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The Booming 1920s: A Decade of Change and Contrasts

Explore the transformative decade of the 1920s, from economic booming with Henry Ford's innovation to social challenges like Prohibition, Scopes Trial, and farming woes. Dive into the jazz age, Harlem Renaissance, and political scandals of the era.

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The Booming 1920s: A Decade of Change and Contrasts

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  1. The 1920’s

  2. A Booming Economy • Carmaker Henry Ford introduced a series of methods and ideas that revolutionized production, wages, working conditions, and daily life. (Model T) • Ford introduced the assembly line as a way to boost output.

  3. Stock Market • Buying on installment plans – First time in history that consumers can buy products on credit… make payment (installments) • Bull Market – When stock market prices go up for an extended period of time. • Buying on margin – Buying stock on credit.

  4. The Teapot Dome Scandal • Involved Sec. of the Interior Albert Fall. • Arranged for the transfer of oil, that was to be used for emergency use by the navy, to private oilmen. • Fall sent to prison after a Senate investigation.

  5. Scopes Trial • Trial on the teaching of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution in public schools. • Tennessee teacher was arrested for teaching it and put on trial. • Eventually found guilty but only fined $100.00.

  6. Prohibition & Crime • Prohibition was the banning of alcohol use. • In 1919, the 18th Amendment was ratified to forbid the manufacture, distribution and sale of alcohol anywhere. • The Volstead Act officially enforced the 18th Amendment. • The bootlegging industry was a feeding ground for organized crime.

  7. What about the 1920s? • 1920s was known as the “Roaring Twenties” or Jazz Age. • Modern America is considered to be born at this time. • For the first time, the Census will reflect on an Urban Society • People who moved in and lived in cities enjoyed a higher standard of living.

  8. Problems for farmers • Agricultural depression in early 1920's contributed to this urban migration • U.S. farmers lost agricultural markets in postwar Europe • At same time agricultural efficiency increased, so more food produced (more food = lower prices) and fewer laborers needed • Farming became less prosperous, and bankers called in their loans (farms repossessed) • So American farmers enter the Depression earlier than the rest of society

  9. Farming Continued • Black Americans in this period continued to live in poverty • Sharecropping kept them in de facto slavery • 1915 - boll weevil wiped out the cotton crop • White landowners went bankrupt & forced blacks off their land

  10. African-Americans in the south • Blacks moved north to take advantage of booming wartime industry(Great Migration) • Communities known as “ghettos” began to for in certain areas in cities. • But both blacks and whites wanted cultural interchange restricted

  11. Warren G. Harding • Elected 1920 • Legacy of Scandals • “Teapot Dome” • Oil scandal in Teapot Dome, WY. • Accepting bribes from oil companies • Died in office (August 2nd, 1923)

  12. Calvin Coolidge • President after the death of Harding. • Not very helpful to farmers • Fordney-McCumber Tariff • Higher tariffs on American goods to protect factories and farms. • Promoted foreign trade with Europe. • Smoot-Hawley Tariff • Many believed this was a pre-cursor to the Depression. • Very quiet president.

  13. Marcus Garvey • Established the United Negro Improvement Association (Strong belief in Black Pride • Advocated racial segregation b/c of Black superiority • Garvey believed Blacks should return to Africa • Purchased a ship to start the Black Star line • Attracted many investments: gov't charged him with w/fraud • Found guilty and eventually deported to Jamaica, but his organization continued to exist

  14. Consumer Economy

  15. Culture of the 1920s

  16. Famous Celebrities Babe Ruth Ty Cobb Jack Dempsey Charles Lindbergh

  17. Impact of Radio and Movies • First movie with synchronized sound released in 1927. • Radio provided live broadcasts to millions of homes. (sports, news, shows, etc.)

  18. Harlem Renaissance • Louis Armstrong, famous trumpet player • Also started scat, singing that sounds like a musical instrument. • Duke Ellington, famous music composers and writer. Wrote over 2000 songs. • Tin Pan Alley – Area in Manhattan that housed many musicians/songwriters and music publishers of the time. The U.S. music industry takes on this name for many years as well.

  19. The Harlem Renaissance • Jazz played a major role in giving the Harlem Ren. a sound that was truly American. • Gave many African Americans a voice and altered the way many white Americans viewed African Americans. • Langston Hughes served as the literary voice of the Harlem Ren.

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