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BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
As we have
seen from the 3 previous sections of this learning period, the 1920's
were a very interesting time during American history. This final
section will continue to build on the theme of social and cultural
issues developing in society and politics during the 1920's.
A major
issue which needs to be addressed is "Civil Liberties." Civil
Liberties may be explained as the absolute or fundamental rights that a
person has who is living in a society. In America, Civil Liberties
refer to the rights guaranteed to every person under the US
Constitution. In particular, the first 10 Amendments, or "Bill of
Rights." Examples of Civil Liberties would include the right to
free speech, or the right to practice / worship any god or religion that
you want to. Furthermore, Civil Liberties may be seen as the right
to not be imprisoned by the government without them giving you a reason,
or charging you with a specific crime. Civil Liberties have
already been touched on in this Learning Period with the founding of the
NAACP and suffrage movement.
For this
final section of Learning Period 4, the information that you need to
learn will be blocked for you. There are specific items that you
need to be familiar with.
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#1. Ku Klux Klan |
The
Ku Klux
Klan was revived in 1915 after being
inactive for nearly 40 years. By1924 there was a membership of
4.5 million.
Membership was made up of white, native-born males.
- The KKK wanted to keep "blacks in their place" especially
after the strides they had made for contributing in the war effort
both at home and abroad.
- The KKK feared job competition from foreigners
- They opposed union membership, communists, anarchists, Jews
and Roman Catholics
- The KKK also helped enforce prohibition
- The KKK used violence and local, state and national politics
to spread their influence
- Before the downfall of the KKK at the end of the 1920’s, the
KKK dominated state politics in seven different states
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#2. Civil Organizations:
2a. National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
2b. Anti-Defamation League
(ADL)
2c. American Civil Liberties Union
(ACLU) |
Each of these groups was created
to protect the civil liberties of different individuals. The
NAACP focuses on African Americans, The
Anti-Defamation League focuses
on Jewish people and the ACLU works with people whose rights have
allegedly been violated. |
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#3. Palmer Raids |
Communism
= establishing an economic system in which there is no private
property. Instead, the government owns and is responsible
for all the "means of production" (materials, factories, etc). There
is little political freedom, and one political party controls
everything. The goal is to end inequality by making all the citizens
be on the same level—they are all workers—no owners (rich guys).
- 70,000 Americans joined the Communist
Party in America.
- A "Red Scare"
(fear of communist take over) developed in America. Communism was
seen as being bad, because it went against American values and
ideals. Such as: individuality, the spirit of competition, private
property, the possibility of getting rich and democracy.
- Palmer sent his agents out to find communists, socialist and
anarchists. This became known as the
Palmer Raids.
Anarchist
= a person who opposes all forms of government
- Many civil rights were violated during this time, agents
invaded private homes without warrants, suspects were jailed
without being able to see an attorney for weeks and many
foreign-born radicals were deported without going to court first.
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#4. Labor Unrest & Immigration Quotas |
Labor Unrest and Limiting
Immigration:
-
During WWI the government made it illegal for workers to
strike, now after the war several groups were interested in
gaining better pay and working conditions
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Many strikes took place, 3 prominent examples are:
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Boston Police Strike
-
Steel Mill Strike,
workers versus
U.S. Steel Corporation
-
Coal Miners’ Strike
Most strikes were not popular with the public. Unions and
strikers were often portrayed as being communist which scared
many Americans. The Labor movement died at the end of the 1920’s as
leaders were unsuccessful in unionizing African Americans and
immigrants.
Immigration capped off by the " Quota
System" which only allowed a certain
number of immigrants from each country in Europe into the US.
Japanese immigration totally excluded. Anti-immigrant attitudes
soared as demand for unskilled labor decreased, and fear of
communists and anarchists rose. **Immigration from Canada and Mexico
was not limited or reduced at all.
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