Chapter 10, Section 1 (Pages 302-305) Time of Turmoil

Read the passage below then complete the worksheet

After World War I, Americans were suspicious of foreigners and people with different ideas. Americans were particularly worried about Bolsheviks. Bolsheviks created a Communist government in Russia in 1917. They wanted workers to over-throw capitalism. Capitalism is an economic system based on private property and free enterprise. Bombings by anarchists in 1919 also frightened Americans. Anarchists believe there should be no government at all. Americans’ fear of these radical ideas led to the Red Scare. During the Red Scare, the government arrested anarchists and people suspected of being Communists, or “Reds.” Many of those arrested were quickly released because there was not enough evidence against them. Some of the foreigners were deported, or forced to leave the United States. The trial of two Italian immigrants showed Americans’ fear of foreigners and radical ideas. Nicola Sacco and Bartholomew Vanzetti were anarchists but had no criminal records. They were accused of killing two men during a robbery. Many Americans demanded that Sacco and Vanzetti be put to death. Although both men said they were innocent, they were executed. After World War I, wages were not rising as fast as prices. These conditions led to labor unrest. However, many Americans were against unions and strikes because they believed Bolsheviks and radicals were behind them. As a result, many working Americans would not join labor unions. Two strikes in 1919 failed because the public did not sup-port them. A strike by steelworkers ended after the strikers were accused of being “Red agitators.” A strike by police officers in Boston for the right to form a union angered many Americans. Massachusetts Governor Calvin Coolidge opposed the strike as well. After the strike ended, all of the Boston police officers were fired. Tensions also increased between whites and African Americans. In the South, more than 70 African Americans were lynched in 1919. In the North, many white people resented African Americans for taking factory jobs. After an African American youth was killed by whites in Chicago, a riot broke out that left dozens of people dead. Many African Americans looked to the ideas of Marcus Garvey to help deal with the racial tensions. Garvey did not believe that whites and African Americans should integrate. Instead, he argued that African Americans should create their own country in Africa. In 1914 Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association. This organization promoted racial pride and helped African Americans start businesses. By the 1920s, Garvey was an important leader in the African American Community.