The Roaring 20’sThe Roaring 20’s

ModernSociety

Time of Great Change

Return toConservatism. Simpler past

The Roaring 20’sThe Roaring 20’sAn era of prosperity,An era of prosperity,

Cultural Conflict Cultural Conflict

RepublicansRepublicans

1920's collectively known as the "Roaring 20's", or the 1920's collectively known as the "Roaring 20's", or the "Jazz Age""Jazz Age"

in sum, a period of great change in American Society - in sum, a period of great change in American Society - modern America is born at this timemodern America is born at this time

for first time for first time the census reflected an urban societythe census reflected an urban society - - people had moved into cities to enjoy a higher standard people had moved into cities to enjoy a higher standard of livingof living

AgeAge of Prosperityof Prosperity Economic expansionEconomic expansion Mass Production Mass Production Assembly LineAssembly Line Age of the AutomobileAge of the Automobile

Ailing Agriculture…Ailing Agriculture…

an an agri. depressionagri. depression in early in early 1920's contributed to this 1920's contributed to this urban migrationurban migration

U.S. farmers lost agri. markets U.S. farmers lost agri. markets in postwar Europein postwar Europe

at same time agri. efficiency at same time agri. efficiency increased so more food increased so more food produced (more food = lower produced (more food = lower prices) and fewer workers prices) and fewer workers needed = incomes dropneeded = incomes drop

Demand for agricultural goods Demand for agricultural goods not rising as fast as productionnot rising as fast as production

so American farmers enter the so American farmers enter the Depression in advance of the Depression in advance of the rest of societyrest of society

Black Americans in this Black Americans in this period continued to live period continued to live in povertyin poverty

sharecroppingsharecropping kept them kept them in in de factode facto slavery slavery

1915 - 1915 - boll weevilboll weevil wiped wiped out the cotton crop out the cotton crop

white landowners went white landowners went bankrupt & forced blacks bankrupt & forced blacks off their landoff their land

Demographic change – Demographic change – movement away from movement away from farms, countrysidefarms, countryside

Blacks moved north to take Blacks moved north to take advantage of booming wartime advantage of booming wartime industry (= industry (= Great MigrationGreat Migration) - Black ) - Black ghettoes began to form, i.e. ghettoes began to form, i.e. HarlemHarlem

within these ghettoes a distinct Black within these ghettoes a distinct Black culture flourishedculture flourished

But both blacks and whites wanted But both blacks and whites wanted cultural interchange restrictedcultural interchange restricted

Marcus Garvey (Jamaican born Marcus Garvey (Jamaican born immigrant) established the immigrant) established the Universal Negro Improvement Universal Negro Improvement AssociationAssociation

believed in Black pridebelieved in Black pride advocated racial segregation b/c of advocated racial segregation b/c of

Black superiorityBlack superiority Garvey believed Blacks should Garvey believed Blacks should

return to Africareturn to Africa he purchased a ship to start the he purchased a ship to start the

Black StarBlack Star line line attracted many investments: gov't attracted many investments: gov't

charged him with w/fraud charged him with w/fraud he was found guilty and eventually he was found guilty and eventually

deported to Jamaica, but his deported to Jamaica, but his organization continued to existorganization continued to exist

Consumer EconomyConsumer Economy

Creating ConsumersCreating Consumers

Marketing – installment plansMarketing – installment plans Advertising – big business in the 1920sAdvertising – big business in the 1920s

– Prior to WWI - @ 500 mill, by 1929 – 3 billPrior to WWI - @ 500 mill, by 1929 – 3 bill– Targeted women, children, fear, hopesTargeted women, children, fear, hopes– Outrageous false claims, no laws yetOutrageous false claims, no laws yet– Saturday Evening Post – rural familiesSaturday Evening Post – rural families– Readers’ Digest – modern, urban lifeReaders’ Digest – modern, urban life– Time Magazine – condensed news of weekTime Magazine – condensed news of week

The Land of AutomobileThe Land of Automobile

Henry Ford – Model THenry Ford – Model T– Used Frederick Used Frederick

Taylor’s “scientific Taylor’s “scientific management”management”

– Assembly lineAssembly line» $850 in 1909 vs. $290 $850 in 1909 vs. $290

in 1924in 1924

– ““Auto-tourism,” Auto-tourism,” vacationing, vacationing,

– Contributed to develop Contributed to develop of a “youth culture”of a “youth culture”

Culture of the Roaring 20’sCulture of the Roaring 20’sRadio

1st commercial station in 1920: KDKA PittsburghWestinghouse,& RCA form NBC in

1927

Silent MoviesCharlie Chaplin

“Talkies”The Jazz SingerStarring Al Jolson

Mary Pickford“America’s Sweetheart”

