The “Roaring Twenties” Unit 6

How the Great War Changed Us

America’s Place in the World Changed… World War I had caused sweeping changes around the globe. An old order five hundred years in the making had collapsed in just a few years. German and Russian monarchies toppled, and new forms of government were created. The Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires ceased to exist. Britain and France emerged from the war victorious but economically and politically weakened. In contrast, the victorious United States came out of the war strong, confident, and prosperous.

Political Effects of the War U.S. is recognized as a world military power U.S. becomes an economic power as bankers loaned $11 billion to Allies We are a creditor nation

Economic Effects of the War 400,000 women take men’s jobs during the war, but many are forced to quit as troops returned 500,000 blacks migrate from the South to the North to take industrial jobs, but face resentment and discrimination This is known as the “Great Migration” Economy booms during the war, but slows as troops returned home

Psychological Effect of the War Feeling of gloom and disillusionment because of the terrible destruction and loss of life “a lost generation”

Cemetery at Montfaucon, France 14,246 graves

German Cemetery at Neuville-St. Vaast, France 44,000 graves

The world mourned “a lost generation”

Adjusting to the Peace 1919-1921 “Return to normalcy” Adjusting to the Peace 1919-1921

Adjusting to the Peace 1919-1921 America returned to foreign policy of isolationism Immediately after the war, Americans experienced a temporary recession as businesses adjusted from a wartime to a peacetime economy

Red Scare Begins Red Scare Americans frightened by the triumph of Bolsheviks & Communism in Russia led to Red Scare in USA Fear of Communist Revolutions in US

Red scare Palmer Raids—Attorney General Palmer arrested thousands of suspects and deported them These suspects were accused of plotting to overthrow the government most were released, but 600 were deported

Red scare Trial of Sacco & Vanzetti Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti—convicted and executed of a robbery without evidence Symbol of the hysteria against foreigners Leads to formation of ACLU

Sacco and Vanzetti The case of Sacco and Vanzetti symbolized Americas fear of immigrants, communists and anarchists

Attempts to Preserve Traditional Values: Rise of Nativism Nativism and racism were also on the rise as the US retreats into a traditional isolationist foreign policy Distrust of Foreigners (White Protestant American superiority) This will be increased due to the fear of foreigners bringing in communism

Attempts to Preserve Traditional Values: Immigration In response to the growth of Nativist sentiment the U.S. will pass: Immigration Acts of 1921, 1924, and 1929 used to keep out immigrants from Southern & Eastern Europe who many feared would bring in communism The U.S will establish immigrant quotas for the 1st time

Attempts to Preserve Traditional Values: Rise in Racism Rise of the KKK (Hostile to Jews, Catholics, immigrants and African Americans) (Ku Klux Klan) This group gains support as many fear the “red scare” KKK expands its original focus to now include anyone who challenges what they consider to be the pure “American Race” White, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant (WASPs)

Attempts to Preserve Traditional Values: Eugenics Eugenics advocated improvement by breeding (superior race) Who would be discouraged to “breed”? Eugenicists wanted to promote superior genetic characteristics and justified this with Social Darwinism Used to advocate: reducing immigration forced sterilization Segregation and marriage restrictions

Eugenics

Eugenics

Three Republican Presidents: Harding, Coolidge, Hoover Unit 6 The 1920’s Three Republican Presidents: Harding, Coolidge, Hoover

Three Republican Presidents: Harding, Coolidge, Hoover The Presidents of the 1920s will differ from our Progressive Era Presidents—instead of fighting big business we see Policies favoring business Lower taxes on corporations (lower taxes for the rich & corporations) High protective tariffs (Hawley- Smoot Tariff—highest tariff in US history, used to keep foreign goods out) lax enforcement of Antitrust laws and regulations (allowed to merge without government regulation)

Three Republican Presidents: Harding The Harding Administration 1921-1923 Sought a “Return to Normalcy” after WWI (emphasis on domestic policy & economic prosperity in US) Administration beset by corruption with various scandals Teapot Dome Scandal– One of Harding’s cabinet members leased government land rich in oil to business friends for a bribe

Harding's Fate As a result of the scandal Harding went on vacation in Alaska Harding falls ill while away and will die from his illness Coolidge (Harding’s Vice President) will become President in 1923 following Harding's death

Three Republican Presidents: Coolidge The Coolidge Administration 1923-1929 No right to strike against the public safety (Police strike of 1919) Believed business of America is business Strong pro business policies Allowed large business expansion

Three Republican Presidents: Hoover The Hoover Administration 1929-1933 Engineer who organized food production in World War I Secretary of Commerce As president predicted an end to poverty which helped get him elected

Three Republican Presidents:Hoover Believed in “rugged individualism” spirit that made US a great nation (equal opportunity, free education, will to succeed) Strongly Pro business (raised US standard of living) Felt that govt interference in the economy should be minimal (cause corruption & extinguish opportunity)

OTD 1. Which president wanted a ‘return to normalcy’? 2. Which president became president because he was VP to a president that died in office? 3. Which president’s term was full of scandal (tea pot dome)? 4. what is a distrust of foreigners? 5. What is the name of the ‘hate group’ that disliked Jews and Catholics? 6. What do we call the fear of communism in the 1920s?

The Economy and Reasons for Prosperity Unit 6 1920s The Economy and Reasons for Prosperity

Reasons for Prosperity of the 1920’s: 1) Rise in the Automobile Cars allowed greater mobility to people (vacations, suburbs, schooling) Stimulated other industries (gas, rubber, steel) Single most important factor for prosperity of 1920’s

Reasons for Prosperity of the 1920’s Henry Ford—early auto manufacturer who pioneered new production techniques such as assembly line to lower car prices and bring car ownership within reach of most Americans Model T priced at under $300 per car, allowed everyone to afford a car

Reasons for Prosperity of the 1920’s: 3) New Industries Electricity and electrical appliances stimulate economy: radio motion picture vacuum cleaners Created new jobs and changed the way Americans lived

Reasons for Prosperity of the 1920’s: 4) More Efficient Production Techniques Assembly line Standardized parts Conveyer belt Increased efficiency and production speed, did away with skilled workers

Reasons for Prosperity of the 1920’s: 2) Aviation Glenn Curtiss—aviation pioneer who developed airplanes that landed on water This will make the navy invest in airplanes which will lead to new military/economic opportunities

Reasons for Prosperity of the 1920’s: 5) Age of Mass Consumption Advertising stimulated demand (higher wages and leisure time lead to mass purchasing) Retailers introduced installment buying & buying on credit This creates a consumer economy

Reasons for Prosperity of the 1920’s: 6) Speculation Boom Speculation Boom & Uneven Prosperity Corporate profits led stock prices to rise Many Americans began to speculate in the stock market and real estate in the hopes of getting rich Top 1% controlled almost 50% of wealth in US