Americans Struggle With Postwar Issues

1. How did the Justice Department under A. Mitchell Palmer respond to this fear?Mitchell Palmer and his assistant, Hoover, and their agents hunted down suspected communists, socialists and anarchists (who opposed any form of government). They deported many foreign radicals without trials and invaded people's privacy without legal counseling.

2. Why did Palmer eventually lose his standing with the American public?
Palmer's raids didn't help find evidence of a revolutionary conspiracy. The public thought that Palmer was just trying to get people to support his presidential aspirations. The public stopped believing Palmer.

3. How did the Ku Klux Klan respond to this fear?
They were extremely prejudiced; they were against blacks, Roman Catholics and Jews and foreign born people. They wanted to drive them out of America. They destroyed saloons and opposed unions.



4. Why did the Klan eventually lose popularity and membership?
The Klan's criminal activity led to a decrease in power.

5. Briefly describe how Sacco and Vanzetti became victims of the Red Scare.
They were arrested and charged for robbery and murder. It was based on the fact that they were both Italians, which goes along with the Red Scare because the country was against foreign born people. They were sentenced to death.


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 Boston police strike was unpopular with the public because if the policemen were on strike, the public safety would be at risk. With the policemen not doing their job, there would be chaos.

7. Why did Massachusetts governor Calvin Coolidge become so popular?
Massachusetts governor Calvin Coolidge became so popular because he hired new policemen and the public believed that he saved Boston from communism and anarchy.

8. Why was the strike at U.S. Steel unpopular?
The steel mill strike was unpopular because the strikers were linked to communists.

9. How did President Wilson respond to the steel strike?
President Wilson made a plea to the negotiators (between labor and management). The plea stated that in a time when the world is trying to stay out of war, the industrial workers and leaders should also try to avoid disputes.