Transcript Wednesday 19th September

The USA in the 1920’s
Chapter’s 20 and 21
Xenophobia
Communism vs. Capitalism
Also known
as:
‘Reds’
‘Anarchists’
‘Radicals’
Communist
• The press is controlled by the
government
• Rich people should be forced to share
their wealth with the poor
• Factories and properties should be
owned by the state.
• Voters must choose Communist
candidates
Capitalism
• The press should be free to
criticise the government
• People earn as much (or as little)
as they are able to
• Factories and properties are
owned by individuals and
companies
• Voters can vote for any party!
Why fear Communists?
• After the Russian Revolution the
Communists seized power. Americans
Whatthat
typethis
of people
were worried
could happen in
would be most worried
their country. “RED SCARE”
about a Communist
• After the war, revolution?
there were strikes in some
industries, when workers complained
about low wages and poor conditions.
Americans blamed communists.
• Americans thought Communists would
ruin their way of life.
Mitchell Palmer ,
Attorney General of the
US (1919), was
convinced the
Communists were
planning to overthrow
the gov’t, had a list of 62 people
who he thought were dangerous to
the USA.
Palmer Raids
* In January, 1920, 6,000 suspected
communists were arrested and held
without trial.
These raids took place in several cities and
became known as the Palmer Raids.
Even though Palmer and Hoover found no
evidence of a revolution, Palmer
announced that the Communist revolution
was likely to take place on 1st May.
Mass panic took place over America!
When the May Day revolution didn’t
happen, attitudes towards Palmer
began to change and he was criticized
for disregarding people's basic civil
liberties.
Some of his opponents claimed that
Palmer had devised this Red Scare to
help him become the Democratic
presidential candidate in 1920
The Sacco & Vanzetti Case
 Nicola Sacco & Bartolommeo Vanzetti
 Arrested & charged with a wages robbery in which two guard
were shot dead.
 They were immigrants from Italy, living in Massachusetts.
 Spoke poor English
 Both were Anarchists - People who do not believe in society,
the law or the government.
 Judge Webster Thayer
 They were both carrying loaded guns when arrested.
 Many people organised demonstrations
 Executed by electric chair.