1920s Flashcards: Socialism

Questions and Answers

What is socialism?

A radical ideology

A type of advertising technique

An economic system where factors of production are publicly owned (correct)

A political belief advocating for no government

Anarchism advocates for government intervention in society.

False

Who were Sacco & Vanzetti?

Italian anarchist radicals executed for robbery/murder.

What was the Great Migration?

The relocation of about 1.5 million African Americans from the South to the North. Signup and view all the answers

What was the Red Scare?

A fear of communism in the U.S. Signup and view all the answers

What triggered the Palmer Raids?

Fear of radicals and communism. Signup and view all the answers

What did modern advertising aim to achieve?

To increase sales of a product Signup and view all the answers

Buying on credit allows consumers to pay for items upfront.

False Signup and view all the answers

The ______ was a name given to the summer of 1919 due to urban race riots.

Red Summer Signup and view all the answers

What were quota systems?

Regulations that limited the percentage of immigrants allowed into the U.S. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Socialism

Economic system with public ownership of production, aimed at collective welfare.
Government often provides services like healthcare and education through high taxes.
Viewed as a precursor to communism; fears of socialism contributed to the Palmer Raids initiated by A. Mitchell Palmer.

Anarchism

Political belief opposing government; advocates for collective societal improvement.
Associated with fears of government overthrow, leading to increased vigilance during the Palmer Raids.

Radicals

Individuals advocating for significant government change, often supporting ideologies like anarchism, communism, or socialism.
Perceived as a threat; non-U.S. radicals faced deportation due to their extreme views.

Sacco & Vanzetti

Italian anarchists symbolizing the Red Scare; arrested in 1920, convicted in 1927 for robbery/murder.
Many believed they were victims of bias driven by their immigrant status and political beliefs.

Quota Systems

Comprises the Emergency Quota Act of 1921 and the Immigration Act of 1924.
Marked a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy, drastically reducing the number of permissible immigrants.
By 1931, net immigration to the U.S. declined, with more people leaving than entering.

The Great Migration

Relocation of approximately 1.5 million African Americans from the South to Northern cities between 1916 and 1930.
Resulted in significant racial tension, prominently seen during the Red Summer of 1919.
Major destinations included Harlem, Chicago, Cleveland, and Detroit, which later developed into African American ghettos.

The Red Scare

Period of intense fear regarding the spread of communism in the U.S. post-World War I.
Linked to concerns about the potential for a communist revolution and activities of the Comintern aimed at global communist expansion.

The Palmer Raids

Series of government-led raids targeting suspected radicals, spearheaded by U.S. Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer.
Aim was to uncover radical communists; however, the raids largely failed and resulted in Palmer's loss of credibility after no significant incidents occurred on May 1, 1920.

The Red Summer

Term for the summer of 1919, characterized by 26 race riots across urban America in reaction to racial tensions exacerbated by the Great Migration.
Notably began with the Chicago Race Riots, symbolizing increasing militancy among African Americans against discrimination.

Modern Advertising

Innovative public notices designed to boost product sales through suggestive marketing strategies.
Emerged as a response to mass production in the 1920s; focused on capturing consumer attention to drive sales.

Buying on Credit / Installment Buying

Credit allows consumers to purchase items with future payment commitments; installment buying enables payment over time.
Facilitated increased consumer sales but included interest fees; potential pitfall as inability to repay contributed to the onset of the Great Depression.

Description

Explore the concept of socialism as an economic system that emphasizes public ownership of production factors and government services. Understand its role in the context of the 1920s and its influence on events like the Palmer Raids. These flashcards provide a concise overview of key terms and definitions from this pivotal decade.