The Roaring 20’s Modern Society Time of Great Change Return to Conservatism. Simpler past

The Roaring 20’s An era of prosperity, Cultural Conflict Republicans

1920's collectively known as the "Roaring 20's", or the "Jazz Age" 1920's collectively known as the "Roaring 20's", or the "Jazz Age" in sum, a period of great change in American Society - modern America is born at this time in sum, a period of great change in American Society - modern America is born at this time for first time the census reflected an urban society - people had moved into cities to enjoy a higher standard of living for first time the census reflected an urban society - people had moved into cities to enjoy a higher standard of living

Age of Prosperity Economic Economic expansion Mass Mass Production Assembly Assembly Line Age Age of the Automobile Ailing Ailing Agriculture…

an agri. depression in early 1920's contributed to this urban migration an agri. depression in early 1920's contributed to this urban migration U.S. farmers lost agri. markets in postwar Europe U.S. farmers lost agri. markets in postwar Europe at same time agri. efficiency increased so more food produced (more food = lower prices) and fewer workers needed = incomes drop at same time agri. efficiency increased so more food produced (more food = lower prices) and fewer workers needed = incomes drop Demand for agricultural goods not rising as fast as production Demand for agricultural goods not rising as fast as production so American farmers enter the Depression in advance of the rest of society so American farmers enter the Depression in advance of the rest of society

Black Americans in this period continued to live in poverty Black Americans in this period continued to live in poverty sharecropping kept them in de facto slavery sharecropping kept them in de facto slavery boll weevil wiped out the cotton crop boll weevil wiped out the cotton crop white landowners went bankrupt & forced blacks off their land white landowners went bankrupt & forced blacks off their land Demographic change – movement away from farms, countryside Demographic change – movement away from farms, countryside

Blacks moved north to take advantage of booming wartime industry (= Great Migration) - Black ghettoes began to form, i.e. Harlem Blacks moved north to take advantage of booming wartime industry (= Great Migration) - Black ghettoes began to form, i.e. Harlem within these ghettoes a distinct Black culture flourished within these ghettoes a distinct Black culture flourished But both blacks and whites wanted cultural interchange restricted But both blacks and whites wanted cultural interchange restricted

Marcus Garvey (Jamaican born immigrant) established the Universal Negro Improvement Association Marcus Garvey (Jamaican born immigrant) established the Universal Negro Improvement Association believed in Black pride believed in Black pride advocated racial segregation b/c of Black superiority advocated racial segregation b/c of Black superiority Garvey believed Blacks should return to Africa Garvey believed Blacks should return to Africa he purchased a ship to start the Black Star line he purchased a ship to start the Black Star line attracted many investments: gov't charged him with w/fraud attracted many investments: gov't charged him with w/fraud he was found guilty and eventually deported to Jamaica, but his organization continued to exist he was found guilty and eventually deported to Jamaica, but his organization continued to exist

Consumer Economy

Creating Consumers Marketing – installment plans Marketing – installment plans Advertising – big business in the 1920s Advertising – big business in the 1920s –Prior to WWI 500 mill, by 1929 – 3 bill –Targeted women, children, fear, hopes –Outrageous false claims, no laws yet –Saturday Evening Post – rural families –Readers’ Digest – modern, urban life –Time Magazine – condensed news of week

The Land of Automobile Henry Ford – Model T Henry Ford – Model T –Used Frederick Taylor’s “scientific management” –Assembly line »$850 in 1909 vs. $290 in 1924 –“Auto-tourism,” vacationing, –Contributed to develop of a “youth culture”

Culture of the Roaring 20’s Radio 1 st commercial station in 1920: KDKA Pittsburgh Westinghouse,& RCA form NBC in 1927 Silent Movies Charlie Chaplin “Talkies” The Jazz Singer Starring Al Jolson Mary Pickford “America’s Sweetheart” By 1929, over 80 million went to movies

Celebrities Babe Ruth & Ty Cobb Jack Dempsey Charles Lindbergh The Spirit of St. Louis

