Modern Times: The 1920s Chapter 23

The Irony of the 1920s Liberal Social Morals in the City Liberal Social Morals in the City Conservative Politics Conservative Politics Social Morals in rural America Social Morals in rural America Economic Growth in the City Economic Growth in the City Economic Stagnation in the Hinterland Economic Stagnation in the Hinterland

Agricultural Depression of the 1920s Farmers made money during WW 1 selling commodities to Europe Farmers made money during WW 1 selling commodities to Europe They took out loans to expand production They took out loans to expand production However, after the war there was no European market However, after the war there was no European market As a result, farmers went into bankruptcy As a result, farmers went into bankruptcy

The “Modern” Corporate Economy of the 1920s Recession after end of World War One Recession after end of World War One Republican Party supported Big Business Republican Party supported Big Business Presidents = Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover Presidents = Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover Coolidge = “Business of America is Business!” Coolidge = “Business of America is Business!”

Examples of the Conservative Approach to the Economy of the 1920s Welfare Capitalism = paid vacations to counteract unions Welfare Capitalism = paid vacations to counteract unions Federal Trade Commission “captured” by republican businessmen and the FTC did not enforce anti-trust legislation Federal Trade Commission “captured” by republican businessmen and the FTC did not enforce anti-trust legislation

“Modern” Corporations of the 1920s Ford Automobiles Ford Automobiles Assembly Lines Assembly Lines Model T Model T RCA = Radio Corporation of America RCA = Radio Corporation of America NBC = National Broadcasting Co. NBC = National Broadcasting Co. CBS = Columbia Broadcasting Service CBS = Columbia Broadcasting Service Chain Stores -- Safeway and J.C. Penneys Chain Stores -- Safeway and J.C. Penneys Movie and Camera Companies = Warner Brothers and Kodak Movie and Camera Companies = Warner Brothers and Kodak People invested in these corporations----- People invested in these corporations-----

“Modern” Consumer Culture Americans were less interested in world affairs and more concerned with their material life Americans were less interested in world affairs and more concerned with their material life Characteristics of 1920s culture Characteristics of 1920s culture Consumption Consumption Preoccupation with leisure Preoccupation with leisure Buying Spree Buying Spree Radios Radios Movies (“Talkies”) Movies (“Talkies”) Cars Cars Cameras Cameras

Jazz Age is an Example of 1920s Consumer Culture Context: Prohibition = 18 th Amendment ( ) Context: Prohibition = 18 th Amendment ( ) Bootlegging (Canada and Mexico) Bootlegging (Canada and Mexico) Rise of Mexican Border Towns as centers of gambling and drinking Rise of Mexican Border Towns as centers of gambling and drinking Rise of the Mafia (Al Capone) Rise of the Mafia (Al Capone)

Speakeasies

Blacks Dominated Jazz Jazz Musicians Jazz Musicians Duke Ellington Duke Ellington Louis Armstrong Louis Armstrong Blacks and Whites listened to Jazz Blacks and Whites listened to Jazz Cotton Club (Harlem) Cotton Club (Harlem) Whites went “Slumming” Whites went “Slumming”

The Flapper Young women of the 1920s who defied convention by their loose dress, and drinking and smoking in public Young women of the 1920s who defied convention by their loose dress, and drinking and smoking in public

Literature of the 1920s Nationwide Magazines: Saturday Evening Post and Good Housekeeping Nationwide Magazines: Saturday Evening Post and Good Housekeeping Writers who were skeptical of society Writers who were skeptical of society Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms (1929) about the Lost Generation and the futility of War Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms (1929) about the Lost Generation and the futility of War F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (1925) about how the mindless pursuit of materialism corrupted society F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (1925) about how the mindless pursuit of materialism corrupted society