By 1929, over 80 million went to movies

CelebritiesCelebritiesBabe Ruth &Ty Cobb

Jack Dempsey

Charles Lindbergh The Spirit of St. Louis

The 20’s The 20’s isis The Jazz AgeThe Jazz AgeThe Flappers

make upcigarettes

short skirts

MusiciansLouis ArmstrongDuke Ellington

WritersF. Scott FitzgeraldErnest Hemingway

ArtistsEdward HopperGeorgia O’keefe

The Jazz AgeThe Jazz Age

Expressed sadness, pain, joy of black Expressed sadness, pain, joy of black AmericaAmerica

Harlem’s Cotton Club – admitted only Harlem’s Cotton Club – admitted only white customers despite fact performers white customers despite fact performers were frequently blackwere frequently black

Big Band music – both black and white jazz Big Band music – both black and white jazz playersplayers

Harlem Renaissance – cultural center of Harlem Renaissance – cultural center of African American writers, artists, musiciansAfrican American writers, artists, musicians

I, Too – Langston HughesI, Too – Langston HughesI, too, sing America.I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.I am the darker brother.

They send me to the eat in theThey send me to the eat in the

KitchenKitchen

When company comes,When company comes,

But I laugh, eat well, and grow strong.But I laugh, eat well, and grow strong.

Tomorrow, I’ll be at the tableTomorrow, I’ll be at the table

When company comes.When company comes.

Nobody’ll dare say to meNobody’ll dare say to me

““Eat in the kitchen,.Eat in the kitchen,.

Besides, they’ll then see how Besides, they’ll then see how

Beautiful I am, and be ashamed – Beautiful I am, and be ashamed –

I, too, am America.I, too, am America.

1920's also brought about 1920's also brought about great changes for great changes for women...women...

1920 - 19th Amendment 1920 - 19th Amendment gave them the federal votegave them the federal vote

Alice Paul pressed on Alice Paul pressed on (although unsuccessfully” (although unsuccessfully” for ERAfor ERA

after 1920, social after 1920, social circumstances changed too circumstances changed too as more women worked as more women worked outside the homeoutside the home

and more women went to and more women went to college and clamoured to college and clamoured to join the professionsjoin the professions

women didn't want to women didn't want to sacrifice wartime gains - sacrifice wartime gains - amounted to a social revoltamounted to a social revolt

characterized by the characterized by the FLAPPER/ "new woman"FLAPPER/ "new woman"– (bobbed hair, short dresses, (bobbed hair, short dresses,

smoked in public...)smoked in public...)

The New Woman

The DisenchantedThe Disenchanted

The Lost GenerationThe Lost Generation– Personal alienationPersonal alienation– Contempt of materialism, Contempt of materialism,

consumerism, business as consumerism, business as usual, society devoid of usual, society devoid of idealismidealism

– War had been a fraudWar had been a fraud ““Debunkers” – savage Debunkers” – savage

ridicules of conformity of ridicules of conformity of middle class lifemiddle class life– H.L. MenckenH.L. Mencken

» American MercuryAmerican Mercury– Sinclair LewisSinclair Lewis

» Main Street, BabbitMain Street, Babbit

Ernest HemingwayErnest Hemingway

– A Farewell to ArmsA Farewell to Arms F. Scott FitzgeraldF. Scott Fitzgerald

– This Side of ParadiseThis Side of Paradise

– The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby T.S. EliotT.S. Eliot

– The Waste LandThe Waste Land William FaulknerWilliam Faulkner

– Sound and FurySound and Fury

A Society in ConflictA Society in Conflict Anti-immigrant Anti-immigrant Red ScareRed Scare Belief immigrants = Belief immigrants =

radicalismradicalism– 1921, Quota System 1921, Quota System

– 1924 National Origins 1924 National Origins ActAct

Sacco-Vanzetti TrialSacco-Vanzetti Trial– Italian immigrantsItalian immigrants

– Unfair trialUnfair trial

Re-rise of NativismRe-rise of Nativism

for immigrants – the point of origin for immigrants – the point of origin had shifted to S & E Europe and new had shifted to S & E Europe and new religions appeared: Jewish, religions appeared: Jewish, Orthodox, CatholicOrthodox, Catholic

N. European immigrants of early 19c. N. European immigrants of early 19c. feared this shift and felt it would feared this shift and felt it would undermine Protestant valuesundermine Protestant values

many wanted Congress to restrict many wanted Congress to restrict immigration, leading to a quota immigration, leading to a quota system that favored Northwestern system that favored Northwestern Europeans (quota based on 1890 Europeans (quota based on 1890 census not 1910 census)census not 1910 census)

fear of immigrants (from SE Europe) fear of immigrants (from SE Europe) led to a sentiment known as the Red led to a sentiment known as the Red Scare (fear of comm. post-Bolshevik Scare (fear of comm. post-Bolshevik Rev.)Rev.)

