Social, Technological, and Intellectual Changes

The Red Scare After WWI, the Russian Revolution brought a Communist government to power in Russia Americans feared the spread of communist ideas to the U.S.

Palmer Raids A. Mitchell Palmer and his agents hunted down communists, socialists, and anarchists Deported and/or jailed suspects without trial

Sacco and Vanzetti Italian born immigrants Convicted of murder based on circumstantial evidence Became the symbol of distrust of foreigners during the 1920’s

Sacco and Vanzetti

Decline of Labor Unions Labor unions declined in support because many had ties to communism

Radio New form of entertainment and communication

Airplanes Made transportation faster and more efficient

Charles Lindbergh Became an American hero when he flew a solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean

Jack Dempsey Became the heavy weight boxing champion and a U.S. hero

Babe Ruth Baseball star who captured America with his massive home runs Helped make baseball America’s game

Louis Armstrong Jazz musician who was perhaps the most important and influential musician in the history of jazz

Prohibition 1920, 18th Amendment passed that forbade the manufacturing and sale of alcohol in the U.S. Law was controversial and was in place until 1933

Speakeasies Places where alcohol could be purchased and consumed illegally during prohibition

Bootleggers A person who smuggled alcoholic beverages into the U.S. during Prohibition

Al Capone Chicago gang leader who made millions off bootlegging alcohol and running speakeasies

“Lost Generation” Disenchanted writers from the 1920’s Wrote about the pitfalls of materialism and greed of the 1920’s

Sinclair Lewis Became the first American to win the Nobel Prize for literature Criticized middle America

F. Scott Fitzgerald Writer who revealed the negative side of the 1920’s excess Most famous book, The Great Gatsby

Ernest Hemingway Former WWI veteran Wrote books that criticized the glorification of war The Sun Also Rises

Race, Religion, and Roles of Women

Harlem Renaissance A literary and artistic movement celebrating African-American culture Saw the rise of African-American poets, writers, artists, singers, and the birth of jazz

Langston Hughes Harlem Renaissance's best known poet who wrote about the difficult lives of working class African- Americans

Margaret Sanger Spread information about the controversial birth control pill Started the American Birth Control League

Fundamentalism The belief that everything in the bible is true Many people saw advances in technology and science as an attack on Christianity

Scopes Trial 1925 court case pitting the teaching of evolution against fundamentalism John T. Scopes was tried for breaking Tennessee law against teaching evolution Defended by Clarence Darrow Prosecuted by William Jennings Bryan Drew national attention and controversy