Postwar Issues - Before the 1920s became “Roaring”

Economy Adjusts War leaves Americans tired and divided Returning soldiers take back jobs from women & minorities Cost of living doubles Farm & industrial orders down

The Red Scare General fear that communism will take over the US The Palmer Raids Suspected communists, socialist, and anarchists jailed or deported Never find evidence of a revolutionary conspiracy

ACLU is Formed American Civil Liberties Union= ACLU A group that investigates violations of the Bill of Rights Provide a lawyer when a citizens personal freedoms are taken away by the gov’t ACLU was formed in response to the Red Scare

Ku Klux Klan Peaks KKK uses anti-communist fears to harass minority groups African Americans, Jews, Catholics Klansmen get elected in some parts of the South 50,000 march in Washington DC, supported by ACLU(!) Eventually, violence by the KKK leads to a loss of elected power

Limiting Immigration Quota System- sets the maximum number of immigrants that can enter the US from each country Discriminated against people from southern and eastern Europe Prohibited Japanese immigration

Sacco and Vanzetti Accused of killing two men during a robbery at a factory in Massachusetts in 1920. They were anarchists, had protested against the Palmer raids Convicted and sentenced to die Weak testimony by witnesses People around the world protested They were executed in 1927

Warren G. Harding Calvin Coolidge Herbert Hoover

Republican Presidents of the 20s – Harding, Coolidge, Hoover Republican Pres. believed in “hands off” business regulations (laissez-faire economics) Also believed in isolation Keeping US out of world affairs

STOP – Mini Summary Describe 2 issues/problems that Americans faced immediately following World War I.

The Roaring 20s

Pop Culture of the 1920s Aviation Heroes Radio offers news and stories 1927- Charles Lindbergh flew solo across the Atlantic 1932- Amelia Earhart was first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Radio offers news and stories Radio dance parties Music and bands Baseball becomes popular Babe Ruth and the Yankees Movies Charlie Chaplin and silent films became popular

Economic Advancements Henry Ford’s model T Mass production allowed for ordinary Americans to buy cars Pan American Airlines (1927) 1st major commerical airlines begin Modern Advertising Encouraged people to buy more goods Buying on credit Installment plans, “buy now pay later”

#1

#2

#3

#4

Superficial Prosperity 1920s were a successful time for most Americans Income rose by 35%! Electronic appliances made life easier for people More free time Many Americans believe prosperity will continue forever.

Science & Religion Clash Fundamentalism- based on the literal interpretation of the Bible Believe all important knowledge can be found in the Bible Rejects theory of evolution Preachers start religious revivals in the West & South Billy Sunday Ardent supporters of prohibition

Billy Sunday “The reign of tears is over! The slums will soon be only a memory. We will turn our prisons into factories and our jails into storehouses and corncribs. Men will walk upright now, women will smile and the children will laugh. Hell will be forever for rent!”

Prohibition Experiment 18th Amendment bans alcohol Supported by the religious groups Gov’t doesn’t budget enough money to enforce the law Speakeasies- a “hidden” nightclub, became very popular party spot for drinking Bootleggers- smuggle in alcohol from surrounding areas

Problems in the Cities Organized crime begins to rule the streets Al Capone, Chicago Crime bosses made most of their money selling illegal alcohol KKK continued to rule most Southern cities

Scopes-Monkey Trial- 1925 Tennessee passed a law that made teaching evolution illegal John T. Scopes was a biology teacher who taught evolution and was arrested Trial was about whether or not evolution could be taught in school. Clash of science, religion, and public education Scopes found guilty and paid a fine of $100 Evolution continued to be outlawed in TN until the 1960s

New Attitudes and Fashion Flapper = A new type of women that is more independent in their thoughts, attitudes, and dress Young women who celebrated freedom Close fitting felt hats, knee-length dresses, beads Short hair dyed black

“Back to Africa” Campaign Marcus Garvey believes African Americans should build a separate society Garvey promotes black pride, black business, and a return to Africa

Harlem Renaissance In the 1920s Harlem became a hotbed for art & literature that celebrated African American culture New writers, singers, musicians, and other performers went to Harlem to practice their craft Poets: Claude McKay Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes

African Americans and Jazz New genre of music known as Jazz started in New Orleans and quickly spread through the US Louis Armstrong- made personal expression a part of jazz Most influential jazz musician in history “Duke” Ellington- jazz pianist and composer One of America’s greatest composers Harlem Renaissance lays the foundation for modern R&B

Summary Describe American life in the 1920’s. What did Americans do for fun? What were some of the problems in American society at this time?