7.6: WWI: Homefront

Al Smith / Election of 1928

"Al" Smith was the Democratic Party's candidate for president in the election of 1928. ... He was also a strong opponent of Prohibition and the first Roman Catholic nominee for U.S. president, which pitted him against Republican Herbert Hoover

Palmer Raids

A 1920 operation coordinated by Attorney General Mitchel Palmer in which federal marshals raided the homes of suspected radicals and the headquarters of radical organization in 32 cities

Red Scare

A period of general fear of communists

Nativism

A policy of favoring native-born individuals over foreign-born ones

Seattle General Strike (1919)

A strike that arose from the general discontent that many workers felt post-WWI. Contributed to red scare, and was denounced as a communist movement. The Mayor threatened to use armed police.

Steel Strike of 1919

A work stoppage that began when some 365,000 steelworkers in Pennsylvania walked off the job to demand recognition of their union, higher wages, and shorter hours.

War Labor Board

Acted as a supreme court for labor cases. Did more harm than good when it tried to limit wages, which led to strikes.

War Industries Board -Bernard Baruch

Agency established during WWI to increase efficiency & discourage waste in war-related industries.

1917 Espionage Act

Crime to make false statements with intent of interfering with American Military Forces. Can't use mail to send material violating the law or advocating treason, insurrection, or forcible resistance to any law of the US.

Schenck v. US (1918)

Distinguished between language that was merely critical of government and language that presented a clear and present danger to national security (related to free speech)

Anti-German Sentiment

During the war, many German-Americans faced this which resulted in losing their jobs or being targeted in society. Many German words were removed from common speech. Some people were even physically harmed as a result.

1918 Sedition Act

Forbids spoken or printed criticism of the U.S. government, the Constitution or the flag

Herbert Hoover- Food Administration

He led the Food Administration and started many programs to streamline food production and distribution. MEATLESS MONDAYS and WHEATLESS WEDNESDAYS

Committee on Public Information

It was headed by George Creel. The purpose of this committee was to mobilize people's minds for war, both in America and abroad. Tried to get the entire U.S. public to support U.S. involvement in WWI. Creel's organization, employed some 150,000 workers at home and oversees. He proved that words were indeed weapons.

Selective Service Act

Law passed by Congress in 1917 that required all men from ages 21 to 30 to register for the military draft

Chicago Race Riot (1919)

Major racial conflict that began in Chicago, Illinois on July 27, 1919 and ended on August 3. Resulted in some white deaths and many black deaths.

Liberty Bonds

Where people bought bonds so the government could get that money now for war. The bonds increased in interest over time.

Great Migration

movement of over 300,000 African American from the rural south into Northern cities between 1914 and 1920

The Great Migration

movement of over 300,000 African American from the rural south into Northern cities between 1914 and 1920

Boston Police Strike of 1919

the Police Force in Boston, MA went on a strike, and in fear of communism, President Coolidge (then governor at the time) fired them and called in the militia to be the police force

Tulsa Race Massacre (1921)

violent racial conflict that occurred in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1921