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America in the 1920s

America in the 1920s. The Decade of Change. 1920s Changes. What Changes? From War Economy to Peace Economy Increase in Social Unrest Rights and Opportunities for women and blacks Increase in Technology New Popular Culture. Why?

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America in the 1920s

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  1. America in the 1920s The Decade of Change

  2. 1920s Changes • What Changes? • From War Economy to Peace Economy • Increase in Social Unrest • Rights and Opportunities for women and blacks • Increase in Technology • New Popular Culture • Why? • With war came suspension of moral code = more freedom & individual morality • Less influence by religion & parents • Blacks = more dignity & women more independence

  3. Andrew Mellon – U.S. Sec. of the Treasury • Favored tax cuts for rich; believed in “trickle down” • Believed in rapid expansion of capital investment • Favored high tariff • Tax burden shifts to middle class

  4. The Republican Presidents

  5. 1920s Presidents • Warren Harding #29 • Businessman who promised a return to “normalcy” • Conservative economic agenda • Role of gov’t = make business more profitable; role = limited • Hostile to labor unions • Teapot Dome Scandal • Calvin Coolidge - #30 • The business of US is business” • Conservative • Supported prohibition • Favored payment of war debt

  6. 1920s Presidents • Herbert Hoover #31 • Led food admin during WWI • Businessman who criticized socialism • Supported some progressive ideas; supported labor unions; fed. reg. of radio • 1928 – “Poverty will be banished from the nation” • 1924 Dow Jones = 180; Sept. 1929 = 381 • By 1932 = 41

  7. Strikes & Red Scare • 1919 1 of 5 wage laborers went on strike • 1919 – Boston Police Strike • 1919 – United Mine Workers Strike • 1919 – Steel Workers Strike • Palmer Raids • 1917 communist rev. a success • People believed communists would settle all over world • 1919 – Att. General Arnold Palmer authorized raids on suspected communists; led to 4000 arrests; 250 sent back to Russia on boat “Red Ark”

  8. “Red Scare” Palmer Raids A Mitchell Palmer & J. Edgar Hoover vs. The ACLU

  9. Anti-Immigrant Feelings • Johnson Act • National Origins Act • Sacco & Vanzetti

  10. Anti-Immigrant Feelings • Johnson Act • 1921 – Emergency Quota Act • Immigration limited to 3% of nat. in US as of 1910 census; 357k total • Literacy Test Act 1917 – said immigrants had to read & write a language to get in; not nec. Eng. • Quota Act of 1924 – further limited immigrants to 2% of residents based on 1890 census; 164 total • National Origins Act • Set immigration limits @ 150k yr. • Each country had quota based on % of pop. In US in 1920 • Immigration from Asia prohibited • Immig. From W. hemisphere unlimited

  11. Sacco & Vanzetti • 1920 – Mass. Shoe co. payroll of 15k stolen by 5 guys • Guard & payroll officer killed; eyewitnesses said robbers looked Italian • Police checked anarchist’s list & found 2 Italians that looked suspicious • Both Sacco & Vanzetti had good alibis, but Sacco owned gun similar to one used • Judge often referred to them as “dagos” • Found guilty & executed in 1927

  12. Traditionalist vs. Modernists • Rise of the KKK • Scopes Trial

  13. Traditionalist William Jennings Bryan = prosecutor Revivalist protestants Fundamentalists who believed in literal interpretation of Bible Anti-immigrant Skeptical of science Modernist John Scopes = bio teacher who challenged Butler law which banned teaching evolution ACLU took case & hired Clarence Darrow Modernists wanted religion to interact w/ science Darrow able to make fund. Ideas look ludicrous; though he lost case Scopes fined $100.00, lost his job Fine overturned, but Scopes unable to appeal Scopes Trial

  14. The Scopes Trial

  15. Rise of the KKK

  16. The Ku Klux Klan • 1915 – The Birth of a Nation – Nation’s 1st full length film; glorified KKK • Klan motto = Native, white, Protestant supremacy • Harassed blacks, Jews, & Catholics • Tactics included physical intimidation, economic boycotts, arson • 100s of Klansmen elected to local gov’t offices • Almost 4 million members in 1925; then declined rapidly with internal corruption

  17. Prohibition • 18th amendment passed in 1919 & went into effect 1920 • Urban ethnic groups opposed prohibition (Germans, Irish, Italians) • Many brewed their own beer or distilled gin • Illegal saloons called “speakeasies” appeared everywhere • Organized crime grew & drinking increased 3xs • Much corruption w/in gov’t • Repealed in 1933 w/ 21st amendment

  18. The New National Popular Culture

  19. Installment Financing Installment buying increased Previously limited to large purchases – land/homes By 1920s you could buy all kinds of goods “on time” Many became over extended on credit Radio & Newspaper United American culture 90% of Americans had radios by 1929 KDKA of Pittsburgh = 1st radio station; gave results of 1920 pres. Election 1926 National Broadcasting Company set up chain of stations coast to coast (NBC) 1927 – Fed. Radio Comm. Established 1934 – FCC established (Fed. Communication Comm.) Influence: 10 million peeps could listen to same program @ same time – same ads, news, ideas – led to uniformity New National Culture

  20. w/ installment buying came the birth of advertising Businesses began to create a desire/demand for products not well known Businesses used psychologists to find what people wanted Sports Babe Ruth – NY Yankee Home run slugger Gertrude Ederle – 1st woman to swim English channel Charles Lindbergh – made 1st solo trans-Atlantic flight – 33 hrs. 29 min. Helen Wills – tennis; won 7 US Opens Red Grange, (football) Jack Dempsey – boxing Advertisement

  21. Movies & Music • 1915 – The Birth of a Nation = 1st film • 1927 – The Jazz Singer – 1st film w/ sound • Hollywood = movie capitol of world • Stars: Rudolph Valentino, Charlie Chaplin, Gloria Swanson • Jazz born in New Orleans: Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Bessie Smith

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