1. From Riches to Rags – Roaring into the Great Depression 1920 - 1941

2. The Roaring Twenties / The Jazz Age The era of economic, social, cultural, and political changes Economy / Politics: Great economic growth and boom Widespread prosperity Boom in construction Rapid growth of consumer goods (car, electricity) Mass production Decline of workers in agriculture Credit available Laissez-Faire government Corrupt government

3. Society / Culture Lost Generation Consumerism Great changes in architecture, arts and fashion Leisure time is created - Film industry and celebrities Changing role of the women Modern, urban, secular society VS older, rural, conservative, and traditionally religious segment of society Monkey Trials For some return to old values Black Exodus - Harlem Renaissance – New Negro Hyper Patriotism “America must be kept American” Resurgence of the KKK

4. Prohibition 1920 - 1933 That Noble Experiment

5. The Temperance Movement Main reasons for the Temperance Movement (~1800): reduce crime and corruption solve social problems reduce the tax burden improve health and hygiene Became a powerful force during and after the war Found a lot of support Urged Congress to pass a law prohibiting the consumption of alcohol

6. The 18 th Amendment “After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.”

7. January, 1919, 18 th Amendment ratified October, 1919, Volstead Act (National Prohibition Act) passed Outlawed production and sale of alcoholic beverages (unless for religious or medical purposes.) Allowed manufacture, possession, and use of alcoholic beverages in private homes. Rise of bootlegging, speakeasies, creation of moonshine, and organized crime

8. The End of Prohibition Prohibition didn’t do what it was supposed to Instead of drunkards, the streets were filled with gangsters Accepting the failure of the “noble experiment”, the 21 st Amendment repealed Prohibition in 1933

9. The Great Depression Main causes Stock Market Crash (Black Thursday) Overproduction High Tariffs International Debt Weak European economy Drought in Midwest (Dust Bowl) Consequences Unemployment Mass migration through the country Bank failures and closures Government changes and more tariffs

12. Franklin Delano Roosevelt AKA: FDR Distant cousin of Teddy Roosevelt Suffered from Poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis) –Always believed in recovery “This country will endure. The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” Fireside chats to keep hope alive Eleanor Roosevelt: Redefined being the First Lady Brought hope and trust in government President from 1933 until April 12, 1945 (4 Terms) A leader with a smile

13. First Hundred Days – Relief Recovery Reform „we must act quickly“ „If I fail, I will be remembered as the last President of this country“ FDR and Congress develop an unprecendented number of measures aimed at –Relief for the unemployed –Recovery of the economy –Reform to regulate economy Trial and Error tactic – better than doing nothing New federal agencies and programs, creating jobs Unique political climate: almost TOTAL bipartisanship

14. NRA – National Recovery Administration

15. The Era in a nutshell  End of WWI ushered in a period of unprecedented prosperity, fortunes were made, and the value of stocks spiraled upward.  The stock market crash in 1929, followed by an unprecedented period of drought that struck the Midwest threw the country into the worst depression in history.  Under FDR’s “New Deal”, the federal government became involved to a greater degree in the national economy than ever before.  FDR believed that only massive government intervention could help out of the depression.  Through new government agencies, federal government tried to bring the country out of the depression.  While Americans did not abandon their faith in democracy, dictators arose in other countries, offering a different solution to the problem.