Discussion Discussion 

Wartime job growth largely came from the Wartime job growth largely came from the production of military-related goods.production of military-related goods.

Discussion Discussion 

What do you think has changed about What do you think has changed about the soldiers’ hometowns while they were the soldiers’ hometowns while they were gone?gone?

Some places will have new factories, Some places will have new factories, shipyards, and other signs of wartime shipyards, and other signs of wartime growth. New entertainment venues may growth. New entertainment venues may have also appeared, such as restaurants, have also appeared, such as restaurants, movie theaters, and shops.movie theaters, and shops.

Economic UnrestEconomic Unrest

InflationInflation Workers wanted higher wages to keep up with the inflated  Workers wanted higher wages to keep up with the inflated prices caused by the removal of price controls. But inflation was also prices caused by the removal of price controls. But inflation was also causing companies’ operating costs to soar. Adding wage hikes would causing companies’ operating costs to soar. Adding wage hikes would have made those costs even worse.have made those costs even worse.

StrikesStrikes In 1919 more than four million workers were involved in strikes  In 1919 more than four million workers were involved in strikes across the United States. Reasons for these strikes included demands across the United States. Reasons for these strikes included demands for higher wages, shorter hours, and union recognition. Shipyard for higher wages, shorter hours, and union recognition. Shipyard workers, steelworkers, and police officers are just a few examples of workers, steelworkers, and police officers are just a few examples of groups that went on strike.groups that went on strike.

Racial UnrestRacial Unrest Many returning veterans blamed their economic  Many returning veterans blamed their economic problems on African Americans, who had migrated to the North during problems on African Americans, who had migrated to the North during the war. In 1919 race riots broke out in 25 cities.the war. In 1919 race riots broke out in 25 cities.

Discussion Discussion 

How did government action lead indirectly to How did government action lead indirectly to the conflict between workers and business the conflict between workers and business leaders?leaders?

The sudden removal of price controls caused The sudden removal of price controls caused inflation to soar. Soaring inflation caused prices to inflation to soar. Soaring inflation caused prices to rise and goods and services to become more rise and goods and services to become more expensive. To keep up with the higher cost of expensive. To keep up with the higher cost of living, workers demanded higher pay.living, workers demanded higher pay.

Discussion Discussion 

Who besides African Americans could Who besides African Americans could veterans have blamed for the problems veterans have blamed for the problems they encountered?they encountered?

They could have blamed the government for They could have blamed the government for not creating public-service jobs, or they not creating public-service jobs, or they could have blamed business owners for could have blamed business owners for refusing to hire more workers.refusing to hire more workers.

StrikeStrike

The word Strike The word Strike has different meanings. The has different meanings. The word in relation to baseball or bowling is in word in relation to baseball or bowling is in reference to hitting something. reference to hitting something. Strike,Strike, as  as used in this lesson, means “to refuse to used in this lesson, means “to refuse to continue to work until certain demands are continue to work until certain demands are met.” met.”

LynchingsLynchings

Lynching of African Americans was fairly Lynching of African Americans was fairly common. Dozens of lynchings—killing a common. Dozens of lynchings—killing a person without trial, usually by hanging—person without trial, usually by hanging—took place in 1919 alone. took place in 1919 alone.

CAUSES OF THE RED SCARECAUSES OF THE RED SCARE Bombs in the MailBombs in the Mail The postwar strikes involved immigrant laborers  The postwar strikes involved immigrant laborers

and created a panic that became known as the Red Scare. In 1919, and created a panic that became known as the Red Scare. In 1919, more than 30 homemade bombs were sent through the mail, more than 30 homemade bombs were sent through the mail, addressed to well-known Americans. Eight mail bombs exploded in addressed to well-known Americans. Eight mail bombs exploded in eight different cities. One of them destroyed part of the home of A. eight different cities. One of them destroyed part of the home of A. Mitchell Palmer, the nation’s attorney general.Mitchell Palmer, the nation’s attorney general.

