Social Tensions In 1920s Flashcards
When was the red scare most intense?
1919 (Red summer)
What was the international context of the 1919 red scare?
Close to the Russian revolution (1917), people feared attempted revolution in USA. In March 1919, 3rd communist international founded. Organisation run from Moscow, which supported communist revolutionairies throughout the world .
What are the USA‘s ideologies and why do they clash with communism?
A capitalist country, that believed in free enterprise, private property and private profits. Communist ideology opposed that, eg. Businessmen scared they would lose everything in revolution.
USA was very religious. Communism is atheist.
What was the national context for the red scare 1919?
Wave of strikes across the USA. Eg. Police in Boston went on strike which led to looting and lawlessness, blamed on communist agitators.
Why were Americans scared of anarchism?
Political ideology which believes in no central government.
Known for political violence.
What event contributed to the Red Scared (anarchism)?
Anarchists launched a bombing campaign, mailing bombs to leading businessmen. They were viewed as similar as communists so this fueled the Red Scare.
What is the anti-radical division and who runs it?
Run by Edgar Hoover, set up by the US justice Department. Carried out the Palmer Raids
What were the palmer raids and what were they?
A series of raids on the homes of communist bombing suspects. 6,000 people arrested and imprisoned.
What act justified Palmer Raids?
Reference to the Sedition Act 1918.
Why did Palmer lose credibility?
He did not have a warrant, many people were released due to lack of evidence, it was not very legal.
What is the radical division?
Spied on suspected radicals, hoping to find evidence that could deport them.
When did several states pass syndicalism laws and what did they authorise?
They restricted free speech and authorised the police it make evidence-gathering raids which led to deportation of real/suspected radicals.
Why did the Red Scare 1920s end?
People reacted against the unconstitutional nature of what Palmer had done.
The press worried abt implications of anti-sedition legislation for censorship of press.
What did big businesses realise as a consequence of the red scare?
They realised that mass deportation of immigrant labour would cause labour shortages, which would be bad for businesses.
What helped calm the mood?
Restricted immigration laws, people needed to move on.
Who were Sacco and Vanzetti and why were they arrested.
They were two working class Italian immigrant anarchists. They were arrested for theft and murder in 1920, and were executed by electric chair in 1927.
What was significant about their trial?
They were not given a fair trial, because they were in an atmosphere of strong anti-communist and anti-anarchist feeling.
Who was the judge and why was he prejudiced?
The judge was Webster Thayer, and he was anti-communist and anti-anarchist.
What does the Sacco and Vanzetti case tell us?
They would have never received a fair trial, due to the temper of the times. They were executed because they were personified as and alien racial and political threat to native-born Americans.
What forms did intolerance towards blacks take form as?
Race riots, lynching, job discrimination and segregation
What were common elements of race riots 1920s?
Always involved a majority of whites attacking a minority of blacks.
Took place in the context of economic hardship and competition for jobs.
White fear of consequences of return of Black troops at end of WW1
