Clash of Cultures? Old” Culture (or “ways of thinking”) Emphasized: “New” Culture (or “ways of thinking”) Emphasized: Production Idealized the Past ScienceReligion AbundanceScarcity Personality Character Consumption Looked to the future ImageSubstance Mass CultureLocal Culture

Social Changes of the ’20s: “Youth Culture”

“Youth Culture” For the first time ever, young people as a whole began to rebel against the values and authority of their parents/elders. The under-25 generation wanted fun and freedom, and they “experimented” with new fashions, attitudes, and ways of behavior. Young people stayed in school longer, and many more were going to college. As more youths were getting cars, “dating” replaced “courting” as the preferred method of match-making. This was, of course, a parents’ worst nightmare!

Youth Slang of the ’20s: All Wet - describes an erroneous idea or individual, as in, "he's all wet.“ Bank's Closed - no kissing or making out - i.e. - "Sorry, Mac, the bank's closed." Bimbo - a tough guy Bull - a policeman Bump Off - To murder, To kill Cheaters – Eyeglasses Ciggy - cigarette Daddy - a young woman's boyfriend or lover, especially if he's rich Dame - a female Pinch - To arrest Razz- to make fun of Sap - a fool Sheik – A good-looking man (from the Valentino movies) Spifflicated - Drunk. Take for a Ride - To drive off with someone in order to bump them off Tomato - a female Wet Blanket - a solemn person, a killjoy

Social Changes of the ’20s: “The New Woman”

Breaking Gender Roles During the ’20s, women took more active roles in their life than ever before. Women began to have more personal freedoms such as driving cars, playing sports, going to college, and taking jobs. Marriage began to be seen as an equal partnership. Although women still had to raise the children, there were now appliances to help them, like the washing machine.

Women’s Suffrage The 19 th Amendment gave women the right to vote in 1920.

The Flapper The most notorious “type” of woman from the ’20s is the flapper. A flapper was a young woman who embraced the fashions and urban attitudes of the 1920s. Flappers typically wore bobbed hair, makeup, and dresses that fell just below the knee. They were always willing to try something new, whether it was a new fashion, behavior, dance, or fad. Flappers were known to frequent bars and other nightclubs. They often did things that were “unlady-like” such as drink alcohol and smoke.

Social Changes of the ’20s: Prohibition and Organized Crime

The 18 th Amendment The 18 th Amendment passed in 1920 made it illegal to manufacture and sale alcohol in the US. This amendment was commonly called Prohibition. Although alcohol was illegal, many people went to speakeasies which were secret “underground” bars where they could get smuggled liquor.

Organized Crime Because alcohol was illegal in the US, it had to be smuggled in from Canada and other countries. The term bootleg was coined during this era because smugglers sometimes had to hide alcohol in their boots. Organized criminal gangs were responsible for smuggling in alcohol. One of the most famous was Al Capone. These criminal gangs constantly fought for control of the bootleg market. Prohibition ended in 1933, but organized crime did not.

Bootlegging: The Introduction of NASCAR Stock car racing in the U.S. has its origins in bootlegging during Prohibition, when drivers ran bootleg whiskey made in Appalachia region of the United States. Bootleggers needed to distribute their illicit products, and they typically used small, fast vehicles to better evade the police. Many of the drivers would modify their cars for speed and handling, as well as increased cargo capacity, and some of them came to love the fast-paced driving down twisty mountain roads.

Bootlegging: The Introduction of NASCAR The repeal of Prohibition in 1933 dried up some of their business, but by then Southerners had developed a taste for moonshine, and a number of the drivers continued "runnin' shine," this time evading the "revenuers" who were attempting to tax their operations. The cars continued to improve, and by the late 1940s, races featuring these cars were being run for pride and profit. These races were popular entertainment in the rural Southern United States.

Social Changes of the ’20s: African American Contributions

The Harlem Renaissance Since many African Americans had participated in military service and work in wartime industries during WWI, they had a renewed sense of freedom. Many migrated to large cities with Harlem (New York) having the largest black population. They brought with them new ideas and a new kind of music known as jazz. The Harlem Renaissance is the period of African American cultural growth between the 1920s and 1930s. Besides music and jazz, many artists, singers, sculptors, and scholars came out of the Harlem Renaissance.

The Calm Before the Storm: Seeds of Depression

The Presidents of the ’20s Warren Harding Calvin Coolidge Herbert Hoover

All 3 presidents supported: 1.Laissez-Faire Economics: Literally means “hands off” This is the idea that government should not interfere with businesses. 2.Isolationism: This is the belief that the US should stay out of the affairs of other nations.

Buying on Credit Many Americans began paying for things by buying on credit This is where consumers use credit and pay a small monthly payment instead of paying everything up front. Buying on credit caused many Americans to spend more money than ever before. All of these things were advantageous for Americans, but they would eventually lead to the Great Depression.