Post War Economy Post War Economy and Fearand Fear

The Red Scare!The Red Scare!

What were the What were the Causes of the Red Causes of the Red

Scare?Scare?

# 1 A Downturn in the # 1 A Downturn in the EconomyEconomy

• Economy slowedEconomy slowed

• Returning soldiers were unemployedReturning soldiers were unemployed

• Inflation increasedInflation increased

• Cost of living increasedCost of living increased

# 2 Labor unrest and # 2 Labor unrest and StrikesStrikes

• During war labor received temporary gainsDuring war labor received temporary gains

• High unemploymentHigh unemployment

• Workers go on strike!Workers go on strike!

•CommunismCommunism associated with associated with labor movementlabor movement

Important StrikesImportant Strikes• 19191919

• Seattle General StrikeSeattle General Strike

• Boston Police StrikeBoston Police Strike

• United Mine Workers United Mine Workers Steel StrikeSteel Strike

• All end in taking power All end in taking power from unionsfrom unions

• Unions = radicalsUnions = radicals

Who is to blame for Who is to blame for the labor unrest?the labor unrest?

New EnemyNew Enemy• Bolshevik Bolshevik

Revolution 1917Revolution 1917

• Communist take Communist take over of Russiaover of Russia

• Americans fear Americans fear communism will communism will infiltrate our infiltrate our countrycountry

100 % Americanism100 % Americanism

• War hatred of War hatred of Germans leads to Germans leads to growth of ideagrowth of idea

• Celebrates all Celebrates all things Americanthings American

• Attacks foreign Attacks foreign people and ideaspeople and ideas

TheThe RedRed ScareScare

Fear of CommunismFear of Communism

How does the Red How does the Red Scare impact Scare impact immigrants?immigrants?

#1 #1 DeportationDeportation

The Red Arc

# 2 Anti-Immigrant Laws# 2 Anti-Immigrant Laws• Emergency Quota Act of 1921Emergency Quota Act of 1921

- sets a quota- sets a quota

• National Origins Act of 1924National Origins Act of 1924

- harsher quota- harsher quota

- 2% of # of people from that - 2% of # of people from that country living in US in 1890country living in US in 1890

ImpactImpact

How does the Red How does the Red Scare impact Scare impact Americans?Americans?

Civil Liberties AbusedCivil Liberties Abused• Palmer RaidsPalmer Raids

- anti-Communist campaign- anti-Communist campaign

- Attack on suspected radicals- Attack on suspected radicals

- Arrested 4000+- Arrested 4000+

What role did What role did the KKK Play?the KKK Play?

Rise of the KKKRise of the KKK• Reemerges stronger Reemerges stronger

than everthan ever

• Original target Original target African AmericansAfrican Americans

• Now includes: Jews, Now includes: Jews, Catholics, Radicals, Catholics, Radicals, ImmigrantsImmigrants

• Native white, Native white, Protestant SupremacyProtestant Supremacy

How is the trial of How is the trial of Sacco and Vanzetti Sacco and Vanzetti

an example of an example of nativism?nativism?

Sacco and VanzettiSacco and Vanzetti

• Arrested for armed Arrested for armed robbery and murderrobbery and murder

• Italian immigrants Italian immigrants and anarchistsand anarchists

• Convicted on weak Convicted on weak evidenceevidence

• Executed 1927Executed 1927

Vanzetti’s last statementVanzetti’s last statement

““I not only am not guilty of these crimes, ... but I not only am not guilty of these crimes, ... but my conviction is that I have suffered for things my conviction is that I have suffered for things that I am guilty of. I am suffering because I am that I am guilty of. I am suffering because I am

a radical and indeed I am a radical; I have a radical and indeed I am a radical; I have suffered because I was an Italian, and indeed I suffered because I was an Italian, and indeed I am an Italian; ... but I am so convinced to be am an Italian; ... but I am so convinced to be right that if you could execute me two times, right that if you could execute me two times, and if I could be reborn two other times, I and if I could be reborn two other times, I would live again to do what I have done would live again to do what I have done

already.” already.”

FuneralFuneral

Questions?Questions?