the strikers– 18 workers were killed and wounded or beat hundreds more– In 1923 a Protestant interfaith committee published a report In 1923 a Protestant interfaith committee published a report

documenting the dire labor conditions.documenting the dire labor conditions.• The report did pressure U.S. Steel to give steel workers The report did pressure U.S. Steel to give steel workers

an 8 hour workday, but the steel workers did not regain an 8 hour workday, but the steel workers did not regain its union.its union.

The Coal Miners Strike The Coal Miners Strike (1919)(1919)

• John L. Lewis became the new John L. Lewis became the new leader of the United Mine Workers leader of the United Mine Workers of America in 1919.of America in 1919.

• When John L. Lewis called for a When John L. Lewis called for a strike on November 1, 1919, strike on November 1, 1919, Attorney General A. Mitchell Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer got a court order Palmer got a court order demanding that the strikers return demanding that the strikers return to work.to work.

• Lewis declared the strike over but Lewis declared the strike over but quietly gave the order to continue quietly gave the order to continue the strikethe strike

• An arbitrator was appointed An arbitrator was appointed • The miners received a 27% pay The miners received a 27% pay

raiseraise• A shorter work day and week will A shorter work day and week will

be achieved in the 1930’sbe achieved in the 1930’s

Labor Movement Loses Appeal

• Many believed labor unions fostered communism

• Many immigrants had no choice but to work in poor labor conditions

• Immigrants spoke many languages making them difficult to organize

• Farmers who moved to cities were difficult to organize because they were use to relying on themselves

• Blacks were excluded from joining many unions

Black Tuesday - October 29,1929 The American start of the Great Depression

• Uneven distribution of income – few rich, many poor

• Easy credit and the installment plan – personal debt - too many people owed money

• Speculating - buying stock on margin – put 10% down & borrow the rest of the money from a stockbroker. Hopefully you can sell, make a profit

• Imbalance of foreign trade – we were not trading with foreign countries due to tariffs (tax on imported foreign goods)

• Mechanization of industry – machines doing the job of people

Causes of this worldwide depression

Politics of the 1920’sOur return to normalcy!

• Isolationism – The US will stay out of world affairs

• Nativism – prejudice against immigrates and non-whites

• The threat of communism and anarchists

• Political conservatism– No more “progressive reforms” – like helping

workers, the poor and regulating businesses