1. Social & Cultural Tensions
Chapter 7 Section 3

2. Lecture Focus Question
How did Americans differ on major social and cultural issues during the 1920’s?

3. Traditionalism vs. Modernism
Split between urban and rural communities
Urban areas
New consumer products & leisure activities
Questioning of traditional values
Openness toward social change
Modernism: growing trend that emphasized science and secular values over traditional ideas about religion
Rural areas embraced traditional views of religion, science, and culture

4. Importance of Education
Rural Areas
Master 3 R’s
Knowledge of crops and animals were more important that “book learning”
Urban Areas
Mental ability was seen as essential for success
Emphasis on mastery of math and languages

6. Clash Over Evolution
Fundamentalism: belief that the Bible is literally true, no errors
Strong in rural areas
Scopes Trial: Tennessee schoolteacher tried for teaching Darwin’s theory of evolution in public school
Bryan vs. Darrow
Clash between rural and urban areas played out in court

7. The New KKK
Attempted to turn back the clock to what they saw as simpler and better times
Still targeted African Americans
Also targeted Jews, Catholics, immigrants, lawbreakers → immorality
“The Invisible Empire”
4 to 5 million members
“Grand Dragon,” “Imperial Wizard”

8. “The Noble Experiment”
18th Amendment: Prohibition
Main goals:
Eliminate drunkenness that resulted in abuse
Eliminate prostitution and gambling
Volstead Act: enforced the 18th amendment
“Dry’s” vs. “Wet’s”
Bootlegger: supplier of illegal alcohol
Speakeasies: bars operating illegally
Led to a rise in organized crime

9. Prohibition & Crime Bootlegging became a complex operation
Local gangsters began joining forces
Gang wars and murder became commonplace

10. Lecture Focus Question
How did Americans differ on major social and cultural issues during the 1920’s?