1. The 1920s

2. & election reveal about
End and Effects of WWI…
Desire for security at home & in the world
1920 Election:
Warren G. Harding was elected President
60% of popular vote
Campaign mantra: “America’s present need is not heroics, but healing…’normalcy’ ”
QUESTION:
What does this quote
& election reveal about
the American public?

3. Desire for Normalcy leads to…
Foreign Policy of Isolationism
U.S. did not join the League of Nations
Decided to reduce naval power
Increased tariffs to discourage foreign trade
Laissez Faire Economic Policies
Pro-business policies (ex: built miles of roads to support auto-industry, Ford Motors)
Federal interference with labor protests
Reduced regulation on hours, wages, working conditions
Demobilization – government stops paying companies for war supplies

4. Challenges to “Normalcy”…
Legacy of Progressive Reformers
Labor Unions, women, African Americans had all been empowered by Progressives to fight for change
Immigrants
Too many immigrants to ignore (over 20 million came between 1880 – 1920)
Rise in Popularity of “radical groups”
Anarchists, socialists, & communists wanted radical change
The era between WWI and WWII was filled with conflict
Between the desire for “normalcy” and the modernization
Of the American people.

5. Era of Experimentation
Behind the Fringe…
Innovation, Materialism, Fear, and Scandal
Most of all an
Era of Experimentation

6. is challenged by the legacy of the Progressive Movement and challenges
Election of 1920
First Presidential Election where women could vote (increased votes cast by 8.2 million)
Warren G. Harding was elected on “return to normalcy” campaign
Most famous for three scandals:
- “Ohio Gang” - Teapot Dome Scandal - Mysterious death in S.F at the Palace Hotel in 1923
“Return to Normalcy”
is challenged by the legacy of the Progressive Movement and challenges
of the modern world!

7. Fear motivated many political actions
Political Challenges
Fear motivated many political actions
Fear of another World War
Led to isolationism
Fear of Change
Rise of Nativism (leads to immigration reform)
First Red Scare (leads to Palmer Raids & Sedition Laws)
Rise in popularity of KKK (leads to increase in religious and racial persecution)
Debate over role of religion in politics (leads to Scopes Trial & Prohibition)

8. Question: Why would Americans
Anti-Immigration Movement
Mitchell Palmer (U.S. Attorney General) started the “First Red Scare”
Laws passed limiting civil liberties
He deported immigrants during the “Palmer Raids”
In 1921 & 1924 limits were placed on immigrants from Italy, Russia, and Slavic nations.
Fear and discrimination against immigrants & minority ethnic groups spread throughout the U.S. Ex: Sacco & Vanzetti Trial
Question: Why would Americans
dislike immigrants?

9. Experimenting with Moral Regulations
The 18th Amendment prohibited the manufacturing, sale, and transportation of alcohol
It was hard to enforce & unpopular
Led to the rise of bootleggers, speakeasies, & the mob
The 21st Amendment ended Prohibition in 1933

10. Calvin Coolidge Herbert Hoover Both Coolidge & Hoover
Harding’s Vice President
Became President in 1923 (after Harding’s death)
Elected in 1924 with slogan “Coolidge or Chaos”
Herbert Hoover
Republican elected in 1928
Believed in the individual & a small federal government
Both Coolidge & Hoover
focused on the economy

11. 1920s Economy Industrialization led to new innovations,
mass production , and the birth of American materialism.

12. Rise of Materialism
Companies focused on inventing & producing consumer goods
Examples: radios, automobiles, icebox, washing machine, vacuum cleaner
People buying goods using “credit”
mass production of goods = cheaper products
increased use of advertising to sell products
Car ownership grew 18 million from 1920 to 1930

14. Experiments in new style, culture, entertainment, and societal norms
Society & Culture
Experiments in new style, culture,
entertainment, and societal norms

15. Societal Norms
Increase in popularity of Civil Rights Organizations (NAACP, ACLU, Anti-Defamation League)
Women begin to challenge traditional roles & expectations
Questions: 1. Why do you think Civil Rights organizations would be increasing their popularity in the 1920s?
2. What do you think empowered women to challenge their traditional roles as wives/ mothers?

16. Entertainment
Radio - provides instantaneous access to news, entertainment, and sports
Sports – increase in popularity and athletes become heroes in society
Movies – first talking movies debut “talkies”
Cars– increase in availability & affordability of cars creates access to new entertainment opportunities
Question: How might the sense of prosperity impact the changes with entertainment?

17. Style & Culture Question: How might a national culture help change
“The Jazz Age”
The new music of the era set the stage for a unique era of cultural history
Literature – some of the most famous authors/books/poems written in 1920s
Harlem Renaissance – African American artistic movement that influenced American culture
Flapper – new style of fashion that represented the “new woman”
Dance – new trends & styles of dance challenged tradition
Question: How might a
national culture
help change
society?