Culture & Social Tensions Unit 5 The Roaring 20s: Culture & Social Tensions

Modernists v. Traditionalists The 1920s witnessed major clashes over different topics and issues between modernists and traditionalists Modernists: People who embrace new ideas, styles and social trends. Believed traditional values restricted individual freedoms Traditionalists: People who have deep respect for long held cultural and religious values. These values provide stability to society.

Immigration in the 1920’s Immigration- Return to Nativism- favoring native-born interests over immigrants 100,000’s of immigrants entering the US per year Worry that immigrants were taking jobs from US citizens Thought that restricting immigration would ease urban crowding and reduce ethnic conflict Emergency Immigration Act 1921- capped number of people allowed to enter the US at 375,000. (Later cut to 164,000) with Immigration Act of 1924

Immigration in the 1920s Sacco & Vanzetti were Italian immigrants accused of committing a double murder and robbery. There was little evidence against the men but due to jury bias against immigrants they were found guilty and executed.

Red Scare in the 1920’s Red Scare- Fear of communism after WWI Radical groups supporting anarchy or communism after the war stirred up suspicion and alarm Palmer Raids on homes and businesses of people believed to want to overthrow the government Civil liberties and basic rights were stomped on Thousands arrested

Women in the 1920’s Women were the main advocates for prohibition and gained the right to vote in 1919. Now women had more to advocate for themselves. Margaret Sanger devoted her life to legalizing birth control and making it universally available for women

Women in the 1920’s Flappers- young women who cut & dyed their hair and wore more promiscuous dress Wore makeup, beads, bracelets, cigarette holders Went to Jazz clubs and danced all night Dating not just to find a marriage partner, now its to have fun away from parents Young people thought older people who sent men to die at war didn’t deserve respect Older women found flappers as a disgrace to women

Prohibition in the 1920’s Prohibition (18th Amend.)- banning of alcohol because alcoholism caused crime, violence, and families being torn apart Led to rise of illegal behavior, Al Capone became the most notorious gangster. “Bootlegging”- making and selling illegal alcohol “Speakeasies”- secret drinking clubs Corruption, bribery, and crime doom prohibition. Overturned by the 21st amendment in 1933

Science in the 1920’s Eugenics- the human race can be improved by forbidding people with undesirable characteristics to reproduce Seen as a threat to the poor and weak

Science in the 1920’s Scopes Trial- 1925, Bryan vs. Darrow. Scopes found guilty of teaching evolution and violating state law 1 year later, Tennessee Supreme Court overturns the conviction William Jennings Bryan- well known politician and fundamentalist- taking the Bible’s teachings literally Sought to ban the teaching of evolution in schools Feared teaching evolution would lead to a belief in Social Darwinism Clarence Darrow- defended John Scopes’ right to teach evolution in Tennessee (Anti-evolution law in place)

Harlem Renaissance & Jazz Age Harlem Renaissance – musicians and writers centered in Harlem gave voice to the experiences of African Americans The Jazz Age –a new form of music introduced by African Americans, expressed the mood of the decade

Race Issues in the 1920’s Race Relations Revival of the KKK which claimed to defend American ideals and values against other races. Rose in the 1920s because the of the influx of immigrants. Millions of members in the US KKK supported lawmakers won control of state legislatures in OR, OK, IN, and Texas African Americans faced violence and race riots; dozens killed Asians couldn’t get married to whites and couldn’t become citizens in some states Jews couldn’t rent apartments or get into colleges Catholics faced religions prejudice

1920s Literature & Writers Lost Generation – Sickened by the slaughter of war and of American ideals and values, many writers moved to Europe, and produced popular books and poetry Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and E.E. Cummings

1920s Sports Spectator Sports – more leisure time meant Americans had time to attend sporting events