Prosperity, Creativity, and Tension 1920s America Prosperity, Creativity, and Tension
After the War: The Problems Progressivism didn’t fix domestic problems and the world wasn’t safer for democracy Demobilization- returning the country to peacetime conditions Labor unrest- high prices, low wages; not as many jobs; other factors Fear of revolution: Red Scare not totally gone; European/foreign ideas Rising racial tension: Great Migration + immigration + competition for jobs + rise of the KKK = scary times
Not everything was terrible! Decade starts with a 2 year depression Huge boom in economy for most of the decade Good times: don’t focus on the bad Escapism: leave the past trouble and sacrifice behind. Enjoy life.
The Influence of Henry Ford Not the 1st automaker, but most revolutionary Moving assembly line Cheap and reliable cars New necessity Personal freedom Growth in supporting industries
Industry to support Automobiles Highways Gas stations Travel throughout the entire United States Growth of Suburbs
Buy Now, Pay Later Disposable Income Convenience Advertising using “scientific research” Beginning of consumer credit industry
The Business of Government: The Republican Formula Warren G. Harding Ohio “Return to Normalcy” Pro-business politics eliminated wartime controls, slashed taxes, established a Federal budget system, restored the high protective tariff, and imposed tight limitations upon immigration. Scandals
Ohio Gang & Teapot Dome Harding not the wisest man Friends took advantage of the system Teapot Dome: The Sec. of Interior (Albert Fall) takes bribes for transferring government oil reserves over to private business by way of bribes.
Calvin Coolidge Massachusetts “the business of America is business” “Silent Cal” Low taxes led to huge boom in business and the economy
Herbert Hoover California Continued the “Republican Formula” Poor timing led to bad reputation
Where’s the money? Time for Britain and France to pay up for the war Germany had to pay up first US loans money to Germany to pay France and England who then pay the US back? WHAT? No one pays after the market crashes
Culture Clash Tradition Modernity Rural Still working hard Traditional, conservative views on religion and culture Modernity Urban Consumer products and leisure time Open to social change Science & secular
The Scopes Trial Illegal to teach evolution in TN schools Battle between fundamentalism & modernism Darrow called WM Bryan to the stand as a expert on the Bible Worldwide attention
Another round of Immigration Issues Nativists focused on eastern and southern Europeans because of WWI (Red Scare) Literacy test; Wilson’s veto overridden Quota system: limit to specific amounts from specific countries
The New Klan Mainly Southern and rural Traditionally anti-African American, but now added Jews, Catholics and immigrants to list of targets Stood against “lawbreaking and immorality”…kind of ironic
Prohibition Temperance and the Anti-Saloon League movement started well before passage of the 18th Amendment Volstead Act was the law enforcing the amendment Battle once again between urban and rural Illegal activity grew as many people openly disregarded the law
Problems People wanted to drink People made alcohol illegally at home Bootleggers sold alcohol Speakeasies were the places to get alcohol In many places, everyone in charge of fighting alcohol looked the other way; major corruption problem.
What to do? Make life easier Have more free time Less work, more play Movies, Sports, Radio, all forms of entertainment on the rise.
Harlem Renaissance Affected by the Great Migration, WWI, more rights in Northern cities, and the booming economy More political rights Marcus Garvey: change not quick enough. “Back to Africa”: start a black nation in Africa from ancestors of slaves
The Jazz Age First truly American music Harlem the center of creativity, but had origins in New Orleans and the South Cross cultural barriers