The Arts in the 1920’s
The Lost Generation “Bohemians” and ex-pats in Paris “Bohemians” and ex-pats in Paris Hemingway “The Sun Also Rises” Hemingway “The Sun Also Rises” F. Scott Fitzgerald, “The Great Gatsby” F. Scott Fitzgerald, “The Great Gatsby” Willa Cather “My Antonina” Willa Cather “My Antonina” Sinclair Lewis “Main Street” Sinclair Lewis “Main Street”
The Harlem Renaissance Poet: Langston Hughes Poet: Langston Hughes Jazz: Jazz: Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Duke Ellington, Bessie Smith Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Duke Ellington, Bessie Smith
Flappers “Modern Women” “Modern Women” New Fashions, hairstyles New Fashions, hairstyles Morality questionable Morality questionable
Sports Stars and Entertainers Baseball becomes national pastime Baseball becomes national pastime Babe Ruth Babe Ruth Lou Gehrig Lou Gehrig
Popular entertainment Movies, Movies, “Talkies” from 1929 – Charlie Chaplin “Talkies” from 1929 – Charlie Chaplin Vinyl sound recordings “78’s” Vinyl sound recordings “78’s” Radio shows Radio shows Jazz Music: New Orleans to Chicago and NYC, other cities Jazz Music: New Orleans to Chicago and NYC, other cities
1920’s: Social Conflict
Gangsters Al Capone Al Capone Bootleggers and speakeasies Bootleggers and speakeasies Prohibition Prohibition
Politics 1919: Strikes, anarchist bombings, prohibition, temperance movement 1919: Strikes, anarchist bombings, prohibition, temperance movement Revolution in Russia Revolution in Russia : Red Scare, Palmer Raids : Red Scare, Palmer Raids
The revived Ku Klux Klan Came back to prominence in the teens and twenties Came back to prominence in the teens and twenties Peak of membership 1920’s Peak of membership 1920’s Supported by governors and senators Supported by governors and senators Claim: Warren G. Harding Claim: Warren G. Harding
Nativism Anti-foreigner backlash Anti-foreigner backlash Tied to recession of Tied to recession of Quota Acts of 1921 and 1924 Quota Acts of 1921 and 1924
Sacco-Vanzetti Case Italian immigrants in MA Italian immigrants in MA Speak broken English, Vanzetti is a radical Speak broken English, Vanzetti is a radical Convicted on flimsy evidence of murder/robbery Convicted on flimsy evidence of murder/robbery Sentenced to death 1921 Sentenced to death 1921 Despite international protest, executed 1927 Despite international protest, executed 1927
The Scopes Trial Tennessee 1925 Tennessee 1925 John Scopes, substitute teacher, on trial for teaching evolution in public school John Scopes, substitute teacher, on trial for teaching evolution in public school TN law forbade teaching evolution TN law forbade teaching evolution Theory of evolution contradicts literal Biblical story of creation in Genesis Theory of evolution contradicts literal Biblical story of creation in Genesis
The Scopes Trial William Jennings Bryan prosecutes William Jennings Bryan prosecutes Clarence Darrow, for the defense, calls Bryan to the stand Clarence Darrow, for the defense, calls Bryan to the stand Public opinion is divided; conservatives side with Jennings Bryan and TN Public opinion is divided; conservatives side with Jennings Bryan and TN Liberals, city-dwellers side with Scopes/Darrow Liberals, city-dwellers side with Scopes/Darrow