Time of Turmoil
When the 1920’s began, Americans were tired of war and responsibilities. All they wanted to do was to return to a normal life once World War I ended. As a result, Americans grew more suspicious of foreigners. The Russian Revolution especially disturbed some people because in 1917 the Bolsheviks set up a Communist state in Russia. They forced workers around the world to overthrow capitalism. Many Americans feared that the “bolshevism” threatened American society. A series of anarchist bombings in 1919 in New York, Seattle, and other cities frightened Americans. This wave of fear led to the Red Scare, a period when the government went after “Reds”, which Communists were known as and others with radical views. Over 10,000 people were arrested for being suspected of being communists and anarchists. The government later deported hundreds of these people who were arrested. Then an event happened that symbolized the fear of immigrants and racial ideas. It was the trial Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti. They were two Italian men and anarchists who were accused of killing two men during a robbery in Massachusetts. They were tried and convicted and on July 1921, they were sentenced to death. Sacco and Vanzetti were executed.
After World War I, industrial workers launched strikes to get wage increases that would keep up with rapidly rising prices. Americans thought that Bolsheviks and radicals were causing labor unrest. In the North, most whites resented African American competition for factory jobs. In September 1919, about 350,000 steelworkers went on strike. During the same month, Boston police officers went on strike. When the strike collapsed, the entire police force was fired. Many workers did not join labor unions, linking them with radicalism. The union of railroad workers began to grow in the 1930’s, when the government began to encourage unions. In 1919 rising racial tensions led to violence. More than 70 African Americans were lynched in the South. In Chicago, a violent riot broke out because a group of white men stoned an African American who was swimming. The young boy died, causing the riot. Additionally, gangs were started and would fight on the streets. Fifteen whites and twenty-three African Americans were killed and more than five hundred were injured. African Americans looked to Marcus Garvey, who was a powerful leader, to help them. Garvey later founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association in 1914 to promote African American pride and helped African Americans start business.
After World War I, industrial workers launched strikes to get wage increases that would keep up with rapidly rising prices. Americans thought that Bolsheviks and radicals were causing labor unrest. In the North, most whites resented African American competition for factory jobs. In September 1919, about 350,000 steelworkers went on strike. During the same month, Boston police officers went on strike. When the strike collapsed, the entire police force was fired. Many workers did not join labor unions, linking them with radicalism. The union of railroad workers began to grow in the 1930’s, when the government began to encourage unions. In 1919 rising racial tensions led to violence. More than 70 African Americans were lynched in the South. In Chicago, a violent riot broke out because a group of white men stoned an African American who was swimming. The young boy died, causing the riot. Additionally, gangs were started and would fight on the streets. Fifteen whites and twenty-three African Americans were killed and more than five hundred were injured. African Americans looked to Marcus Garvey, who was a powerful leader, to help them. Garvey later founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association in 1914 to promote African American pride and helped African Americans start business.