The Age of Wonderful Nonsense, and the Age of Intolerance The Roaring 20s A.K.A The Jazz Age, The Age of Wonderful Nonsense, and the Age of Intolerance

Post World War 1 America Isolationism Many Americans believed that WWI was a waste of men and money Opposed to anything that might drag America into another European conflict Tariffs were put on foreign goods to protect American industry Reduced the number of immigrants allowed into the U.S. More than 1.2 million immigrants had come to the U.S. in 1914. But once the immigration restrictions of the 1920s took effect, the overall total was fixed at only 160,000 or so immigrants a year. Moreover, different nations had different quotas. The quotas for immigrants from northern and western Europe were more than ample for the demand. The quotas for immigrants from southern and eastern Europe were very small.

Post World War 1 America Industry expanded during the Great War, making weapons, uniforms, and equipments, and it continued to expand after the war. Advertising encouraged many people to purchase consumer goods (automobiles, radios, telephones, etc.) “Mass production” methods led to the production of many affordable consumer goods. Could not afford these goods during the war Now, they could purchase on hire purchase (similar to credit)- meant people could spread the cost over months and even years. 1908 the average cost of a car was $850 and in 1925 $290 Henry Ford

Economic Upswing Unemployment was low Wages were up Many people found themselves with money to burn They began buying on credit and investing in the stock market, which was rising at a feverish pace New class of the wealthy, known as the Nouveau Riche (or New Rich) New rich were mixing with the old rich who despised the new rich for their lack of breeding.

The 18th Amendment Passed the act of prohibition, which made the consumption and possession of alcohol illegal. Volstead Act Andrew Volstead (Republican from Minnesota) Defined “beer, wine, or other intoxicating malt or vinous liquors” to mean any beverage with greater than 0.5% alcohol by volume Passed by Congress on October 28, 1919 over the veto by President Woodrow Wilson The general intent of the this Amendment was to lower crime and improve the general status of life. This is the only amendment that was ever repealed in 1933

Great idea, Mr. Volstead Crime increased as people rebelled against not being able to drink alcohol Illegal bars called speakeasies opened Bathtub gin & other forms of homemade alcohol

Mr. Capone thanks you Gangsters profited during this era Al Capone (“Scarface”) controlled speakeasies, bookie joints, gambling houses, brothels, horse and race tracks, nightclubs, distilleries and breweries at a reported income of $100,000,000 a year.

The 19th Amendment Grants voting rights regardless of the voter’s sex Ratified August 18, 1920 Opposed by Senate 2 different times (Sept. 1918 & Feb. 1919)

Flapper Lifestyle Modern woman Short, bobbed hair Baggy dress that exposed her arms and legs from the knee down Turned-down hose Use make-up Smoke Drink alcohol Dance “Fast” Almost a whole generation of young men died during the war, leaving women without possible suitors. Women started asking men out

F. Scott Fitzgerald Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on Sept. 24, 1896 Attended Princeton, but he neglected his studies to work on various literary magazines Dropped out and joined the army in 1917 Related to the author of the Nat’l Anthem

F. Scott Fitzgerald Fell in love with 18-year-old Zelda Sayre, the youngest daughter of an Alabama Supreme Court judge Hoped for the success of his novel, The Romantic Egotist --The novel was rejected After his discharge in 1919, he went to NYC to seek his fortune in order to marry Unwilling to wait and live on a small salary—Zelda breaks off their engagement WWI ended just before he was supposed to go overseas

Success! The publication of This Side of Paradise on March 26, 1920 made him famous almost overnight A week later, he married Zelda Sayre In October 1921, they had their only child, Frances Scott (Scottie) Fitzgerald They lived an extravagant life as young celebrities.

Life changes His plays flopped Spent money faster than he made it He wrote himself out of debt with short stories Suffered from alcoholism, but he wrote sober Moved to Paris in the spring of 1924

F. Scott Fitzgerald He wrote The Great Gatsby Marriage was damaged by Zelda’s involvement with a French naval aviator Zelda pursued a life-long dream of becoming a ballerina 3 years of intense work damaged her health Prompted her 1st mental breakdown Eventually, she was diagnosed with schizophrenia F. Scott Fitzgerald died on December 21, 1940

Works Cited A Brief Life of Fitzgerald http://www.sc.edu/fitzgerald/biography.html History Files—Al Capone http://www.chicagohs.org/history/capone/cpn1a.html The Jazz Age http://www.geocities.com/flapper_culture/ The Roaring 20s and the Great Depression http://www.historesearch.com/20sdep.html Women’s Suffrage http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAsuffrage.htm