The Roaring Twenties – “The Birth Scream of the Modern” I.What does “modern” America look like? A. Urban B. Secular (non-religious) C. Equality (for women, minorities) D. Consumer-driven economy E. Mobile II. Broad Changes A. Rural => Urban B. Religion => Science C. White Male Protestant dominated => Diverse
III.What trends and events demonstrated these changes? A. Urbanization 1. Fast-paced 2. Vice (gambling, drinking, dating, etc.) 3. High number of immigrants and African Americans. Quote from the 5.0 book: “…a tug that pitted what seemed to be a safe, small-town world of close ties, hard work, and strict morals against a big- city world of anonymous crowds, moneymakers, and pleasure seekers.” – p. 436
B. Failure of Prohibition 1. Mostly supported by rural, religious conservatives. 2. People in cities widely ignored it. 3. Immigrants drank as part of their culture.
C. Public embrace of science 1. Darwin - evolution 2. Freud - modern psychology 3. Einstein - modern physics
D. Changing roles for women 1. Dress 2. Behavior 3. Career Opportunities
WOMEN in 1900 WOMEN IN THE 1920s
E. The Harlem Renaissance 1. Expression of black culture centered in Harlem. 2. Development of African American pride and place in American society. III. What events exposed the tension between the traditional and the modern? A. The Scopes Trial B. The growth of the Ku Klux Klan C. Disregard for prohibition/organized crime D. Rise of religious fundamentalism. E. Race riots in northern cities.
We’re going to categorize the changes of the 1920s into 3 areas: Social Economic Technological
Clarence Darrow & Wm J. Bryan
1925: Anti-immigration march in N.J.
1923: Postcard sent to Madison, WI 1924: KKK Spring festival
Ku Klux Klan
50,000 KKK MEMBERS MARCHING
9) The “speakeasy’…
11) Al Capone “Scarface” Chicago- Italian gang leader.. “The most notorious gangster in the history of the nation”
Capone’s income by 1929… 100 million per year… $60,000,000 - Speakeasies, night clubs, distilleries & breweries $25,000,000 - Gambling $10,000,000 - Brothels $10,000,000 other rackets 600 gangster employees