USA, 1865–1975 – Populism, progressivism and imperialism, 1890–1920: The…

The idea

By 1920, the USA emerged from the First World War as the world's leading economic power, transitioning from a debtor to a major creditor nation with booming industrial output. However, this prosperity masked deep social and ethnic divisions, exacerbated by the Great Migration of African Americans and a surge in immigration, which fuelled racial violence and nativism. The period witnessed a fierce political reaction against progressive reforms and Wilsonian internationalism. This culminated in the Senate's rejection of the League of Nations and the election of Warren G. Harding, signalling a return to 'normalcy' and renewed isolationism in foreign policy.

What earns the marks

• Assess the extent of US economic power by 1920, focusing on its status as a global creditor and the expansion of its manufacturing base during the war.
• Analyse the causes and impacts of social and ethnic divisions, including the 1919 Red Scare, race riots such as the Red Summer, and rising anti-immigrant sentiment.
• Evaluate the political reaction against Wilson's domestic and foreign policies, leading to the Republican resurgence in the 1920 election.
• Explain the concept of 'renewed isolationism', detailing the Senate's refusal to ratify the Treaty of Versailles or join the League of Nations.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Assuming the US economy was struggling immediately after the First World War.

  Put it right by highlighting that while there was a brief post-war recession, the US emerged as the dominant global economic power and creditor.

• Treating isolationism as a complete withdrawal from world affairs.

  Put it right by defining renewed isolationism as avoiding political and military entanglements, while still engaging heavily in international trade and finance.

• Ignoring the domestic racial tensions of the era.

  Put it right: Explicitly linking the Great Migration and post-war demobilisation to the severe racial violence of 1919.

Exam tips

• Use the rejection of the League of Nations as the primary case study for demonstrating the political shift towards renewed isolationism.
• Connect the economic boom to social tensions, showing how competition for jobs and housing in northern cities exacerbated ethnic and racial divisions.
• Contrast Wilson's internationalist vision with Harding's successful 1920 campaign for a 'return to normalcy' to illustrate the political reaction of the era.