Full episode on Patreon: Bill and Rachel discuss the present-day influences of the momentous 1920 US Census, which grappled with trends in urbanization and the recent breakup of several major home countries of immigrants.
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Description: One hundred years ago this week, the US passed the Emergency Quota Act of 1921, sharply restricting certain European immigration. Bill and Kelley discuss.
Links and notes for Ep. 374 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/AFD-Ep-374-Links-and-Notes-Emergency-Quota-Act-of-1921.pdf
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Description: Bill and Rachel discuss the gap between perception and reality on the World War I reparations demanded of Germany in April 1921 and earlier in the Treaty of Versailles.
Notes and links for Ep. 368 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/AFD-Ep-368-Links-and-Notes-What-Were-The-Economic-Consequences-of-the-Peace_.pdf
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Full episode on Patreon: During WWI, a Chicago ad man pitched the Bureau of Investigation on a volunteer secret police, which grew to nearly 300,000 unpaid agents and foreshadowed strategies of the later US intelligence state. Friend of the show Ben aka @housetrotter joins Bill and Rachel to discuss.
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Description: William B. Wilson, the first U.S. Secretary of Labor, began union organizing at age 12. He went on to serve in Congress before leading the department he helped create to aid the interests of workers. Bill and Rachel discuss.
Links and notes for Ep. 335 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/AFD-Ep-335-Links-and-Notes-William-B-Wilson.pdf
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It’s Armistice Day once again. In 1920 General John H. Sherburne of Brookline MA testified to Congress that US commanders had refused to cancel orders sending thousands of men to die on November 11 1918, hours before the 11 AM ceasefire was agreed to begin
The Nov 11 1918 Armistice terms imposed on Germany, which was less able to maintain troops in the field by the hour as revolution swept through the cities and the ranks, allowed the Allies to occupy territory from the front line to the Rhine River, distances of often over 200 miles. Yet Allied commanders pushed that day to take as much territory as possible under fire instead of waiting to take it bloodlessly.
The Armistice that concluded WWI should remind us each year not to wage wars for billionaires, aristocrats, or the nationalist henchmen of either. Peace comes from their removal from power & from worldwide solidarity among all who do not profit idly on the backs of others’ work.
Related Essay:
“Afterwar: The Armistice That Didn’t End Europe’s War” – Nov 14 2014
Description: Bill, Kelley, and Rachel look back at four things from a hundred years ago, including the Senate failure of the Treaty of Versailles, the launch of the radio broadcast industry, the 19th amendment, and a small postal reform.
Links and notes for ep. 320 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/AFD-Ep-320-Links-and-Notes-1920-Look-Back.pdf
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