The Roaring 20’s

New Roles for Women 19 th Amendment ratified in 1920 – gave women right to vote Women generally voted the same as the men in their lives – Didn’t bring the change people had suspected

Many women resumed jobs during economic boom of the 1920’s – Mostly low paying professions Nursing Teaching Domestic servants Secretaries Women also started attending college in record numbers – Especially those in middle and upper class

The Flapper

Changing opportunities for women brought about changing attitudes – Including: basic rules defining proper behavior for women The Flapper – Defied traditional ideas of proper dress and behavior – Cut hair – Wore makeup – Smoked cigarettes – Drank alcohol – Went out dancing all night – Became a new mode of popular dress

The Flapper Also became a popular image reflecting the changes affecting women – Suggested freedom and independence But some women didn’t approve, especially – Women in rural areas Only seen pictures in magazines Conflicted with conservative values – Older supporters of women’s rights Thought flappers disgraced the work that had been done to advance the cause of women

New Roles for Women A woman’s major role was to care for children and the home Still depended on men for financial support Did seek greater equality in their relationships with men

Urbanization Farmers experiencing hard times flocked to cities for new jobs 1920 census showed for the first time that more Americans lived in urban areas than rural areas – In 2008 – 79.2% urban, 20.8% rural – 75% of Americans worked somewhere other than a farm Access to cars shrunk the distance between the country and the city – Rural people less isolated, changed outlook

Education The shift to the cities provided access to education States passed laws requiring young people to go to school – Got children out of factories – Opened up new jobs School attendance, college enrollment increased

Intolerance Urban and rural values clashed in the 20’s Rural dwellers disapproved of many parts of urban life Ku Klux Klan grew because of the differences in values – Drew lots of members from rural America – Targeted African-Americans, Catholics, Jews – Membership peaked in 1920’s In the millions

Fundamentalism Changes of the time attracted many people to religion FUNDAMENTALISM became very popular – Form of Christianity based on a literal interpretation of the Bible – Condemned radicals and criticized the changing attitudes of women

Fundamentalism vs. Evolution Fundamentalism conflicted with modern science – Especially Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution Fundamentalists believed evolution undermined religious faith Tried to prevent teaching evolution in schools Several states passed laws outlawing teaching evolution Law passed in Tennessee in 1925 made it illegal to teach evolution

Scopes Trial Tennessee teacher John Scopes arrested for teaching evolution People all over the country followed his court case On one side it was argued that teaching of evolution was a matter of free speech On the other side it was argued that the ideas of evolution competed with Christianity Scopes was convicted Law remained in place until 1960

The Scopes Trial

Prohibition Through history many groups tried to outlaw alcohol – Thought it was a source of unhappiness, hurt families, promoted crime In 1900’s the Progressives tried to outlaw it WWI led to support for the ban – Wartime called for discipline – Need for grain Banning alcohol promoted family stability Progressives – joined the movement WWI – need for discipline, grain

Prohibition Banning alcohol promoted family stability Progressives – joined the movement WWI – need for discipline, grain Immigrants and changing urban lifestyle criticized for abuse of alcohol States passed restrictions on alcohol By 1917 over 50% of states passed some form of restriction on alcohol use – Encouraged by Fundamentalists

Prohibition 1917 – Congress proposed constitutional amendment making it illegal to manufacture, transport or sell alcohol 1919 – Amendment ratified 1920 – Volstead Act passed to enforce the amendment – Prohibition became the law of the land

Prohibition Banning alcohol promoted family stability Progressives joined the movement WWI – need for discipline, grain Immigrants and urban lifestyle criticized for abuse of alcohol States passed restrictions on alcohol 1917 Congress proposes 18 th Amendment 18 th Amendment ratified in 1919 Volstead Act passed in 1920 to enforce prohibition

Prohibition Virtually impossible to enforce Making, transporting, selling alcohol illegal, but drinking it was NOT Gave rise to huge smuggling operations – 2 nd biggest industry in Detroit in 1920’s – Smugglers - BOOTLEGGERS – Illegal bars that served alcohol – SPEAKEASIES

Prohibition 1925 – only 5% of liquor entering country had been stopped Illegal liquor business – foundation for great criminal empires – Al Capone – Chicago Federal government couldn’t compete with criminals Prohibition continued through the 1920’s without success – Damaged government prestige

Prohibition