Roaring Twenties

Signs of Trouble!!

Under the surface of the good times millions were “steadily sinking…”Many Americans did not share in the boom of the 1920s:

Coal workers faced hard times, oil replaced coal.

Workers in the clothing industry suffered due to changes in women’s fashion

Farmers suffer• During WWI, European

countries needed American farm products– prices went up!

• After WWI, Europe was able to produce for their own needs- prices went down

• Farmers were unable to pay off their debt.

Labor Unions Suffer• After WWI workers

demanded high wages Owners were unable to meet the demands

• Workers went on strike• The US government did not

support these strikes.

The Red ScareAfter WWI, many Americans are afraid of communists and Anarchists. – Communists: an economic and

political system in which the government controls the means of production. Single party rules by force and oppression.

– Anarchist: people who oppose organized government.

Sacco & Vanzetti TrialThe Red Scare reaches a climax with the trial of two Italian Immigrants Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti. – Both are tried for murder.– Despite little evidence, both are

convicted and sentenced to death. – US is fearful of immigrants who

could be communists and anarchists.

Sacco & Vanzetti

Limits on Immigration• Americans did not want

Immigrants– Fear of losing jobs and

lowering wages– Fear of anarchist and

communist• Quota Act of 1921

– Placed limits on immigration

Social Conflict

1925 Scopes Trial • John Scopes,

Biology Teacher• Creationism vs.

Evolution • Trial gains National

Attention• Old vs. New Social

Values

Social ConflictGreat Migration• Many Blacks leave the

segregated South to find work in the North and West.

• Ku Klux Klan has its highest membership of all time.

• Marcus Garvey starts the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). – Back to Africa Campaign

Marcus Garvey

1927 – 50,000 Ku Klux Klan members

march on Washington, DC

Election of 1928

Republican- Herbert Hoover

Democrat- Alfred E Smith

1928 Election• Herbert Hoover wins by a land slide