Brinkley, AMERICAN HISTORY: A SURVEY, 11/e Chapter Twenty-Four: The New Era

It was called the “New Era” because American popular culture reshaped itself to reflect urban, industrial, and consumer orientated culture.

The New Economy Economic Growth Sources of the Boom Explosion in manufacturing No challenge from Europe Mass production lowered costs Radio Trains and Aviation Early Computers

The New Economy Labor in the New Era “Welfare Capitalism” Provide Fringe benefits, shorter work weeks, pensions. This was to prevent union growth. Hard Times for Organized Labor Better times gave less incentive to join a union

The New Economy The “American Plan” Protecting the Open Shop Decrease in Union Membership A Philip Randolph-Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. AFL excluded African Americans

The New Culture Consumerism buying things for pleasure Growing Mass Consumption Social Impact of the Automobile Breaking Down Rural Isolation: The Expansion of Travel Horizons in Oregon, Illinois

The New Culture The Movies and Broadcasting Hollywood- Jazz singer Al Jolson. 1 st Talkie Radio – Most important communication innovation in the New Era. Gretta Garbo Douglas Fairbanks

The New Culture The Harlem Renaissance African-American Pride Langston Hughes “I am a negro and beautiful”

A Conflict of Cultures Prohibition Failure of Prohibition Alcohol and Organized Crime Rural Protestants continued to defend prohibition. Lost support of some middle class progressives. Anti-Saloon League at Washington, D.C., Dec. 8, 1921 (Library of Congress)

A Conflict of Cultures Nativism and the Klan National Origins Act of 1924 –Banned immigration from East Asia Many Felt the Ban would promote productive operation of society. Sources of Immigration, Total Immigration,

The New Klan opposed Protestants not living pure lives Blacks and Jews Anyone against “traditional values” Catholics and foreigners

A Conflict of Cultures Religious Fundamentalism Creationism Scopes Monkey Trial Modernists won a victory when Clarence Darrow made Bryan Admit that not all religious doctrine Was subject to a single interpretation.

A Conflict of Cultures The Democrats’ Ordeal Election of 1924 Al Smith and 1928 Democrats could not win Because of tensions Between the rural and Urban wings. Election of 1928

Republican Government Harding and Coolidge Teapot Dome Calvin Coolidge

The Harding Administration Could not grasp presidential responsibility Gambling, alcohol and women Loyalty to the “Ohio Gang” Lack of Self Confidence.

The Coolidge Administration Gov of Mass Reputation for being honest Puritanical-believed that government should not interfere with the life of the nation. Lower Taxes.

Republican Government Government and Business During the 20’s Sec. of the Treas. And Herbert Hooves Sec. of Commerce were most active in using government policy to help business and industry.

Herbert Hoover Most important member of the Harding and Coolidge adm. One of the more progressive republicans of the 1920’s Believed in business “associationalism” – companies should work together He was seen as a personification of the modern, prosperous business class. His presidency would see the demise of the “New Era” as the United States entered its longest and most severe economic crisis.