Bell Ringer Source: Jane Addams, “Why Women Should Vote”, 1915 May I recapitulate that if woman would fulfill her traditional responsibility to her own children; if she would educate and protect from danger factory children who must find their recreation on the street; if she would bring the cultural forces to bear upon our materialistic civilization; and if she would do it all with the dignity and directness fitting one who carries on her immemorial duties, then she must bring herself to the use of the ballot—that latest implement for self-government. May we not fairly say that American women need this implement in order to preserve the home? Task: Select and explain ONE specific piece of outside evidence that supports the author’s point of view.

A Clash of Values

The Rise of Nativism

Immigration Act of 1917: Barred all immigration from Asia, except Japan and the Philippines Emergency Quota Act (1921): Restricted immigrants to 3% of their nationality’s U.S. population in 1910 National Origins Act of 1924: Restricted to 2% of the population from 1890 (before many New Immigrants arrived) Natives of the Western Hemisphere were excluded Immigration Issues

Trial of Sacco and Vanzetti Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti accused of robbery and murder Italian immigrants; militant anarchists Found guilty and executed Spurred violent demonstrations worldwide Trials generally seen as unfair, targeting radical immigrants, and holding opinion over evidence at trial April 15, 1920 two men shot and killed two employees of the Slater & Morrill Shoe Co. and robbed them of their $15,000 payroll. The investigation centered on local Italian anarchists, Ferdinando Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti. While neither Sacco nor Vanzetti had a criminal record, the authorities knew them as radical militants. Police speculated that the robbers were motivated by the need to finance more bombings. After a controversial trial and a series of appeals, the two Italian immigrants were executed on August 23, 1927. Violent demonstrations swept through many cities the next day, including Geneva, London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Tokyo. There is a highly politicized dispute over their guilt or innocence, as well as whether or not the trials were fair Trial of Sacco and Vanzetti

What are these men protesting about? Eugenics What are these men protesting about?

Eugenics A pseudoscience that believed it was possible to improve human genes through selective breeding and sterilization Based on IQ Testing, physical traits, social mobility, and predisposition towards violence and crime. Reaffirmed the existing class and racial hierarchies 31 U.S. states passed compulsory sterilization laws. Men were sterilized to treat aggression and eliminate criminal behavior Women were sterilized to control their sexuality 60,000 nationwide from 1909 up until the 1960s

“Keep America American” Revival of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s Caused by fears from WWI era Targets: Catholics, Jews, pacifists, communists, socialists, anarchists, bootleggers, gamblers, birth control activists, African Americans. Used the same methods of fear, intimidation, and lynching Over 5 million members, including prominent members of local, state, and the national government “Keep America American”

The Birth of a Nation (1915) – A silent film by D. W The Birth of a Nation (1915) – A silent film by D.W. Griffith that chronicled the “true story” of the American Civil War, and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan. The first movie blockbuster and was the first motion picture to be shown at the White House. “Like writing history with lightning. And my only regret is that it is all so terribly true."

The New Morality The struggle between tradition and modernity

The “New Morality” A shift in the beliefs of many Americans on ideas of family, relationships, gender roles, religion, and especially, war. Causes: World War I Increasing role of women in politics Mass Media "Old" Culture "New" Culture Emphasized Production Emphasized Consumption Character Personality Scarcity Abundance Religion Science Idealized the Past Looked to the Future Local Culture Mass Culture Substance Image

The Fundamentalist Movement Fundamentalism: Believes the Bible is literally true and without error Rose out of fear that America was losing its traditional values Rejected Darwin’s theory of evolution Popularized by Billy Sunday

The Scopes Trial John Scopes (HS science teacher), was accused of violating Tennessee's Butler Act (illegal to teach evolution in any state-funded school) Defended by Clarence Darrow; William Jennings Bryan argued for the prosecution Drew international attention to the growing divide between the older and younger generations; Fundamentalists vs. Evolutionists He volunteered to be the test case from an ad placed by the ACLU Faith vs. Science, Tradition vs. modernity

The “Great Experiment” Causes: 19th century temperance movement Wartime anti-German prejudice (beer brewers) 16th amendment removed government need for alcohol taxes Wet vs. Dry Wet – generally from urban areas; working class Dry – generally rural; Protestant Hailed as a victory for health, morals, and Christian values

America Loves Their Liquor 18th Amendment: Prohibits the manufacture, distribution, and sale of alcohol in the United States. Volstead Act: Gave the government the ability to enforce Prohibition, making over 540,000 arrests. Called the “Great Experiment” The prohibition movement gained steam during WWI. America Loves Their Liquor

The New Woman Not the kind of girl you bring home to Mama

Women active in WWI; serve an important role as nurses and home front support Fighting a war to “preserve democracy” helps suffragettes’ cause 19th Amendment: Protects voting rights for women Women’s Suffrage

Changes in Society Women in the workforce Women’s colleges Some women took over jobs men left behind during and after WWI Female occupations post-war: Teaching Nursing Telephone operator Secretary Women’s colleges Pre-WWI: Genuine fear that college made women unfit for marriage and motherhood Post-WWI: new “modern woman” was intelligent and independent

Changes to the Home and Family Women became the “purchasing agent” of the family Household tasks become much easier with electric appliances Romance and relationships Put off marriage and children longer than previous generations Highly inspired by the romances on the silver screen Margaret Sanger and the American Birth Control League

La Vie Boehme! "Bohemian”: People who lived unconventional, usually artistic, lives. Sought to break social barriers, refuting traditional gender norms and sexual stereotypes. Greenwich Village, NYC

The New Girl 1900 1920

The Flapper The Flapper was the epitome of the “New Woman” Young Beautiful Thin Always ready for fun Drank Smoked Flirted with men Wore straight waisted, short dresses Short hair Lots of makeup