Post War & The 1920s

Nativism

feelings of hostility for immigrants. It favored people or products that were American.

isolationism

A policy of avoiding political or military involvement with other countries

xenophobia

fear of foreigners

bigotry

intolerance toward those who are different

communism

A political system in which the government owns and controls all resources and means of production and makes all economic decisions

Red Scare

Intense fear of communism and other politically radical ideas

Palmer Raids

- these were measures to hunt out political radicals and immigrants who were potential threats to American security

- Part of the Red Scare

- led to the arrest of nearly 5,500 people and the deportation of nearly 400.

anarchists

people who oppose all forms of organized government

Sacco & Vanzetti

Italian radicals who became symbols of the Red Scare of the 1920s; arrested (1920), tried and executed (1927) for a robbery/murder, they were believed by many to have been innocent (there was no evidence) but convicted because of their immigrant status and radical political beliefs.

labor unions

an organized association of workers, often in a trade or profession, formed to protect and further their rights and interests.

strikes

Work stoppage by workers to force an employer to meet demands

urban sprawl

unrestricted growth in many American urban areas of housing, commercial development, and roads over large expanses of land, with little concern for urban planning

rise of the automobile

- Henry Ford's "Model T" becomes very popular first as a luxury item, then as a necessity.

- Height of "innovation" in America

- Allows people to move to the suburbs

Teapot Dome Scandal

a government scandal involving a former United States Navy oil reserve in Wyoming that was secretly leased to a private oil company in 1921; became symbolic of the scandals of the Harding administration

Fordney-McCumber Tariff

1922 and 1930, raised tariffs (taxes on imported goods) to extremely high levels on manufactured goods; benefited domestic manufacturers, but limited foreign trade

Warren G. Harding

President who promoted laissez-faire

- Called for "return to normalcy" after Wilson + his progressive ideals.

- Office became corrupt: surrounded himself w/ cronies (used office for private gain)

- Died after 3 years in office, VP: Coolidge took over

Calvin Coolidge

(1923-1925) and (1925-1929), unsmiling and serious

- favored small gov't and laissez faire ideology;

- in favor of immigration restriction (Immigration Act);

- reduced the tax burden;

suffrage movement

The drive for voting rights for women that took place in the United States from 1890 to 1920.

quota system

A system that sets limits on how many immigrants from various countries a nation will admit each year

Ohio gang

Warren G. Harding's friends from his home state; given government positions that they were not necessarily qualified for, but that they made a lot of money from

standard of living

Quality of life based on ownership of necessities and luxuries that make life easier.

electrical conveniences

objects such as early refrigerators, lamps, ovens, and radios that ran on electricity. Many made life easier, particularly for women in the home.

advertising industry

advertising grew to ensure that people bought electrical conveniences and luxury items that they did not necessarily know

This industry grew rapidly in the 1920's due to mass production of goods.

installment plan

A payment plan that allows customers to make payments at set intervals over a period of time until the total debt is paid

buying on credit

installment buying; pay over the future

Ford Model T

The first affordable, mass-produced automobile produced on an assembly line

Ford Model A

An attempt to expand the Model T's passenger capacity; never quite as popular as the lighter, cheaper Model T

assembly line

Production method that breaks down a complex job into a series of smaller tasks

immigration

Migration to a new location

consumer economy

An economy that depends on a large amount of spending by consumers

mass production

Process of making large quantities of a product quickly and cheaply

Alice Paul

Head of the National Woman's party that campaigned for an equal rights amendment to the Constitution. She opposed legislation protecting women workers because such laws implied women's inferiority. Most condemned her way of thinking.

Carrie Chapman Catt

Conservative leader of the NAWSA from 1915 - 1920 and pushed the suffrage movement nation-wide.

Ku Klux Klan

A secret society created by white southerners in 1866 that used terror and violence to keep African Americans from obtaining their civil rights.

19th Amendment

Gave women the right to vote

How did WWI affect the lives of minorities at home after the war ended?

African Americans did not receive greater rights for service in the war; European immigrants, particularly those from southern/eastern European countries were looked upon with suspicion. Klan membership increased.

What caused immigration to drop so significantly between 1920 and 1930? What were the effects of this change on American society?

The Red Scare caused the enactment of stricter quotas; nativism took hold across America. This increased violent acts that resulted from racism across the country (ie Sacco & Vanzetti trial)

Why did union membership decline so considerably in the late 1920s?

Unions were seen as friendly to communists and anarchists; between suspicion following the Red Scare and anti-labor legislation, membership dropped rapidly.

How did WWI contribute to the rise of the automobile and airplane industry?

The rise of new modes of transportation began as luxury, but their utility was seen in WWI. As a result, many of the factories that were used to create military vehicles were kept open to produce these goods.

Both made transportation faster, and with replaceable parts, were becoming cheaper to maintain.

What is meant by the phrase "superficial prosperity"?

Superficial is something on the surface. This era is called the "Gilded Age" because on the outside it glittered and was full of gold and wealth, yet, inside, the world was falling apart. Working conditions were poor and standards of living for a majority of people were very low.

What challenging issues did Republican Presidents Harding and Coolidge Face in post-WWI America? How did they seek to remedy post war issues and "return to normalcy"?

Challenges to stabilize growing economy that faltered when Europe couldn't buy products anymore; labor challenges, immigration challenges, fear of "otherness"

Remedies:

1. Immigration quotas

2. Labor union restrictions

3. Lassiez-faire economy

4. Isolationism

How did the Red Scare, the trial of Sacco & Vanzetti, the rise of the KKK, etc reflect the concerns and views of Americans?

All reflect the nativist and/or bigoted viewpoints that were common in America at the time. All were violent reactions showing fear of otherness.

What was the primary goal of the immigration quota system established in 1921?

To keep immigrants (who were believed to bring anarchist and communist ideas with them) out of the US and prevent the spread of communism

Why should Americans have shown greater concern for their economic futures?

By using installment plans and purchasing on credit, many Americans were "living beyond their means". This meant that if the economy went bad, or they lost their jobs, they would lose everything. Americans in this time period did not consider what would happen without savings.

What is "urban sprawl" and how did technological developments regarding the automobile create urban sprawl?

Definition on a different slide

The automobile, in particular, allowed people to travel longer distances faster on a daily basis. This meant that they could escape the dirt and grime of the city and live in the suburbs. Without restrictions, urban areas began to expand, unplanned.

What factors made ratification and adoption of the 19th Amendment possible?

WWI and the contribution of women during the war opened the door further; additionally, the arrest of Alice Paul and her colleagues and their imprisonment made many more sympathetic to their efforts.