Effects of WWI Flu Epidemic September 1918 a

Effects of WWI

Flu Epidemic September 1918 a deadly form of influenza (flu) appeared. Originated in the US perhaps mutating from the bird flu and then traveling around the world Created a sense of doom among many people. What d o we do?

Some places banned public funerals

Kentucky In Pike County, Kentucky, a miner noted that "It was the saddest lookin' time then that ever you saw in your life. My brother lived over there in the camps then and I was working over there and I was dropping cars onto the team pole. And that, that epidemic broke out and people went to dyin' and there just four and five dyin' every night dyin' right there in the camps, every night. And I began goin' over there, my brother and all his family took down with it, what'd they call it, the flu? Yeah, 1918 flu. And, uh, when I'd get over there I'd ride my horse and, and go over there in the evening and I'd stay with my brother about three hours and do what I could to help 'em. And every one of them was in the bed and sometimes Doctor Preston would come while I was there, he was the doctor. And he said "I'm a tryin' to save their lives but I'm afraid I'm not going to. "And they were so bad off. And, and every, nearly every porch, every porch that I'd look at had--would have a casket box a sittin' on it. And men a diggin' graves just as hard as they could and the mines had to shut down there wasn't a nary a man, there wasn't a mine arunnin' a lump of coal or runnin' no work. Stayed that away for about six weeks. "

1918 Flu Pandemic: Depletes All Armies 50, 000 – 100, 000 died

WWI Ends 1918 Numerous deaths and destruction world “mood” altered becoming violent and unsettled

Government during WWI gained more control strict laws used against Americans mood of fear and suspicion

What happened when the soldiers returned home? production decreases unemployment soars wages fell prices of goods remain high strikes erupt

Women and African. Americans now had to compete with soldiers returning home for jobs. By 1920 fewer women were in the workplace than before the war in 1910. Race riots began to erupt in some cities as the competition began to grow.

Inflation leads to Labor Unrest After the war Americans rushed to buy goods as they became scarce this caused inflation. During the war prices had rose and afterwards they dropped sharply. Industrial workers felt the pain as their wages no longer purchased what they once did. 1919 20 percent of the workforce went on strike demanding higher wages and a reward for their wartime patriotism.

Bolshevik Revolution Russia, 1917 World’s first communist state created by Vladimir Lenin Violent state Promoted revolutions around the world

Anarchy means no rules or organization. Someone who follows anarchy is an anarchist. They do not believe in following any government or laws.

Anarchist bombing In April of 1919, numerous mail bombs were discovered which targeted, among others, the head of a senate committee investigating Bolsheviks, a Supreme Court Justice, Attorney General Palmer, immigration officials, and prominent capitalists. Within two months, more bombs exploded in eight different cities within the same hour. In 1920, a bomb exploded in front of the J. P. Morgan office on Wall Street, killing 38 and injuring another 400

The First Red Scare 1918 -1921

Unrest Begins in the US Radicals in the West organized a communist party, powerless Caused chaos; terrified the nation Communist hysteria April 1919 packages with bombs delivered through the mail

Responses to the Red Scare Wilson was president Laws passed during WWI that prevented people from protesting “Fighting Quaker” Attorney Gen. Palmer led crusade against leftists with suspect allegiance, 6000 suspects held. Palmer Raids = arresting US citizens who were radicals, imprisoned and denied a lawyer

The Palmer Raids, 1919: US Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer led raids against Communists and other foreign-born radicals after several prominent men were bombed. The Palmer raids resulted in the arrest of 6, 000 people and 600 deportations. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was created in response to these raids. It challenges the constitutionality of laws that violate the Bill of Rights.

The “Red Scare” Dec. 1919: 249 alien radicals deported to Russia on the ship Buford. Sept. 1920: Hysteria heightened by bomb on Wall Street.

Several states passed criminal syndicalism laws: mere advocacy of violence for social change was criminalized. 1920: 5 NY legislators denied seats because they were Socialists. Conservative business owners used “scare” against labor: “open” shop was “American plan. ”

Sacco and Vanzetti 1921: Many regarded the conviction of Sacco & Vanzetti as a “judicial lynching” because they were Italians, atheists, anarchists, and draft dodgers. ". . . Never in our full life can we do such a work for tolerance, for justice, for men's understanding of man, as we now do by an accident, our words — our lives — our pains — nothing!. . . The last moment belongs to us — that agony is our triumph!" — Bartolomeo Vanzetti's court statement upon being sentenced to death

Back to Normal May 1920 things settling down Public backlash to Palmer Raids and restrictions on protesting Warren G. Harding elected president 1921 pardoned and freed victims of Palmer Raids