Communist advocates a int'l Communist advocates a int'l revolution by the revolution by the proletariatproletariat/workers - /workers - fears that this ideology could find its fears that this ideology could find its way into the U.S.way into the U.S.

at this time, W. at this time, W. Wilson was gravely Wilson was gravely ill following a strokeill following a stroke

his Attorney his Attorney General, General, A. Mitchell A. Mitchell PalmerPalmer, wanted to , wanted to take a shot at the take a shot at the presidency - he used presidency - he used fears of both fears of both immigrants and immigrants and communism to his communism to his advantageadvantage

he had he had J. Edgar J. Edgar HooverHoover round up round up suspected radicals, suspected radicals, many of which were many of which were deported (deported (Palmer Palmer RaidsRaids))

The Ku Klux KlanThe Ku Klux Klan Great increase

In power

Anti-black

Anti-immigrant

Anti-women’s suffrageAnti-bootleggers

Anti-Semitic

Anti-Catholic

Anyone who Posed challengeTo traditional values – anti divorce, bibles in school, etc

PurgeImpure aliens

Scopes “Monkey” TrialScopes “Monkey” TrialEvolution vs. Creationism

Dayton, TennesseeFamous Lawyers

Science vs. Religion

John ScopesHigh School Biology teacher

Religious FundamentalismReligious Fundamentalism

Religious Revivalism denouncing evils of Religious Revivalism denouncing evils of modern society, popular entertainmentmodern society, popular entertainment

Bible must be interpreted literallyBible must be interpreted literally Rejected teachings of Charles DarwinRejected teachings of Charles Darwin Attacked the Modernists, adapted religion Attacked the Modernists, adapted religion

to fit teachings of modern scienceto fit teachings of modern science– Evangelist Billy Sunday, Aimee Semple Evangelist Billy Sunday, Aimee Semple

McPherson McPherson

The Monkey TrialThe Monkey Trial

ACLU (free speech, expression) represented for ACLU (free speech, expression) represented for free anyone who would challenge Tenn lawfree anyone who would challenge Tenn law

Judge opened trial with a prayer, wouldn’t allow Judge opened trial with a prayer, wouldn’t allow expert testimony from evolution scholarsexpert testimony from evolution scholars

Clarence Darrow called Bryan to stand as “expert Clarence Darrow called Bryan to stand as “expert witness”, tricked him into admitting that religious witness”, tricked him into admitting that religious dogma can be interpreted differentlydogma can be interpreted differently

Fundamentalists appeared narrow-minded, foolishFundamentalists appeared narrow-minded, foolish

ProhibitionProhibition18th Amendment Volstead Act

Gangsters

Al Capone

PROHIBITION - on manuf. PROHIBITION - on manuf. and sale of alcoholand sale of alcohol

adopted in 1919 - adopted in 1919 - 18th 18th AMENDMENTAMENDMENT

an outgrowth of the long time an outgrowth of the long time temperance movementtemperance movement

in WWI, temperance became a in WWI, temperance became a patriotic mvmt. - drunkenness patriotic mvmt. - drunkenness caused low productivity & caused low productivity & inefficiency, and alcohol inefficiency, and alcohol needed to treat the wounded needed to treat the wounded

a difficult law to enforce... a difficult law to enforce... organized crime, speakeasies, organized crime, speakeasies, bootleggers were on the risebootleggers were on the rise

Al Capone virtually controlled Al Capone virtually controlled Chicago in this period - Chicago in this period - capitalism at its zenith…capitalism at its zenith…

Prohibition finally ended in Prohibition finally ended in 1933 w/ the 1933 w/ the 21st Amendment21st Amendment

forced organized crime to forced organized crime to pursue other interests…pursue other interests…

Republican Leadership

Many Americans believed Republican party more likely to restore stability

Dominated all branches of gov’t Favored business and social stability =

economic growth

Warren Harding (1921-1923)

Domestic Issues Normalcy Prom. Cabinet Pos.

– Herbert Hoover– Charles Evan Hughes– Andrew Mellon

Quota System (1921) Nat’l Origins Act (1924)

Teapot Dome Scandal– Sec. of Interior Albert Fall– Leased Oil reserves in

Wyoming in return for $2 mill bribe

Foreign Issues Fordney-McCumber Tariff

(1922) Opposed L of N Avoid entangling alliances Disarmament

– Washington Conference of 1921

– Dawes Plan

Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929)

Silent Cal, ““Keep Cool with Coolidge Restore dignity, prestige to Presidency Extremely minimal role for gov’t The chief business of American people is business Refused Hoover’s insistence to regulate buying of

stock on credit during 1920s Kellogg-Briand Act (1927): 15 nations pledged to

outlaw war (unrealistic, unworkable – no provision for enforcement)

The Election of 1928

Herbert Hoover Held Cabinet posts under

Harding & Coolidge Nat’l Food Admin. Favored Prohibition 1st time women vote made

huge impact Won by huge margin –

hoped “coolidge prosperity” would continue under Hoover

Alfred E. Smith 1st Roman Catholic to run Against Prohibition Urban area votes