Prosperity, Modernism, and Conflict The Roaring Twenties Prosperity, Modernism, and Conflict

Post WWI Warden Harding, elected in 1920, promises a return to “normalcy” What about Wilson’s idea of a US involved in world affairs? What about progressivism?

Harding receives 60% of the vote The American people reject internationalism and progressivism

Overview of America in the 1920s By 1920, US is the richest and most industrialized country in the world A creditor nation – countries owe US more than US owes them European powers were weakened from war Overall, this is a period of great change and “modern America” is born

The Booming Economy 1920s was a consumer revolution Affordable goods produced quickly What is the “driving” force behind this? Automobile Industry Henry Ford uses assembly lines to mass produce cars – the Model T (cost about $850) By 1927, it cost $290 In 1919, 10% of Americans had cars. By 1927, 56% had cars

The Booming Economy How did the Automobile Industry spur growth? What do cars require? Gas, steel, oil, glass, rubber Need streets/highways which means you need gas stations, diners, and hotels Henry Ford gives workers more pay, 8 hrs, weekends off – potential customers/leisure time With cars, people can live further away and drive to work – suburbs

The Booming Economy Installment Buying Not need cash. Simply put down payment and then pay monthly payments. Use credit. Stock market becomes a “Bull Market” Rising stock prices and Americans invest money to get rich quick

Conservative Government Harding and Coolidge (Republican) “The business of American is business” Practice laissez-faire policy Reject progressivism, want to help business Reduce spending from 18 billion to 3 billion Lower taxes but raise tariffs Dawes Plan – loans to Germany so can repay France and GB who can then repay US

Isolationism Stay out of world affairs and avoid another war Washington Naval Conference – limit size and construction of navy/warships Kellogg-Briand Pact – not use war to settle disputes US stays out of World Court *** Helps lead to WW2***

Culture and Society of the 20s More people live in urban areas Leisure time and more money Jazz, theaters, radio, phonograph, baseball Women take on social/political rights Enter workforce Go into politics “The Flapper”

Flappers

A New Culture http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wbNZFS3MDA

A New Culture

A New Culture http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZlJ0vtUu4w&feature=related

A New Culture The Lost Generation F. Scott Fitzgerald No more reliance on Victorian era Now they look for new truths/generation F. Scott Fitzgerald Ernest Hemmingway Sinclair Lewis Gertrude Stein

New Culture: The Harlem Renaissance Blacks moving North/to cities during and after WWI Emergence of a black middle class Blacks “reinvent” their culture Black pride/nationalism Marcus Garvey and the “Back to Africa” movement Jazz – Cotton Club

Troubles and Conflict of the 20s

Corruption Teapot Dome Scandal Harding Administration – a “delegator” Sec of Interior Fall was to arrange oil reserves in CA and WY to be transferred to from Navy Dept to Interior Dept Instead, he gives land to private oilmen in return for bribes

The Red Scare Fear of communists within country Why? Russia Revolution – want International Revolution Want workers to rise up and overthrow capitalism What happens in US? Palmer Raids – attorney general/police arrest thousands of suspects Who? – immigrants from S. & E Europe ACLU – American Civil Liberties Union

The Red Scare Arrests of Sacco and Vanzetti Italian immigrants Known anarchists Charged with killing two men What is the evidence? Witness said robbers looked Italian

The Red Scare Nativism is on the rise Anti-immigration Emergency Quota Act and the National Origins Act Establish quota system for immigrants from specific countries Formula: # of immigrants from country could not exceed # of immigrants of nationality in 1890.

Rural/Religious America vs Urban/Modernist America Religious Americans see attack on Christianity with urban culture that is emerging Fundamentalists vs Modernists in Scopes Trial TN’s law against Darwin’s theory vs ACLU/Scopes Creationism vs Evolution

Booming Economy in the cities…. But what about Agriculture/Rural Areas? Better technology - more food/less labor – lower prices – not make as much – banks call in loans - early depression for farmers

KKK – The Invisible Empire Revived in 1915 Against changes in cities Target blacks, Jews, Catholics, immigrants, immorality Attracted 4-5 million Americans join b/c fearful of change

Prohibition and Organized Crime Problem: 18th Amendment and Volstead Act “Drys” say its good b/c stop child abuse, not waste money, liver disease, moral “Wets” say will not stop people from drinking, lead to organized crime Both are right

Organized Crime Get illegal network of gangs/business Make or smuggle alcohol into the country Bootleggers – people who sold alcohol Speakeasies – secret drinking establishments Often spread to other area such as murder, robbery, drugs Most notorious – Al Capone http://video.pbs.org/video/2085881894