The 20’s is The Jazz Age The 20’s is The Jazz Age The Flappers make up cigarettes short skirts Musicians Louis Armstrong Duke Ellington Writers F. Scott Fitzgerald Ernest Hemingway Artists Edward Hopper Georgia O’keefe

The Jazz Age Expressed sadness, pain, joy of black America Expressed sadness, pain, joy of black America Harlem’s Cotton Club – admitted only white customers despite fact performers were frequently black Harlem’s Cotton Club – admitted only white customers despite fact performers were frequently black Big Band music – both black and white jazz players Big Band music – both black and white jazz players Harlem Renaissance – cultural center of African American writers, artists, musicians Harlem Renaissance – cultural center of African American writers, artists, musicians

I, Too – Langston Hughes I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother. They send me to the eat in the Kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, eat well, and grow strong. Tomorrow, I’ll be at the table When company comes. Nobody’ll dare say to me “Eat in the kitchen,. Besides, they’ll then see how Beautiful I am, and be ashamed – I, too, am America.

1920's also brought about great changes for women 's also brought about great changes for women th Amendment gave them the federal vote th Amendment gave them the federal vote Alice Paul pressed on (although unsuccessfully” for ERA Alice Paul pressed on (although unsuccessfully” for ERA after 1920, social circumstances changed too as more women worked outside the home after 1920, social circumstances changed too as more women worked outside the home and more women went to college and clamoured to join the professions and more women went to college and clamoured to join the professions women didn't want to sacrifice wartime gains - amounted to a social revolt women didn't want to sacrifice wartime gains - amounted to a social revolt characterized by the FLAPPER/ "new woman" characterized by the FLAPPER/ "new woman" –(bobbed hair, short dresses, smoked in public...) The New Woman

The Disenchanted The Lost Generation The Lost Generation –Personal alienation –Contempt of materialism, consumerism, business as usual, society devoid of idealism –War had been a fraud “Debunkers” – savage ridicules of conformity of middle class life “Debunkers” – savage ridicules of conformity of middle class life –H.L. Mencken »American Mercury –Sinclair Lewis »Main Street, Babbit Ernest Hemingway –A Farewell to Arms F. Scott Fitzgerald –This Side of Paradise –The Great Gatsby T.S. Eliot –The Waste Land William Faulkner –Sound and Fury

A Society in Conflict Anti-immigrant Anti-immigrant Red Scare Red Scare Belief immigrants = radicalism Belief immigrants = radicalism –1921, Quota System –1924 National Origins Act Sacco-Vanzetti Trial –Italian immigrants –Unfair trial

Re-rise of Nativism

for immigrants – the point of origin had shifted to S & E Europe and new religions appeared: Jewish, Orthodox, Catholic for immigrants – the point of origin had shifted to S & E Europe and new religions appeared: Jewish, Orthodox, Catholic N. European immigrants of early 19c. feared this shift and felt it would undermine Protestant values N. European immigrants of early 19c. feared this shift and felt it would undermine Protestant values many wanted Congress to restrict immigration, leading to a quota system that favored Northwestern Europeans (quota based on 1890 census not 1910 census) many wanted Congress to restrict immigration, leading to a quota system that favored Northwestern Europeans (quota based on 1890 census not 1910 census) fear of immigrants (from SE Europe) led to a sentiment known as the Red Scare (fear of comm. post-Bolshevik Rev.) fear of immigrants (from SE Europe) led to a sentiment known as the Red Scare (fear of comm. post-Bolshevik Rev.) Communist advocates a int'l revolution by the proletariat/workers - fears that this ideology could find its way into the U.S. Communist advocates a int'l revolution by the proletariat/workers - fears that this ideology could find its way into the U.S.

at this time, W. Wilson was gravely ill following a stroke at this time, W. Wilson was gravely ill following a stroke his Attorney General, A. Mitchell Palmer, wanted to take a shot at the presidency - he used fears of both immigrants and communism to his advantage his Attorney General, A. Mitchell Palmer, wanted to take a shot at the presidency - he used fears of both immigrants and communism to his advantage he had J. Edgar Hoover round up suspected radicals, many of which were deported (Palmer Raids) he had J. Edgar Hoover round up suspected radicals, many of which were deported (Palmer Raids)

