The postwar period proved a difficult readjustment period

The postwar period proved a difficult readjustment period for the United States, in part because of economic turmoil and the fear of communism. THE WAR’S IMPACT 19. 4 MAIN IDEA: As American society moved from war to peace, turmoil in the economy and fear of communism caused a series of domestic upheavals.

AN ECONOMY IN TURMOIL • End of WWI inflation cost of living increased the cost of food, clothing shelter, & other essentials that people need to survive more expensive STRIKE • EX: The Seattle General Strike, The Boston Police Strike, The Steel Strike • general strike = strike that involves all workers living in a certain location, not just workers in a particular industry

RACIAL UNREST • African Americans who had moved North during the war now competing for jobs and housing with returning American soldiers • Racism & frustration summer 1919 over 20 race riots broke out across the nation http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Hdea 3 c 6 Ghg&feature=related http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=ANCs. M_ 1 UUag

THE RED SCARE • Red Scare = nationwide panic in the U. S. over fear that Communists/“reds” might seize power – strikes & bombing -Influenced people’s attitudes during 1920 s: linked radicalism with immigrants (nativism resurgence) • Anger at Germany extends to anger at Communists • Association of communism with being unpatriotic & disloyal • Fear Communists would incite revolutions elsewhere Communist International http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Sg. CHTF DIZGE http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=1 zywzzl 9 A i. U

RED SCARE: THE PALMER RAIDS • The Palmer Raids = U. S. Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer established what became the F. B. I. headed by J. Edgar Hoover & conducted raids on radical organization headquarters – focused on immigrants – detained 1000 s of bombing suspects & deported 600 (expelled from country) – disregarded civil liberties

END TO PROGRESSIVISM • Economic problems, labor unrest, racial tensions, memories of WWI general sense of disillusionment in U. S. • Republican candidate Warren Harding runs in 1920 presidential election calling for a return to “normalcy” return to simpler days before Progressive Era reforms • “[Our] present need is not heroics, but healing; not nostrums, but normalcy; not revolution, but restoration; not agitation, but adjustment; not surgery, but serenity; not the dramatic, but the dispassionate; …not submergence in internationality, but sustainment in triumphant nationality. ”