Unit 5 Lesson 4 Division and Inequality Flashcards
. During the war, unions had worked with the government to keep production high. Labor’s cooperation contributed to victory. In return, union leaders expected the government to support labor. What actually happened?
During the war, wages had not kept up with prices. Now, with the war over, workers demanded higher pay. When employers refused, unions launched a wave of strikes. Management moved quickly to crush the strikes. Because the government did not step in to help them, workers felt betrayed and management gained power.
Farmers were hit the hardest. During World War I, Europeans had bought American farm products, sending prices up. Farmers borrowed money to buy more land and tractors. They planned to pay off these loans with profits from increased production. Why couldnt the farmers pay off the loans?
When the war ended, however, European farmers were again able to produce enough for their own needs. As a result, prices for American farm products dropped sharply throughout the 1920s. Farmers were unable to pay their debts. By the end of the decade, the farmers’ share of national income had shrunk by almost half.
What happened in 1919, in the city of Boston?
In 1919, the city of Boston fired 19 police officers who had tried to join the American Federation of Labor (AFL). Boston police struck in protest. The sight of police leaving their posts shocked the country.
How much did union memebership drop?
membership in independent unions dropped from 5 million in 1920 to 3.4 million by 1929. Without strong unions, labor had little power to win higher wages.
Why did the membership of unions drop so much?
In one court case after another, judges limited the rights of unions. At the same time, employers created company unions, labor organizations that were actually controlled by management.
What are company unions?
labor organizations that were actually controlled by management
What was Charles Darwins?
Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. Darwin, a British scientist, had claimed that all life had evolved, or developed, from simpler forms over a long period of time.
How did the chruch VS biologists react to Darwins theory?
While biologists accepted Darwin’s theory, some churches condemned it, saying it contradicted the teachings of the Bible.
What did Tennessse, Mississppi, and Arkansas do about teaching of Darwin’s theory?
Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas passed laws that banned the teaching of Darwin’s theory.
What did John Scopes do?
In 1925, John Scopes, a biology teacher in Dayton, taught evolution to his class. Scopes was arrested and tried.
How did the Scopes go?
Two of the nation’s best-known figures opposed each other in the Scopes trial. William Jennings Bryan, who had run for President three times, argued the state’s case against Scopes. Clarence Darrow, a Chicago lawyer who had helped unions and radicals, defended Scopes.
As the trial began, the nation’s attention was riveted on Dayton. Reporters recorded every word of the battle between Darrow and Bryan. “Scopes isn’t on trial,” Darrow thundered at one point, “civilization is on trial.”
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In the end, Scopes was convicted and fined. The laws against teaching evolution were defeated, or overruled, in later years.
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What wartmie worries led to a growing fear of foreigners?
During World War I, Americans had been on the alert for enemy spies and sabotage, or the secret destruction of property or interference with work in factories
Why did many Americans see the strikes that swept the nation as the start of a communist revolution?
The rise of communism in the Soviet Union fanned that fear. Lenin, the communist leader, called on workers everywhere to overthrow their governments. Many Americans saw the strikes that swept the nation as the start of a communist revolution.
Who were anarchists, and how did they make people feel about foreginers?
The actions of anarchists, or people who oppose organized government, added to the sense of danger. Because many anarchists were foreign-born, their attacks led to an outcry against all foreigners.
How did the government react to the actions of anarchists and Communists?
The government took harsh actions against both anarchists and Communists, or “reds.” During the red scare, thousands of radicals were arrested and jailed. Many foreigners were deported, or expelled from the country.