Social and Cultural Tensions EQ: How did Americans differ on major social and cultural issues?

Modernism vs. Fundamentalism old North-South division of the nation was replaced by a new urban-rural division new emphasis on science and non-religious values Was strongest in cities Fundamentalism emphasized Protestant teachings especially that the Bible is the literal word of God skeptical of the modernists faith in science to solve society’s problems was strongest in rural areas Billy Sunday crusaded against alcohol, communism, gambling, dancing, promiscuity he believed that Prohibition would end all sin Why was modernism stronger in the cities and Fundamentalism stronger in rural areas? What issues will these opposing view pointes create? Why?

Modernism vs. Fundamentalism Scopes Monkey Trial, 1925 TN made it illegal to teach evolution, which John Scopes did the trial became a battle between modernism and fundamentalism Clarence Darrow of the ACLU defended Scopes William Jennings Bryan led the prosecution Why does this trial become the “show down” between fundamentalists and modernism?

Nativism – The “Red Scare” Palmer Raids, 1919-1920 A. Mitchell Palmer (Attorney General) created the FBI with J. Edgar Hoover to search for Communists mail bombs exploded in 8 cities in the same hour, one blew off the hands of a maid in Palmer’s home 4,000 - 10,000 were arrested, beaten or deported the government ignored the Bill of Rights in favor of getting rid of the “Reds” Why did communism scare the U.S. so much?

Nativism & Immigration: The Quota System a set number of people that are allowed to immigrate in one year Italian immigration plummeted from 200,000 to 4,000 per year the Emergency Quota Act, 1921 -limited immigration to 3% of the nationality in the US in 1910 the National Origins Act, 1924 -limited immigration to 2% of the nationality in the US in 1890 banned all Asian immigrants but not Latin Americans Why do you think there was such as serge of nativism in the 1920’s? Do we still see nativism in today’s society?

Nativism & Racism Ku Klux Klan, 1915 “defenders of WASP values” blamed Jews, blacks, Catholics, immigrants for everything had over 5 million members before the group collapsed in late 1920s

Combating Nativism American Civil Liberties Union, 1920 formed to protect the rights of accused communists uses law suits and Congress to protect people’s basic freedoms Anti-Defamation League, 1913 formed to protect the rights of Jewish People more broadly it fights against bigotry and prejudice for all people How effective do you think these type of organizations are in helping minorities in the United States? Do we still need organizations like this today? If so what issues do you think they should focus on in order to improve American lives?

Nativism (video) Sacco and Vanzetti Trial, 1921 two Italians accused of murder the evidence was thin but they were anarchists and had dodged the draft in WWI judge declared their guilt before the trial began and they were electrocuted in 1927 anti-foreign sentiment made their trial a farce Don’t Copy

Prohibition Eighteenth Amendment, 1919 Volstead Act, 1919 changed alcohol laws from state to federal authority Volstead Act, 1919 banned sale, transportation, and manufacture of alcohol allowed less than 3% alcohol content and had a religious exception

Prohibition Prohibition’s Legacy alcohol was smuggled into the US from Canada and Mexico organized crime grew in wealth and power political officials and law enforcement were bribed Attorney General sold liquor licenses Harding drank at parties in the White House more acceptable for women to drink in public combination of speakeasies and flapper culture

Prohibition Al Capone St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, 1929 most famous mafia leader based in Chicago controlled bootlegging from Canada to Florida over 10,000 Chicago speakeasies jailed in 1932 for tax evasion and was put in Alcatraz died in 1950 St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, 1929 public outrage led to more pressure on organized crime Capone tried to wipe out his rival Bugsy Moran Murray the Hump, Jack “Machine Gun” McGurn 7 men were shot to death in the middle of the day by mafia dressed up like the police What were the arguments for and against prohibition? Do they share any similarities? (229-230) Why did prohibition lead to the development of so much crime?