American Culture in the Roaring Twenties (1920s) Post-World War I American Culture in the Roaring Twenties (1920s)

Famous Writers F. Scott Fitzgerald—wrote about high society life in the 1920s; famous novel—The Great Gatsby Ernest Hemingway—simple language, realistic details; famous novels—The Sun Also Rises; A Farewell to Arms; The Old Man and The Sea. Zelda Fitzgerald—wife of Scott; born in Montgomery, AL; she and her husband lived the lifestyle of the rich and famous of the 1920s that they both wrote about; she died in a fire in an insane asylum where she was being treated for schizophrenia.

Harlem Renaissance Beginning in Harlem, New York, in the 1920s, an increase in black racial pride and awareness led many black intellectuals to write works portraying the daily lives of working class blacks in the US. Famous writers of Harlem Renaissance Langston Hughes Zora Neale Hurston Claude McKay Jean Toomer

Jazz Age 1920s often called this; jazz and “blues” were both popular forms of music. Jazz and blues musicians Louis Armstrong Jelly Roll Morton W.C. Handy: born in Florence, AL; was a music teacher at Alabama A & M University and is considered the “father of the blues” Bessie Smith: known as the “empress of the blues”

Popular Forms of Mass Entertainment Radio—first station in Pittsburgh in 1922; people listened to comedies, westerns, mysteries, music, news and sports. Movies—first movie with sound, The Jazz Singer

Technological Innovations Automobiles Airplane Home appliances—vacuum cleaners, mixers, washing machines People had more leisure time People were able to travel for pleasure or business Automobiles and airplanes often influenced other areas of the economy: rubber, oil, gas, motels, restaurants

Women’s Issues Margaret Sanger—nurse in White Plains, New York Established the first birth control clinic in the US in Brooklyn, New York.

“Dark Side of the 1920s” Poverty Falling income in textile industry as skirts grew shorter Layoffs in railroad and mining industries Falling food prices hurt farmers’ income Child labor laws were not in place; children still worked in hazardous conditions for low wages Workers still worked in unsafe conditions, for low wages, at long hours; labor unions were not organized Prohibition of alcohol led to bootlegging and the growth of organized crime and mobsters. Blacks and immigrants faced discrimination Blacks faced racism throughout the country.

Racial and Ethnic Conflicts in the 1920s and 1930s

Red Scare Fear of Communism or Communist take-over, especially after Communists took over Russia in 1917 Between 1919-1920 the government arrested and jailed thousands of radicals; many were foreign-born; many had to be released because there was no evidence against them.

Sacco and Vanzetti Trial Two Italian immigrants, accused of robbery and murder in Massachusetts Were also atheists and suspected of being Communists Judge would not let them testify because they were atheists; they already faced prejudice against them because they were Italian. They were tried and executed in 1927—with doubts about the fairness of their trial.

Ku Klux Klan Activities Many white Protestants feared the growing power of blacks and catholic immigrants and joined the KKK in massive numbers KKK claimed to have 5 million members in the 1920s They worked to attack Jews, Catholics and blacks Used intimidation—cross burning, hate letters, having blacks or immigrants fired from their jobs, even lynching

Black Migration to Northern Cities After WWI many blacks moved north to find better jobs and better treatment. They were still allowed only the lowest paying jobs They were allowed to live only in certain areas, often in high-priced, low-quality housing.

Racial Violence From KKK—worst action would be lynching or hanging of blacks Race riots in Northern cities by whites against blacks for taking away their jobs Over 200 blacks killed in East St. Louis Anti-black riots in Washington, Chicago, Knoxville, Omaha

Immigration Laws of the 1920s During the 20s, the nativists (people afraid of foreigners) and the KKK led Congress to almost completely restrict immigration to the US from Eastern Europe, Southern Europe and Asia 1921—Congress passed the Emergency Quota Act, which set up a quota system favoring immigrants from Northern Europe. These immigrants from Northern Europe were generally light skinned and Protestant