Postwar Havoc
Essential Question: What are some examples of post World War I tensions?
WWI Ends in 1918 and Americans temporarily rejoice
Economic and political turmoil casts a dark shadow over victory
Farm and factory production decreases as demand falls
Returning veterans have trouble finding employment
100% Americanism movement emergesCelebrates all things AmericanAttacks ideas and people that are
foreign
The End of WWI Brings New Troubles At Home
Russian Revolution of 1917 begins
Lenin’s dream is to have an international worker’s revolution
Americans embraced capitalism
Became fearful of Communists and radicals – known as the Red Scare
The First Red Scare
In 1919 radicals played a role in which bombs were mailed to gov’t officials – plot failed.
Mitchell Palmer (Attorney General of the U.S.) was one of the targets.
Led attacks on radicalsHe arrested and deported
hundreds of aliens
The Palmer Raids
Most explosive times in labor history – 4 million workers participated in 3,000 strikes
President Wilson kept workers happy to prevent strikes during WWI
When war ends his priorities change
Red Scare weakens labor movement
Labor Strife Grows
Competition for scarce jobs and Red Scare lead to the rise of nativism.
Clash between older immigrants (protestant Christians from N + W Europe) vs. newer immigrants (Catholics and Jews from S + E Europe)
Push to limit immigration of these groups1921 passed a quota – est. # of immigrants from
each country allowed to enterNational Origins Act of 1924: set quotas to 2% of
the # of people living in the U.S. at 1890.
Limiting Immigration
Relative proportions of immigrants from Northwestern Europe (red) and Southern and Eastern Europe (blue) in the decades before and after the immigration restriction legislation.
Started as a terror group that targeted African-Americans.
Hate group began to targets Jews, Catholics and radicals.
Slogan of 1920s: “Native White, Protestant supremacy”
Spread to other areas of U.S.
Revival of KKK
Talk to your neighbor: What are some examples of post World War I tensions?