Americans Struggle with Postwar Issues and The Harding

Americans Struggle with Postwar Issues and The Harding Presidency Chapter 12, Sections 1 and 2

Post-War “-isms” • Nativism • Isolationism • Communism – Economic and political system based on a single-party government ruled by a dictatorship

The Red Scare • Fear of communism • Communist Party in U. S. • Palmer Raids – Palmer and Hoover – Hunted communists, socialists, and anarchists – Invaded many civil rights

Sacco and Vanzetti • Italian, anarchist immigrants • Arrested and charged with robbery and murder of two men • Alibis, circumstantial evidence • Executed on August 23, 1927

Sacco and Vanzetti

The Klan Re-Appears • “Devoted to 100% Americanism” – “White male persons, native-born gentile citizens” • Other duties – Keep blacks “in their place” – Destroy saloons – Oppose unions – Driving out Roman Catholics, Jews, and foreigners • Race Riots – Tulsa, OK – Rosewood, FL

KKK Parade, 1925

KKK Ceremony

The Quota System • Emergency Quota Act of 1921 – Set up quota system that est. a max. number of people who could emigrate from each country

Labor Unrest • During WWI, laborers could not strike or interfere with the war effort – Boston Police Strike 1919 -20 – Steel Mill Strike 1919 – Coal Miners’ Strike 1919

Labor Strikes

Labor Movement Looses Appeal • Reasons Why Labor Union Membership Declines – Much of the pop. was willing to work in poor conditions for low wages – Different languages caused disorganization – Unions excluded African Americans

President Warren G. Harding • Ohio senator took office in 1921 • Yearned for “normalcy” • “Smooth speeches, poor decisions” • “One of the least successful presidents in history”

Struggles for Peace • Washington Naval Conference – 1921 Several major powers except communist Russia • Agreement to disarm – No more warships for 10 years – U. S. , Britain, Japan, France, and Italy scrap many of the largest warships

High Tariffs and Reparations • Repaying War Debts – France and Britain owe U. S. • Fordney-Mc. Cumber Tariff (1922) – Raised taxed on U. S. imports to 60%

Teapot Dome Scandal • U. S. Navy Sec. of Interior secretly sold gov’t. oil reserve land to private companies • First American to be convicted of a felony while in the cabinet

Teapot Dome Scandal

Harding to Coolidge • “I have no trouble with my enemies…But my friends, they’re the ones that keep me walking the floor nights!” • VP Coolidge become President and was elected president the next year