Americans Struggle with Postwar Issues

1. How did the Justice Department under A. Mitchell Palmer respond to this fear?

Palmer, his special assistant Hoover, and their agents invaded homes and arrested any man who was a communist, socialist, or anarchist illegally. Most of these men were foreign and were sent back home without trial.

2. Why did Palmer eventually lose his standing with the American public?

Palmer eventually lost his standing with the American public because he didn't have any evidence of communists and etc. in America trying to take over, thought he was just using this as an issue for the election, and they then decided that he didn't know what he was talking about.

3. How did the Ku Klux Klan respond to this fear?

They responded to this fear by recruiting more people to join, would harass any foreigner or socialist/anarchist, destroy saloons and driving Roman Catholics and Jews away, and became the majority in politics.

4. Why did the Klan eventually lose popularity and membership?

They eventually lost popularity and membership because of the crime they did; people didn't like it and basically disapproved them because of their crimes.

5. Briefly describe how Sacco and Vanzetti became victims of the Red Scare.

They became victims of the Red Scare because they were put to death because they were anarchists and Italian immigrants. Yes they were put to trial, but the judge was prejudice against them and the jury pronounced them guilty. Also, there were people from Europe, Latin American, and the U.S. that said this was unfair and not right, the Governor of Massachusetts interviewed them but still gave them the death sentence in the electric chair.


Public opinion turned against labor unions as many Americans came to believe that unions encouraged communism.

6. Why was the strike by Boston police unpopular with the public?

The strike by Boston police was unpopular with the public because employers labeled people who left and joined unions as communists and that they were planning to take over. Also, the feeling that immigrants took all the unskilled jobs was still alive and made people angry against immigrants.

7. Why did Massachusetts governor Calvin Coolidge become so popular?

Governor Calvin Coolidge became so popular because he said that they, the Boston Policemen, were not allowed to unionize or strike at anytime, anywhere, for any reason which made him the hero that saved the people from communism. Since he "saved" them from communism he became very favorable and became the vice-presidential running mate of Warren Harding.

8. Why was the strike at U.S. Steel unpopular?

The strike at U.S. Steel was unpopular because the strikers were beaten by police officers, state militia, and federal troops who were ordered, the police and etc., by the companies. The public couldn't believe that happened, and all because the strikers wanted to be able to negotiate with the company on higher wages, better conditions, and etc.

9. How did President Wilson respond to the steel strike?

President Wilson responded to the steel strike by writing a "plea" or letter to the company 'negotiators' by saying America is trying to avoid and stay out of war, but that can't happen when the 'negotiators' are 'attacking' people. Wilson was trying to keep peace and keep war out of America.