The Ku Klux Klan Great increase In power Anti-black Anti-immigrant Anti-women’s suffrage Anti-bootleggers Anti-Semitic Anti-Catholic Anyone who Posed challenge To traditional values – anti divorce, bibles in school, etc Purge Impure aliens

Scopes “Monkey” Trial Evolution vs. Creationism Dayton, Tennessee Famous Lawyers Science vs. Religion John Scopes High School Biology teacher

Religious Fundamentalism Religious Revivalism denouncing evils of modern society, popular entertainment Religious Revivalism denouncing evils of modern society, popular entertainment Bible must be interpreted literally Bible must be interpreted literally Rejected teachings of Charles Darwin Rejected teachings of Charles Darwin Attacked the Modernists, adapted religion to fit teachings of modern science Attacked the Modernists, adapted religion to fit teachings of modern science –Evangelist Billy Sunday, Aimee Semple McPherson

The Monkey Trial ACLU (free speech, expression) represented for free anyone who would challenge Tenn law ACLU (free speech, expression) represented for free anyone who would challenge Tenn law Judge opened trial with a prayer, wouldn’t allow expert testimony from evolution scholars Judge opened trial with a prayer, wouldn’t allow expert testimony from evolution scholars Clarence Darrow called Bryan to stand as “expert witness”, tricked him into admitting that religious dogma can be interpreted differently Clarence Darrow called Bryan to stand as “expert witness”, tricked him into admitting that religious dogma can be interpreted differently Fundamentalists appeared narrow-minded, foolish Fundamentalists appeared narrow-minded, foolish

Prohibition 18 th Amendment Volstead Act Gangsters Al Capone

PROHIBITION - on manuf. and sale of alcohol PROHIBITION - on manuf. and sale of alcohol adopted in th AMENDMENT adopted in th AMENDMENT an outgrowth of the long time temperance movement an outgrowth of the long time temperance movement in WWI, temperance became a patriotic mvmt. - drunkenness caused low productivity & inefficiency, and alcohol needed to treat the wounded in WWI, temperance became a patriotic mvmt. - drunkenness caused low productivity & inefficiency, and alcohol needed to treat the wounded a difficult law to enforce... organized crime, speakeasies, bootleggers were on the rise a difficult law to enforce... organized crime, speakeasies, bootleggers were on the rise Al Capone virtually controlled Chicago in this period - capitalism at its zenith… Al Capone virtually controlled Chicago in this period - capitalism at its zenith… Prohibition finally ended in 1933 w/ the 21st Amendment Prohibition finally ended in 1933 w/ the 21st Amendment forced organized crime to pursue other interests… forced organized crime to pursue other interests…

Republican Leadership Many Americans believed Republican party more likely to restore stability Dominated all branches of gov’t Favored business and social stability = economic growth

Warren Harding ( ) Domestic Issues Normalcy Prom. Cabinet Pos. – –Herbert Hoover – –Charles Evan Hughes – –Andrew Mellon Quota System (1921) Nat’l Origins Act (1924) Teapot Dome Scandal – –Sec. of Interior Albert Fall – –Leased Oil reserves in Wyoming in return for $2 mill bribe Foreign Issues Fordney-McCumber Tariff (1922) Opposed L of N Avoid entangling alliances Disarmament –Washington Conference of 1921 –Dawes Plan

Calvin Coolidge ( ) Silent Cal, ““Keep Cool with Coolidge Restore dignity, prestige to Presidency Extremely minimal role for gov’t The chief business of American people is business Refused Hoover’s insistence to regulate buying of stock on credit during 1920s Kellogg-Briand Act (1927): 15 nations pledged to outlaw war (unrealistic, unworkable – no provision for enforcement)

The Election of 1928 Herbert Hoover Held Cabinet posts under Harding & Coolidge Nat’l Food Admin. Favored Prohibition 1 st time women vote made huge impact Won by huge margin – hoped “coolidge prosperity” would continue under Hoover Alfred E. Smith 1 st Roman Catholic to run Against Prohibition Urban area votes