American Life in the “Roaring

Twenties”1919-1929

What problems are shown in post-war America?

Insulating America

Bloody war, treaty failure led U.S. toward isolationism.

“Red Scare” of 1919-1921 caused by:

Russian RevolutionCommunist Party in AmericaGeneral Strikes (Seattle)

“Fighting Quaker” Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer led crusade (a.k.a. Palmer Raids):

6000 suspects heldDue Process not followedDec. 1919: 249 alien

radicals deported to Russia.

Rounding Up “Reds”

Criminal syndicalism laws: mere advocacy of violence for social

change was criminalized Laws used to prosecute IWWs

“wobblies”/radicals harmed free speech.

1920: 5 NY legislators denied seats because they were Socialists.

Conservative business owners used scare against labor: “open” shop was “American plan”

Insulating America at Great Expense

Sacco and Vanzetti

1921: Liberals regarded conviction of Sacco & Vanzetti as a “judicial lynching” because they were Italians, atheists, anarchists, draft dodgers.

Hooded Hoodlums

KKK revival was more “nativist” than just anti-black.

At peak in mid-20s it had 5 million members, large political influence, esp. in Midwest, South.

Why in the Midwest?

Membership of the Ku Klux Klan

1920 1930 1970 2000

4,000,000 30,000 2,000 3,000

•KKK collapsed suddenly in late 20s: terror, cover-up embezzlement.• Congressional investigation exposed KKK as being basically a membership fee racket.

Membership of the Ku Klux Klan1920 1930 1970 2000

4,000,000 30,000 2,000 3,000

Stemming the Flood

• The U.S. Government began to restrict certain “undesirable” immigrants from entering the U.S.

• Congress passed the Emergency Quota Act of 1921 and Immigration Act of 1924• Kept out immigrants from southeastern Europe.

1924 Act barred any Japanese immigration, but exempted Canadian/Latin Americans for work purposes.

By 1931, more foreigners left U.S. than arrived.

Act marked end of era of unrestricted immigration.

What is the most dangerous drug in America?

Prohibition “Experiment”

1919: Progressive reform led by churches, women resulted in 18th Amendment, Volstead Act.

Where was prohibition popular?

Why there?

Prohibition “Experiment”

Problems with enforcement:

1. Disillusionment over outcome of war raised questions about further self-denial.

2. Legislators’ private drinking.

3. Returning WWI soldiers disapproved.

4. Poor workers upset that while they lost beer, rich could still buy illicit alcohol.

5. Bootlegging, “bar hunts” popular with young & old.

Prohibition “Experiment”

But northern cities full of immigrants resisted.

Corner saloons replaced by “speakeasies”– preferred hard liquor

Strained diplomatic relations with Canada

Personal stills popular, but product was often dangerous.

Prohibition “Experiment”

Despite problems, bank savings increased, work absentee rate declined.

Less alcohol consumed than prior to prohibition.

The Night Chicago Died

Golden Age of Gangsters

Profits from illegal alcohol led to rise of criminal gangs

War in Chicago led to 500 killings

Al Capone convicted of income-tax

evasion, sent to prison. By 1930, organized crime

was making $12-$18B/year, several times more than federal government.

Happy Valentine’s Day