Palmer’s RaidsPalmer’s Raids Palmer set up a special branch of the Justice  Palmer set up a special branch of the Justice Department to fight radicals, which eventually became the Federal Department to fight radicals, which eventually became the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Under leader J. Edgar Hoover, agents Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Under leader J. Edgar Hoover, agents targeted foreign-born workers and radical organizations.targeted foreign-born workers and radical organizations.

Effects on Civil LibertiesEffects on Civil Liberties Many immigrants were deported and others  Many immigrants were deported and others arrested, their civil liberties often ignored. In spite of Palmer’s failure to arrested, their civil liberties often ignored. In spite of Palmer’s failure to uncover any solid evidence of a Communist conspiracy, the Red Scare uncover any solid evidence of a Communist conspiracy, the Red Scare led Congress to severely limit immigration.led Congress to severely limit immigration.

Discussion Discussion 

How do you think Americans’ state of How do you think Americans’ state of mind was influenced by the Red Scare?mind was influenced by the Red Scare?

People became frightened about the thought People became frightened about the thought of a Communist revolution.of a Communist revolution.

DiscussionDiscussion

In what ways was the terror of the Red Scare In what ways was the terror of the Red Scare similar to the terror after the attacks of 9/11? In similar to the terror after the attacks of 9/11? In what ways was it different?what ways was it different?

SSimilarities were the civilian targets and the imilarities were the civilian targets and the unpredictability of the attack. Differences were that unpredictability of the attack. Differences were that the attacks of 9/11 were carried out on a single the attacks of 9/11 were carried out on a single day and the attackers claimed responsibility.day and the attackers claimed responsibility.

NormalcyNormalcy

Election of 1920Election of 1920 Democrats focused on progressive ideals  Democrats focused on progressive ideals and the ratification of the Treaty of Versailles. Republicans and the ratification of the Treaty of Versailles. Republicans focused on returning the United States to “normalcy,” which focused on returning the United States to “normalcy,” which meant prewar days.meant prewar days.

Uncertainty Helps RepublicansUncertainty Helps Republicans Republican candidate  Republican candidate Harding became popular with a public that had grown Harding became popular with a public that had grown fearful of economic change through strikes and social fearful of economic change through strikes and social reform through progressive legislation. The campaign reform through progressive legislation. The campaign came during the Red Scare and the women’s suffrage came during the Red Scare and the women’s suffrage movement. By this time, many people had had quite movement. By this time, many people had had quite enough enough changechange..

Discussion Discussion 

Why was Harding’s campaign slogan “Return Why was Harding’s campaign slogan “Return to Normalcy” timely?to Normalcy” timely?

It came only two years after the most horrific war It came only two years after the most horrific war the world had ever seen and during a time of the world had ever seen and during a time of economic uncertainty, terrorism, and racial unrest. economic uncertainty, terrorism, and racial unrest. Many people were fearful about the future and Many people were fearful about the future and recalling a more peaceful past, whether it truly recalling a more peaceful past, whether it truly existed or not, appealed to voters.existed or not, appealed to voters.

DiscussionDiscussion

What political shift does Harding’s What political shift does Harding’s landslide victory suggest to you?landslide victory suggest to you?

  A shift away from policies based on A shift away from policies based on progressive ideals toward more progressive ideals toward more conservative policies—what he called conservative policies—what he called “normalcy”)“normalcy”)

Discussion Discussion 

What region of the country voted for the What region of the country voted for the Democrats in both elections?Democrats in both elections?

the Deep Souththe Deep South

Discussion Discussion 

What region voted Republican in both What region voted Republican in both elections?elections?

the Northeast and northern Midwestthe Northeast and northern Midwest

DiscussionDiscussion

What region of the country changed its What region of the country changed its vote between 1916 and 1920?vote between 1916 and 1920?

the Westthe West