Chapter 31: American Life in Roaring Twenties

Oh no, it’s COMMUNISM Russia turns to Soviet Union and Communism in 1917 – What is communism? a : a theory advocating elimination of private property b : a system in which goods are owned in common and are available to all as needed – Simulation?

Red Scare Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer – Rooted out radicals, socialists, communists, anarchists – House was bombed – Led to anti- communist hysteria – Liberals and radicals not wanted in USA – Led to many conservative victories

Anti- Immigration Sacco and Vanzetti – Arrested and killed for murder – Murky details of case, probably innocent? – Shows anti immigration and anti radical feelings

KKK More “pro-white” than anti- African American WASP- White Anglo Saxon Protestant 5 million join in 20s Popular in “bible belt” of south Birth of A Nation

Stopping Immigration New Immigrants never really liked Emergency Quota Act- restrictions Immigration Act- more restrictions Immigration Act no Japanese Randolph Bourne and Horace Kallen led attacks on anti- immigration crusades

Questions! Why were we so fearful of Communism? How did America's nativism and isolationism get out of control? Construct an argument of a Nativist who supports anti- immigration measures. What are the underplaying cause and effects of this anti- foreign attitude? Make a chart.

Prohibition 18 th Amendment/ 21 st Amendment Largely ignored – Speakeasies, bootlegging, mafia – Led to increased organized crime, more binge drinking Benefits – Bank savings went up, skipping work went down, spousal abouse down, public drunkenness down

Gangsters Bribery, wars, murder, bootlegging Al Capone was most famous – Murdered as many as 30, jailed for tax evasion After Prohibition ended- gambling, drugs, etc Kidnapping was big as well – Charles Lindbergh’s baby

Scopes Trial Darwinism a fairly new idea Taught by John Scopes to challenge the law that said it can’t be taught – ACLU backed him Fundamentalists hated Darwinism – William J. Bryan won the case Fundamentalism wins

QUESTIONS – Is prohibition even possible? Did it make things worse? – Was Scopes right in teaching evolution? – Were prohibition and scopes liberal events or conservative events? Why?

Mass Consumption Machines perfected, Assembly line used Henry Ford’s Model T was first affordable car Advertising meets new demand Many new products invented and mass produced Sports were big business Credit used for first time Buy now pay later Huge economic upward swing