1. Domestic Issues of the 1920s
Social Tensions and Beyond

2. Fundamentalism Movement
Promoted by rural America; preserve and maintain traditional religion as center of life
Felt threatened by the changing values of society
Believed in literal interpretation of the Bible
This movement was tied to:
Evolution Trial
Prohibition

3. Scopes or ‘Monkey’ Trial
1925 it was illegal in Tenn. for any public school teacher to teach evolution
John Scopes, biology teacher, had himself arrested for teaching evolution
Promised free counsel by American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
W. J. Bryan: Prosecutor
Clarence Darrow: Defense Attorney
Scopes convicted, fined $100 but many states repealed anti-evolution laws

4. Clarence Darrow
William J. Bryan

6. Prohibition ( )
Forbidding by law of the manufacture, trans., sale and possession of alcohol
Extension of Progressive Movement
Anti Saloon League & W.C.T.U
18th Amend. (1919) changed by 21st Amend. (1933)
Violent and unsolved crime rate increased
Presidents didn’t back it and enforcement was hard
Rise of Mafia (Organized Crime)
Las Vegas emerged as growing city

7. ‘Modern’ Ku Klux Klan Widespread Prejudice:
Hated Jews, blacks, Hispanics, Catholics, Orientals, Immigrants
Political Power:
4 million strong
Similar to Nazis – same type of personalities & leadership
Americans usually reject the extreme views

8. Immigration Policies
Prior to 20s: no restrictions for entry (except Chinese Exclusion Act 1884)
Immigration Act of 1921
Limited entry to 3% of total persons of each nationality already in U.S.
Immigration Act of 1924
Limited entry to 164,000 in any one year
Immigration from East Asia was banned
Immigration Act of 1929
Limited entry to 150,000 in any one year

9. Material Culture Consumerism Motion Picture Industry Radio Leisure
Sports
Jazz Age