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Published byAnthony Anthony Modified over 9 years ago
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Themes (Major Topics) of the 1920s
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Immigrant v. American Change Technology Basis of Conflicts Urban v. Rural Wet v. Dry (Alcohol or not?) Leisure Time Religion v. Science African- American Experience Women’s Roles
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After WW1 (1919-20) Fear of foreign Ideas & targeting immigrants (Red Scare) Ku Klux Klan Protect “pure” America Nation wide worker strikes & bombings Want to forget war & get back to normal Gov’t hunts down radicals Laws to reduce immigration Expel & arrest immigrants
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"Come unto Me, Ye Opprest!" Literary Digest, 7/5/19. Fear that Radical Immigrants from Europe threaten liberty
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The Red Scare 1919-20 Fear of foreign Ideas & targeting immigrants (Red Scare ) The fear that revolution and anarchy would come to America – Hatred switches from Germans to all immigrants – 1919 – Bombing plot exposed – 36 to kill famous & wealthy Americans – 1919 – 8 bombs explode at same time in 8 cities – 3600 strikes by workers nationwide America is hysterical. Conflicts
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The Red Scare 1919-20 Fear of foreign Ideas & targeting immigrants (Red Scare) Government targets immigrants & radicals – US Gov’t illegal Palmer Raids arrest thousands – Sacco & Vanzetti convicted of murder. Some say executed b/c they are anarchist Italians. – U.S. ship nicknamed the “Soviet Ark” ships 300 radical immigrants back to Europe. Gov’t passes laws to slash Eastern European immigration. Gov’t hunts down radicals Laws to reduce immigration Expel & arrest immigrants
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The Gauntlet Flung Down. 5/21/19. Anarchy uses terror to threaten a free nation
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By 1925, 5 million members – midwest & South Main targets are immigrants, Catholics, Jews, evolutionists, drinkers and sinners. Want to get rid of immigrants from Italy, Poland, Russia. Ku Klux Klan Protect “pure” America Conflicts
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Obsession with buying “things ” Want to forget war & get back to normal Spectator sports grow Cities boom – jobs and fun Consumer culture & Free Time Cars, radios, movies, appliances Change Growth of Advertising
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Economy robust during 1920s – European nations crippled by WW1. High incomes and production – Money to spend on cheap cars (assembly line/Ford) – Consumer credit - crazy buying of goods like radios – Hollywood / movies grow due to technology and demand – City population grows – jobs & entertainment – US is connected through technology; rapid spread of fads & ideas; Want to forget war & get back to normal Consumer culture & Free Time Change
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tr Conflicts b/w traditional and new values Prohibition Religion vs. Science Scopes Trial Evolution v. Fundamentalism Purify America Wets v. Drys City v. Country Lack of Gov’t enforcement Rise of Mafia
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Dayton Tennessee Scopes “Monkey” Trial 1925 TN outlawed teaching evolution in schools – South is strongly religiously based – belief in literal reading of the Bible. (fundamentalist) – Northern city folk trend toward science Scopes opts to be arrested – can a government dictate a religious belief? Turns into a media circus Scopes convicted – but religious beliefs seen as anti-science & intolerant Religion vs. Science Evolution v. Fundamentalism City v. Country
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Congress passes law in 1919 (18 th Amendment to the Constitution) – repealed 1933 Not enough police! – City people ignore the law – Illegal speakeasies (bars) all over cities. – Mafia gangsters compete for control of cities & provide illegal liquor. It does reduce alcoholism and wife abuse Prohibition Purify America Wets v. Drys City v. Country Conflicts
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Women’s Changing Roles 19 th Amendment – The Right to Vote Independence & Opportunities The “New” Woman & Flapper Jazz. Speakeasies and Jobs Conflict Change Social, Political, Work Discrimination
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Women’s fight for the vote took 100 years Protests in 1910s led to arrests and abuse Law passed in 1920 (19 th Amendment) The “New Woman”/Flappers worked in limited jobs for less pay – They challenged ideas of “proper” behavior – most women looked down on them as immoral. Independent & willing to divorce Women’s Changing Roles
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African- American Experience Competition for Jobs, Housing Harlem (NY) Renaissance Racial Conflict / Riots in Multiple Cities Great Migration from South to North Escape Racism, lack of jobs in South Black Pride Jazz Music & Clubs popular Literature and Art
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Great Migration – from South to North to escape prejudice, discrimination – Seek better wages & living conditions – need for workers during WWI (immigration drops) – Racial conflict over housing, jobs Harlem Renaissance – Black cultural pride in music, art, literature – White acceptance of aspects of Black culture – Struggle for political and economic equality African- American Experience
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