Post on 16-Dec-2015
20s Isolationism: The US Turns Inward
Impact of WWI & the disillusionment w/ the peace Treaty of Versailles
○ Unjust treatment of Germany○ War Guilt Clause○ Reparations○ Disarmament○ New Map of Europe
League of Nations○ Article X○ Enforcement?
Partisan fighting○ Henry Cabot Lodge v. President
Wilson
20s Isolationism: The US Turns Inward
Election of 1920Reaction to Wilson’s failing
health, progressive reformsRevolutions abroad, strikes
and dissent at homeTR died in 1919; no obvious
heir to progressive mvt Warren Harding (GOP) –
compromise candidate (“smoke filled room”)
James Cox (D) – OH gov., newspaper ed.
Harding’s “A return to normalcy” resonated w/ US
ResultsHarding 404 ECV / 16.1 millionCox 127 ECV / 9.1 million
Economic Isolation Tariff increased over the
1920s 1913 = 29% 1922 = 38.5% 1929: Smoot-Hawley =
59.1% (record high) Effects
Int’l trade stagnated Europeans unable to pay
debts to US US, a creditor nation,
developed bad feelings towards Europe
Key component causing Great Depression
A = Smoot Hawley enacted
Cultural Intolerance Isolationism compatible with
intoleranceGreat Migration led to…
○ Ghettos○ Rebirth of KKK
Scopes “Monkey “ TrialMay evolution be taught in
schools?Scopes (TN teacher) defended
by Clarence DarrowProsecuted by William J. Bryan
(anti-evolution)Verdict: guilty, fined $1Inherit the Wind: Hollywood
version
Prohibition 1919 Volstead Act
Banned the manufacture, sale transport of 0.5% alcohol
Exception: medicinal, religious purposes
Implemented 18th Am. “The Noble
Experiment”“Wet “= opponent“Dry” = supporter
Prohibition Was prohibition
successful?NO!!!Rise of organized crime
○ Al Capone (Chicago)○ “Speakeasies” (illicit bar)○ “Hooch” (illicit alcohol)
1928 Wickersham CommissionProhibition should be
continued, despite being a failure
1933: 21st Am. Repealed 18th Am (local option) Can morality be legislated?
Restrictions on Immigration CausesRejection of EuropeDomestic labor abundanceAmericanization very slowNon-payment of war debt
Legal restrictionsChinese Exclusion Act of
18821907 Gentleman’s
Agreement (US, Japan)○ No more Japanese
immigration○ No discrimination against
current Japanese residents
Restrictions on Immigration
Legal restrictions 1921 Emergency Quota Act
○ Total of 350k immigrants○ Each nation allowed 3% of the #
currently in the US, as of 1910 1924 Immigration Act
○ No Asians allowed○ Each nation allowed 2% of its 1890
base currently in the US 1929 National Origins Act
○ Total of 150k immigrants○ Each nation allowed 2% of its 1920
base currently living in the US
Impact of restrictions Huge waiting lists Immigration reduced to a trickle
Labor Strife 1919 – over 2000 major
strikesReaction to restrictions of
war Example
UMW strikeBoston Police strike“There is no right to strike
against public safety by anybody, anywhere, any time!” Gov. Coolidge
“Red Scare”
1920: Pres Wilson’s AG Mitchell Palmer identified a communist threat in USLed to “Palmer Raids”:
6000 immigrants detained, 566 deported
Five socialists expelled from NY Assembly