A Turbulent Decade 1919-1929

1. A Turbulent Decade1919-1929 What Do These Words Have in Common?

2. What you need to know… • Discuss some of the economic outcomes of demobilization (leaving the war). • List the main causes of the 1919 strikes and how did people react to the strikes? • Explain the public hysteria of the Red Scare. • Explain why the Sacco & Vanzetti trial caught public interest.

3. #1 Economic outcomes of demobilization. • Demobilization = transition from wartime to peacetime • Caused: • Unemployment  • Wages  • Shortages left prices  • Farm prices 

4. #2Main Causes of Strikes • Demanded higher wages, shorter hours and better working conditions. #2 Americans reacted??? • Public opinion firmly against strikes • Say they were Russian Bolsheviks • Strike = weapon of revolution • “Agents of Lenin” • Steel strike: jailed, beaten & shot

5. #3Red Scare • Fear of a Bolshevik revolution in U.S. made people crazy!! • What were they scared of ????? • Change – fear of communism • Many people believed that all radicals wanted to overthrow the U.S. government. “Reds” – were everywhere Immigrants hit worse

6. #4Public interest in Sacco & Vanzetti • Hostility toward foreigners & radicals persisted. • Sacco & Vanzetti • Anarchists • Charged with murders during a robbery • Had an unfair trial Showed a division in America Labor leaders & radical socials = supported them Many people frightened by Red Scare = opposed them

7. Communism vs. Capitalism • Communism: • A form of socialism that abolishes private ownership • Favors collectivism in a classless society • Capitalism • A system in which wealth, and the means of producing wealth, are privately owned

8. The Republicans in Power Election of 1920 Warren G. Harding vs. James Cox Harding ran a campaign to return to “normalcy.” He won by an earthquake!

9. What you need to know… • How Republican policies encouraged economic growth. • Positive & Negative effects of Harding’s pro-business policies • Why Equal Rights Amendment failed • Explain how Republican Party overcame the political scandals of the Harding administration. • Issues that affected the outcome of the 1928 presidential election.

10. #1Economic Growth • Fordney-McCumber Tariff Act • Pushed tariff rates to an all time high • Enabled business to keep prices high & increase profits • Eliminated taxes on wealthy • Wealthy have more $$ to invest  Economic growth

11. #2 How Pro-business policies affect Economy • Tax cuts = mergers (combine 2 or more companies) • Business profits  60% / Workers profits  10% • Farmers suffered • Some industry faced pay cuts & unemployment • Organized labor suffered • American Plan: union-free • “Yellow-dog contracts” prevented workers from joining a union

12. Women’s Rights Grew - • Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony & Lucretia Mott • Troubled by Women’s status in American society. • Vote • Second-class citizens • Less education (Higher Ed) • Few professions • Lower wages • Married Women • Property • Wages • Divorce – kids? • 1920 – Women gained suffrage

13. #3Equal Rights Amendment Fail??? • Feminists – women’s rights activists • Divisions in Women’s Rights Movement For: Limiting work hours for women encouraged business to hire women Against: Legislation protecting women might be unconstitutional Many women divided & felt it was not their place to vote. “Men & women shall have equal rights throughout the United States and every place subject to its jurisdiction.”

14. #4Republican party overcame Harding’s scandals • After Harding’s quick death, VP Coolidge took over and fired many in Harding’s administration. • Coolidge continued a pro-business • Reduced taxes on wealthy

15. #5 1928 Election Outcome • Coolidge didn’t run!!! • Republican Herbert Hoover vs. Democrat Alfred E. Smith • Hoover • Reputation skill and efficiency • He was a republican  the country was doing well = he was good • Smith • A Progressive • Opposed prohibition • Supported by urban Immigrants • Catholic, people were afraid that a Catholic would be run by the Pope

16. A Nation Divided

17. What you need to know… • Explain why many supported the Ku Klux Klan and what led to a decline in that support • Actions the African Americans took to combat violence & discrimination • Reason that Americans demanded immigration restrictions • Explain the increase in Mexican immigration in 1920’s • Actions that Native Americans took to protect their land

18. #1 Americans that supported KKK • African American population more than doubled in 20 years • Caused racial tension in the North • KKK rebirth and moved north • Red Scare  membership growing • Targeted, African Americans, Catholics, immigrants, Jewish people & anyone suspected as a radical #1 Decline of KKK • Decrease in Red Scare hysteria • Terriorism & Violence turned people away • Klan corruption & scandals

19. #2 African Americans Defend their Rights • NAACP : National Association for the Advancement of Colored People • Pressured law enforcement to investigate violence • Published lynching atrocities • Unionization • Fight discrimination in the workplace • Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters • Nationalism • Pan-Africanism Movement • Establish black owned businesses

20. #3Immigration Restrictions • Many Americans feared that the country was being overrun by immigrants Strange – Why??? • Belief that immigrants had radical views • Belief that immigrants were taking jobs from native-born Americans

21. #4Mexican Migration • Mexico had scarce jobs, widespread poverty and political upheaval from a revolution • Migration • Movement to northern cities for well-paying factory jobs • Southwest movement created a steady flow of workers to fill low-wage jobs

22. #5 Native American Life • Dawes Act • Divided tribal land into individual plots • “Americanize” Native Americans • Bursum Bill • Tried to legalize non-Indian persons to claim Pueblo land • Did not pass • 1924: Congress granted citizenship