Objectives: Discuss some of the economic
outcomes of demobilization. Analyze the main causes of the
strikes of 1919 and how most Americans reacted to the strikes.
Explain what caused the public hysteria of the Red Scare.
Recount why the Sacco and Vanzetti trial aroused public interest.
Describe how Republican policies encouraged economic growth.
Evaluate the positive and negative affects of these policies.
Discuss the issues that affected the outcome of the 1928 election.
Explain why some Americans supported the Ku Klux Klan Describe the difficulties faced by African Americans,
immigrants Mexican Americans and Native Americans.
Demobilization
When WWI ended the US economy shifted from a wartime economy to a peacetime.
Meant a shift from war time production levels from wartime to peacetime- demobilization.
Problems Caused by Demobilization
Caused social and economic strain. Women lost their wartime jobs. Unemployment rate rose Prices in industry/ agriculture rose
and fell.
Labor Problems Demobilization led to labor problems in
cities throughout America. In 1919 there was 3,600 strikes involving 4
mil. workers. Seattle- General Strike. Boston- Police Strike. Causes of the strikes: -High inflation -economic problems with demobilization -demands for higher wages and shorter
hours.
Red Scare The time period following the end of WWI
from 1919-1920 was filled with anti Communist hysteria in the U.S. called Red Scare
Strikes across America led many to believe that a worker’s revolution was taking place in the U.S.
Was a result of the Communist Revolution in Russia in 1917.
Led by Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin.
Under communism, government controlled and owned all private property including industry.
Lenin established Communist International which encouraged a world-wide communist revolution by overthrowing capitalism.
Palmer Raids Fear of radicals (those who wanted to
change the government by force) spread. Anti radical movement began Blamed foreigners for problems/ radical
ideas 1919 series of bomb blasts led to further
anti-radical feelings April 1919 bombs discovered being mailed
to prominent citizens
May- bomb sent to A. Mitchell Palmer- Attorney General
Bomb scares added to Red Scare hysteria.
Palmer launched anti-Communist raids. Known as the “Palmer Raids” Rounded up and deported any
suspected foreign-born radicals/ communists.
By 1920 Red Scare began to fade, but not the distrust of foreigners.
Sacco and Vanzetti Point is illustrated
in the trial of two foreign- born immigrants Nicola Sacco and Bartolommeo Vanzetti accused of murder.
Both had radical political views and had dodged the draft in 1917.
Turned the trial against them. Found guilty and sentenced to death. Many believed killed for political views.
Despite having aided in making the world safe for democracy, the U.S. after WWI faced trying economic and political times.
Harding’s Goals and Policies Had 2 goals: reduce debt, promote
economic growth REDUCE DEBT
1 Cut government spending 2 Initiates Fordney-McCumber Tariff:
forced prices of foreign goods to remain high which allowed US manufacturers prices, profits to remain high.
Positive and Negative Effects
Positive: Economic growth, industry boomed Negative: Mergers- combination of 2 or more
companies- brought higher prices Continuing struggles for workers who did
not share in prosperity. Farmers struggled, so did labor as court/
govt tried to roll back gains of Progressives
Hoover’s Victory
Smith Weaknesses Connections to Tammany Hall, his
Catholicism, anti-prohibition stance
Hoover’s Strengths Reputation for skill and efficiency and
connection to national prosperity
Economic factors Prosperity encouraged Republican votes
Rise and Fall of the KKK Rise
Racism towards African Americans in the South
Hostility towards African Americans, Jews, catholics, immigrants, radicals
Rising tension and suspicion in Red Scare
Fall Decrease in Red
Scare tension Publicity of the
Klan’s Terrorism Corruption and
scandal at the Klan’s national level