USH U4 - 1920s pt. 3

• ​Russia withdrew from WWI, then became a communist country known as - The Soviet Union (USSR)

• Leaders in USSR threatened to spread Communism to all corners of the globe

• Small number of American immigrants wanted to topple U.S. Government - these would be marked as THE REDS or Anarchists

• Country panicked​

​Attorney General of U.S. - A. Mitchell Palmer

• His house was bombed

• Started crusade to rid the country of anarchists and communist sympathizers

• Not entirely constitutional...few warrants, many deportations, public could report people

​​Palmer Raids

In the 1920s, Congress passed many immigration quotas.

• Targetted to slow immigration from South + East Europe & Asia

• National Origins Act dropped immigration from certain countries at 3% of the 1890 census (before immigration expanded)

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​Immigration Quotas

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​Intention of laws? Less "uneducated" and "unskilled" new immigrants. Provide for better paying jobs for naturalized Americans. Championed by Nativists

​-PPL fearful of REDS too

Outcome? No real wage gains throughout 1920s, more immigration from Latin America

Sacco & Vanzetti

• Two anarchist immigrants

• Security guard killed at store, ​both men arrested

• Court case very weak, but RED SCARE and NATIVISM sentiments --> Quick execution

​Infamous Court Cases

Scopes "Monkey Trial​

• ​Public schools in Tennesse outlawed teaching of evolution

• Science Teacher, John Scopes, taught it anyway

• Court case found him guilty (which he was)

• Attention on case revealed different values between urban and rural folks

• MODERN vs FUNDAMENTAL/TRADITIONAL​

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​​Rise of Aircraft

​After WWI, question over viability of airplanes was answered when the US Postal Service would begin using planes to speed up deliveries. Soon thereafter passenger aircraft caught on for the wealthy.

• 1923 - Charles Lindbergh would be first to fly SOLO ACROSS ATLANTIC, landing in Paris & becoming an international celebrity​