Unit 1F - In search of the American Dream: the USA, c1917-96
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Summary - Unit 1F - In search of the American Dream: the USA, c1917-96
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Unit 1F - In search of the American Dream: the USA, c1917-96
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PEARSON (PEARSON)
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Unit 1F - In search of the American Dream: the USA, c1917-96
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The Changing Political Environment 1917-80
The rise of Republicans Harding, Coolidge and Hoover:
- When WW1 first broke out in 1914, Wilson declared neutrality, but later America
entered the war in 1917 after German submarines repeatedly attacked ships
containing Americans/American goods and because of a rumoured German-Mexican
alliance.
- Hoover became internation hero for his work aiding civilian victims of the war + was
put in charge of food administration.
- Wilson wanted America to join the League of Nations, a new organisation designed
to preserve world peace.
- This helped Harding to national prominence as he was a leading critic of League
membership as it would oblige the US to defend another country without
congressional assent.
- 1919, Coolidge hit national headlines. His tough stance on a Boston police strike
appealed to Americancs suffering from post-war economic problems and resentful of
strikes.
- 1920, struggle for the Republican Presidential nomination = Harding as the
compromise candidate, Coolidge as Vice President and Hoover and Secretary of
Commerce.
The Red Scare (1919-1920):
● Russian state collapsed under WW1
● Russian revolution of 1917 = establishment of worlds first Communist country, the
USSR/Soviet Union - helped encourage uprisings in Germany and Hungary.
● Communists believed govts. should organise equal distribution of wealth whereas
Americans considered unregulated economy essential to the American dream.
● Communists argued other political parties were unnecessary (communist party was
party of the people) Americans favoured a multi-party political system.
● 1919, Comintern + an American Communist Party was formed which aroused fears.
● Events in 1919 intensified fears:
- 3600 strikes in which around one fifth of American workers participated. When
350,000 steelworkers struck, the steel companies initiated an effective propaganda
campaign blaming communists.
- Political malcontnets mailed dozens of bombs to business and politcal leaders in
several cities.
- The press attributed the many urban race riots to Communist influence on black
Americans and called the summer of 1919 the ‘Red Summer”.
The Palmer Raids:
- Around 6,000 supposed ‘alien’ Communists or anarchists arrested in 36 american
cities.
- Only 556 individuals deserved deportation + only a minority of them were actually
Communists.
- Red Scare contributed to anti-immigrant feeling.
The war period:
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