Eric Foner - Give Me Liberty!_ An American History, Third edition (2010, W. W. Norton & Company Limited) - libgen.li-pages-2

Page 1: The Sacco-Vanzetti Case

• Date and Context: May 1920, during the postwar Red Scare.

• Arrests: Nicola Sacco (shoemaker) and Bartolomeo Vanzetti (itinerant laborer) were arrested for robbery and murder in Massachusetts.

  • Both were Italian immigrants and self-identified anarchists.

• Evidence: Limited corroborative evidence linking them to the crime.

  • Eyewitness accounts were inconsistent; one claimed to see Vanzetti driving, while others described the driver quite differently.

  • Bullet testing briefly linked a bullet to Sacco's gun, yet no fingerprints or stolen money were found on them.

• Anti-Immigrant Sentiment: The climate of anti-radical feelings and hostility toward immigrants influenced their trial.

• Vanzetti’s Words: He asserted that his suffering stemmed from his political beliefs and ethnicity.

• Public Reaction: International protests and appeals for their clemency drew attention from notable figures, including writers and intellectuals.

• Governor's Commission: Later reviewed their case but upheld the original verdict.

• Execution: Sacco and Vanzetti executed on August 23, 1927.

• Societal Reflection: The case highlighted significant societal tensions, including class, ethnicity, and political beliefs, indicating the far-reaching effects of the Red Scare.

Page 2: Consequences for Society

• Outcome Interpretation: Execution symbolized prevailing nativist prejudices and the anti-radical campaign.

• Cultural Backlash: The era known as the Jazz Age (Roaring Twenties) contradicted the rise of conservatism and traditional values.

• Consumerism and Social Division: While the 1920s witnessed massive economic growth and a youthful cultural revolution, it also highlighted stark class divisions, especially between rural and urban communities.

Page 3: The Business Landscape

• Calvin Coolidge’s Perspective: "The chief business of American people is business."

• Economic Boom: Following a postwar recession, the 1920s saw significant economic growth with productivity increases across several industries, particularly in the automobile industry.

  • Automobile Industry: Backbone of the economy; production tripled during the decade with companies like Ford and General Motors leading the way.

• International Dominance: American corporations thrived globally with major investments abroad as the dollar replaced the British pound in international trade.

• Fordlandia: Ford’s failed attempt to create a rubber plantation in Brazil highlighted corporate overreach and misunderstanding of local conditions.

Page 4: Rise of Consumer Society

• Cultural Changes: A shift toward consumption with advertisements and the rise of credit transformed American lifestyles.

  • Consumer goods were marketed aggressively, changing daily life extensively (e.g., the proliferation of household appliances).

• Entertainment Industry: Movies, radio, and music fostered a new level of mass culture with a significant impact on national identity and celebrity culture.

Page 5: Economic and Social Inequality

• Unequal Prosperity: Economic gains were heavily skewed toward corporations, with wealth concentration diverging sharply from wage growth among workers.

• Decline of Labor: Despite increased productivity, many workers remained impoverished and disenfranchised.

Page 6: Farmers and Unemployment

• Farming Challenges: Farmers faced a postwar decline in demand with increasing competition and foreclosures, signaling the end of the so-called "golden age" of farming.

• Rural Exodus: Many farmers sought opportunities elsewhere, contributing to urban migration trends.

Page 7: The Shift in American Identity

• Image of Business: Business leaders emerged as cultural icons, with a blend of reverence for efficiency and skepticism of populist sentiments.

• Labor Movements: Labor faced severe challenges amidst rising business consolidation; propaganda targeted union activities as threats to individual freedom.

Page 8: Decline of Labor Organization

• Labor Strikes and Resistance: The decline in union membership in the 1920s culminated in sporadic yet unyielding strikes. Workers resisted the systemic erosion of labor rights.

• Emerging Feminism: The Equal Rights Amendment faced challenges as divisions grew within feminist movements regarding priorities.

Page 9: The Fight for Equality

• Women's Rights Movement: Intersectionality emerged among feminist agendas; women sought civil rights while battling economic hardships.

• Black Feminists: Advocated for the rights of all women but faced pushback from mainstream feminist goals.

Page 10: Consumer Culture and New Freedoms

• Flapper Culture: The era symbolized a shift in gender roles, leading to both empowerment and paradoxes for women regarding societal expectations and consumer freedoms.

• Media Representation: Films portrayed women’s liberation while often reinforcing traditional expectations in domestic spheres.

Page 11: Government's Economic Role

• Recession and Regulation: The federal response to economic turmoil involved greater intervention in business and society, shifting liberalism’s definition.

• Labor and Welfare Policies: Introduction of various Acts aimed at supporting initiatives like Social Security reflected changing perceptions around economic rights.

Page 12: Conservative Resistance and Legislative Changes

• Corruption and Scandals: Throughout the decade, government and business remained interconnected, leading to significant scandals.

• Legislative Attempts: Despite some successes in labor rights and women’s rights, many progressive changes faced immense cultural and political resistance.

Page 13: Immigration and Changing Dynamics

• Immigration Policy: New immigration laws reflected nativist sentiments and racial biases in American policy; exclusion of certain groups laid bare issues within American identity.

• Desire for Americanization: Enforced assimilation through legislative measures often disregarded cultural pluralism.

Page 14: Rise of Civil Liberties Vigilance

• Meyer v. Nebraska: This case challenged coercive assimilation policies and exemplified a burgeoning recognition of cultural freedoms.

• Civil Liberties Movement: The political landscape began acknowledging broader freedom concepts, pushing against historical precedents of censorship.

Page 15: The Election and Its Implications

• Calvin Coolidge's administration: His policies reflected uncertainty and conservatism as America experienced both societal shifts and economic challenges.

• American Identity: The 1920s witnessed a deeper reflection on what it meant to be an American in a time of rising cultural tensions.