HOW WE LIVED…… What did the Census of 1920 tell us about how American society was changing? What areas of American economy were booming and what areas were suffering and declining? Along with the right to vote, what other changes came about for women in the 1920’s? How did the growing middle class measure success?

How We Lived – United Streaming

Women Before 1920 Women’s property was often under the control of her father, or her husband if she was married. If her husband died without a will, she would get nothing. Most women, particularly white women, did not work outside the home. They performed traditional domestic responsibilities of conserving food and fuel resources in the early part of the war.

Women During World War One Women joined the military and took the role as nurses. After men began to get drafted over 23,000 women entered war time industrial plants for the first time. These jobs consisted of shipment collectors, accountants, telephone operators, and steel mill workers. Women who worked outside their homes before the war had better job opportunities and where able to move from domestic services to industrial jobs.

The 19 th Amendment There was a view that women should not have the right to vote because it was not within her intellectual capacity to make reasonable judgment in an election. Finally after decades of suffrage in 1920 the 19 th amendment was passed and it gave women the right to vote. After women succeeded in traditional male jobs they began to demand better wages and more political rights.

Women’s New Rights 19 th amendment extended the rights of suffrage women. At first, male politicians who wanted to win the women's vote, passed legislation guaranteeing women's rights to serve on juries and hold public office. Congress also passed legislation to set up a national system of women's and infant's health care clinics, as well as a constitutional amendment prohibiting child labor--a measure supported by many women's groups. An Equal Rights Amendment proposed in 1923, was never passed.

Flappers Young women who came to represent the carefree attitude of the Jazz Age (1920s). They wore short skirts, bobbed their hair, smoked and drank, swore, and showed a general disregard for what was considered “decent” behavior by their elders.

Women’s New Fashion Women's fashion became a personal expressions of their budding independence. Some new fashion trends were seen as immoral to Victorian mothers and grand mothers. No more corsets. Clothing was less restrictive. In 1919 dresses revealed 10% of woman's bodies; by 1927 women's skirts raised to knee length leaving 25% of body bare. Body image became of greater importance. Dieting and exercise became important as women wanted to look good in the new fashions. Women's hairstyle went shorter to a “shingle bob” Women took on smoking which doubled the number of women smokers during the decade.

Swimwear of the 1920s Bathing “Costumes”1890s Bathing beauty Contest-1920

The 18 th AMENDMENT What was the “Noble Experiment”? How did Prohibition affect society during the 1920s? What were the unintended consequences of Prohibition? What were Speakeasies? What were bootleggers? How did they contribute to the problems created by Prohibition? Who was Al Capone? What was he finally arrested for? When did Prohibition end? What was the amendment which officially ended the “Failed Experiment”?

“A Nobel Experiment” Herbert Hoover PROHIBITION

18 TH Amendment Ratified in January, 1919, this amendment established Prohibition, making it illegal to manufacture, sell, or transport alcohol in the United States. Consuming it was never outlawed, as it was used for medicinal and religious purposes. What were the unintended consequences of the Prohibition Amendment?

Prohibition and Organized Crime Prohibition leads to a rise in organized crime. Criminal ‘elements’ organized because bootlegging was very profitable. Many Americans did not support Prohibition. Many ‘gangsters’, such as Al Capone became pseudo-celebrities. Over half of the cities police department was on the mob payroll. These gangs competed with each other for business which led to violence. Gang war became a common occurrence.

Speakeasies and Bootleggers Speakeasies –illegal taverns that sell liquor-are hidden saloons and nightclubs where ordinarily law abiding citizens go to purchase alcohol. You had to know the secret password to get in. Often policemen (“on the take”) would stop in for a drink too. Bootleggers smuggled illegal alcohol from Canada and Bermuda. They would hide it in the ‘boot’ (trunk) of a car, or their boot leg…therefore the name.

Moonshine “White lightening”- illegally produced alcohol made in home stills, mostly in southern states and the Appalachia regions.

“Scarface” Al Capone “Al Capone is America's best known gangster and the single greatest symbol of the collapse of law and order in the United States during the 1920s Prohibition era. Capone had a leading role in the illegal activities that lent Chicago its reputation as a lawless city.” He has been credited with turning Chicago into the most violent city in the US during Prohibition, although he hardly pulled a trigger once he became the boss. He was eventually arrested and charged with income tax evasion which he was convicted of and sentenced to 11 years in prison. St. Valentines Day Massacre-the most notorious gangster killing of the Prohibition Era

“The Failed Experiment” 21 st Amendment is ratified in 1933, repealing the 18 th Amendment-the only amendment EVER to be repealed. The Era of Prohibition ends. Even early supporters of Prohibition admit that it was a failed experiment.