Chapter 24 APUSH Mrs. Price “Nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public.” – H.L. Mencken

Economic Boom Per capita income grew by 1/3 Low inflation Manufacturing output rose by 60%

Importance of Technology Automobile industry Radio Commercial aviation & trains Electronics, home appliances, plastics, & telephones

Modern Kitchen (1924)

Changes in Economic Organization Modern Administration systems (GM) - Organized by divisions Trade Associations - National organizations created by industries to encourage coordination in production & marketing

Labor Continued unequal distribution of wealth Most workers saw standard of living increase Welfare capitalism & company unions Bad time for organized labor – open shops (American Plan) - courts ruled against unions - membership fell from 5 mil to under 3 mil

Agricultural Sector Technology increased productivity Surpluses = drop in food prices Farmers demand govt price supports (parity)

Mass Consumer Culture Driven by middle class & advertising Buying on credit Influence of automobiles: suburbs, vacations, dating Talkies

                                                                         <>

                                                                        <>

Modernist Religion More secular Rejected literal interpretation of the Bible Most Americans were more traditional Religion became less important to some middle class

Religious Fundamentalism Literal interpretation of Bible Opposed Darwin’s theories Scopes Monkey Trial

Women Most of married women who worked were working class Mothers get advice from “experts” Birth Control: Margaret Sanger Flapper – modern woman with liberated lifestyle Politically: did not vote as one block

Women went from this…

to this!

Emergence of Youth Culture Adolescence as a distinct period High schools added sports, clubs, etc

The Lost Generation Artists & intellectuals that found new society disturbing Hemingway, H.L. Mencken, Sinclair Lewis, F. Scott Fitzgerald

Harlem Renaissance Center of black culture Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Alain Locke, Claude McKay

Prohibition Went into effect Jan 1920 Popular with middle class in Midwest & South Effects: Rise in organized crime, creation of speakeasies, home brewing Successes: Bank savings increased, absenteeism decreased Repealed in 1933 http://www.history.com/topics/prohibition/videos/bet-you-didnt-know-prohibition

Prohibition Elliot Ness

Nativism & the Klan Restrictions on immigration Rebirth of KKK (1915) 1921: Quotas 1924: National Origins Act 1929: Law limited immigration to 150,000 a yr Rebirth of KKK (1915)

Govt in the 1920s Democratic Party suffered in 1920s due to tensions between factions Republican Party – close relationship between business & govt

Warren G. Harding Elected 1920 Personal weaknesses Teapot Dome Scandal (oil reserves in WY) July 1923: Harding dies of heart attack

Calvin Coolidge Became president after Harding dies Silent, honest Passive approach to being president Believed in limited govt Re-elected in 1924