Chapter 26 Study Guide
1.
• The Cancellation of the government military
contracts because of demobilization which was
the shutting down of the war machine led to
hundreds of factory closures. Crop prices fell as
overseas demand for farm products dropped.
Millions of Americans were thrown out of work, a
situation made worse by the return of millions of
soldiers. Unemployment combined with
inflation, the rise in the price of goods and
services, to cause a decline in economic activity
and property or a Recession.
2.
• The Red Scare which was the postwar fear of radicals, reds being
communists, in which most Americans viewed them with suspicion
was brought about by violent labor strikes, government reaction to
social threats and the actions of anarchists and communists. Fears
that radicalism was threatening public order when bombs sent by
mail to the Attorney General Palmer launched a series of raids on
suspected subversives. The raids were conducted by J. Edgar
Hoover the Director of the FBI and were directed at the homes of
suspected subversives looking for weapons. Critics saw those
Palmer raids, the arrests of radicals, and the deportation of foreign
born suspects as an affront to civil liberties. The murder trial and
conviction and execution of two Italian immigrants Sacco and
Vanzetti also raised questions about America’s founding ideals of
equality and rights under the law.
3.
• Nativists and labor union members called for
restriction on immigration. In response to
fears of radicalism among immigrants and
anti immigration pressure, Congress enacted a
quota system which put limits on the number
of immigrants coming into the country. It
could be no more that 3% of current
populations already in the country Anti
immigration feelings also helped to revive the
Ku Klux Klan. Quota System
4.
• The Klan terrorized African Americans,
immigrants, Catholics, and Jews with whippings,
kidnappings, cross burnings, arson, and murder.
They also worked to elect sympathetic senators
and governors and they held massive marches in
the nations capital and other large cities. In
response the American Civil Liberties Union was
founded by pacifists and social activists. The
organization defends those it viewed as targeted
by the government because of their political or
religious beliefs. It opposes the limitations put on
individuals rights.
5.
• African American even though they had served and
sacrificed their lives in the war, still faced racism and
discrimination at home. Like other African Americans,
black veterans had trouble finding jobs, and racial
violence saw a comeback. Tensions between blacks
and whites erupted into riots. In this climate of
violence, Garvey’s Back-to-Africa message was
appealing to blacks who had given up hope for equality
in the United States. Marcus Garvey created the Back
to Africa Movement for blacks to return to Africa
because they would never be treated fairly in the U. S.
by white males who controlled the government.
6.
• Strong Anti-Catholic sentiment in many parts
of the country hurt the Smith candidacy.
Rumors spread that if Smith were elected, the
Catholic Pope would run the country.
Wherever Smith campaigned, he had to spend
time explaining that his Catholicism did not
pose a threat to the nation. In response to
anti-Semitism, prejudice against Jews, the
Anti-defamation League was created to stop
the defamation, false accusation, of the
Jewish people.