The Roaring 1920s and the Great Depression: A Cultural Shift

1. Bell Ringer 3/1/06 “ We return. We return from fighting. We return fighting.” (W.E.B DuBois) What is this quote referring to? Why did this quote prove to be true?

2. What was life like during ?

3. Post War America

4. 1920’s Culture • The flapper • Short hair for women • Dancing & Music • Speakeasies • Silent movies “The Jazz Age was wickedand monstrous and silly.Unfortunately, I had a good time.”Heywood Broun

5. How did technology impact society? • 15 million cars were sold • 80% were bought on credit • A Model T Ford cost $290 in 1920 • 20% of U.S. homes had electricity by the end of the decade • 10 million families owned radios by 1929 • Shifting of America from a rural country to an urban country

6. Leisure Time??? • Shorter work week and vacation time – more free time to enjoy: • Movies • Reading • Sports • Music

7. Too much of a good thing???? • Mass consumption, changing values, new technologies – are they always good??? • Many said NO • Harlem Renaissance benefited and reacted against it

8. Harlem Renaissance /Jazz Age • African American writers in NYC • Well-educated • Middle class group • Alienated from society • Spoke against the bigotry on the time and pride in African American culture • W.E.B DuBois, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Alain Locke, Duke Ellington, Bessie Smith

9. THE FLAPPERby Dorothy Parker The Playful flapper here we see,The fairest of the fair.She's not what Grandma used to be, --You might say, au contraire.Her girlish ways may make a stir,Her manners cause a scene,But there is no more harm in herThan in a submarine.

10. Women in the 20s……. • By 1929, made up 22% of the workforce • 90% of married women did not work • Work available to women were low paying and of lower status • Voted in 1920 election – not very many participated • Majority were not flappers, but were helped by the technology • Family size smaller, divorce laws still favored men

11. Immigrants in the 20s …… KKK Quotas Nativism

12. Struggle of OLD vs. NEW • Prohibition • Minorities • Cultural Values • Women • Scopes Trial • Modernization of society • Religion not as important

13. Who’s Who • Hand in: • #1 Project • #2 Sources • #3 Rubric with your name on it!!!!

14. Harding (1920 – 1923) Former Newspaper Publisher and not experienced in politics Scandals – theft of Veteran supplies, fraud, Teapot Dome Scandal (bribery and oil reserves) Coolidge (1923 – 1928) Laissez-faire economic policy and committed to business interests Small recession – post war decline 1923 – 1929 business booming “Coolidge Prosperity” Harding vs. Coolidge

15. Coolidge Prosperity??????????? • Large Business prosper – Upper Class prospers • Middle Class, Laborers, Farmers, Native Americans, and African Americans did not prosper

16. Election of 1928 • Hoover (Rep.) vs. Alfred Smith (Dem.) • Hoover – secretary of commerce - Self Made Millionaire - Humanitarian - Leader in war effort and post war reconstruction • Hoover won 84% of the electoral vote

17. Roaring 20s End Great Depression Begins What was the Great Depression? • The worst economic crisis of the century • Over 13 million people unemployed • “Dust bowl” as a result of drought • Farmers lost crops • Many lost their homes

18. What caused the Great Depression? • Stock market crash of 1929 • Unequal distribution of wealth • Excessive Buying on Credit • Weak Business Structure • Weak Banking Structure • Inadequate Government Policies • Weak International economy

19. Stock Market Crash • Many stocks purchased on speculation • Panic sets in as they are forced to produce the money for the loans • Stock prices fell • Panic selling • Huge sums of money lost Thursday, October 24, 1929 Stock values fell $14 billion

20. Unequal Distribution of Wealth • No middle class • Supply not equal to demand • Credit cards created false demand

21. Excessive Buying on Credit • Creates a false demand • Under consumption • People unable to make installment payments, therefore stop buying

22. Weak Business Structure • Business consolidation – makes a few large companies for each industry • Profits and control were in the hands of a few – fragile system

23. Weak Banking Structure • No FDIC – No government regulation • People pull money out – Panic • Banks close with people’s money

24. Inadequate Government Policies • No government regulation of stock market • Tax policies contributed to unequal distribution of wealth • Antitrust laws were not enforced • Federal Reserve Board made poor decisions

25. Weak International Economy • WWI and the Stock Market crash effected the world • No U.S. foreign investment – no money to pay America back • Foreign countries had no money to buy American goods

26. What was life like in the 1930’s?

27. Hooverisms • Hoover Hog – armadillos that were baked in the desert • Hoover Flag – empty pocket turned out • Hoover Blanket – Newspaper slept under • Hoover Car – Abandoned Cars • Hoover Bag – suitcase with holes • Hoover Shoes – shoes with holes in soles • Hoovervilles – shack towns of boxes and crates.

28. “Hooverism” • Hoover’s response to the Great Depression: • Restore confidence in economy • Promoted helping businesses to help economy • Reconstruction Finance Corporation • Federal Work Projects to create jobs • Halted war repayment by Europe • Asked businesses to not lower wages or prices

29. Failure of “Hooverism” • No direct relief – damaged image • Economy was continuing to spiral and Hoover continued to say things were improving • “Bonus Army” - march on Washington, disbanded by army

30. Dustbowls A traveler noticed a nice new hat by the side of the road, and he stopped to pick it up. Under the hat was a man, buried up to his neck in the dust! As he dug the poor fellow out, the traveler asked if he wanted a ride into town. "No, I'll get there myself," the man replied, "I'm on a horse." (Excerpt from THE DUST BOWL by Tricia Andryszewski, p. 33.)

31. FDR’s New Deal

32. Franklin Delano Roosevelt • Elected in 1932 with 89% of the electoral vote • Government experience: • NYS Legislature • Asst. Secretary of the Navy • Governor of NYS

33. 3 R’s of the New Deal • RELIEF of those who were suffering • RECOVERY for the economy • REFORM to avoid future depressions

34. New Deal Programs Outcomes • Banking Emergency Act (FDIC) – restored confidence, soon more deposits than withdrawls • Federal Emergency Relief Admin. (FERA) – Helped to revitalize relief organizations and encourage work • Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) – Taught men and women to be independent, increased self confidence and self esteem

35. New Deal Programs Outcomes • Public Work Administration PWA – benefited America and American workers • Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) – Declared unconstitutional, did not raise prices as hoped – just made people upset • Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) - cheap electric power, flood control, and recreational opportunities to the entire Tennessee River valley.

36. New Deal Programs Outcomes • Works Progress Admin. (WPA) – decreased unemployment • Social Security Act (SSA) - it did help millions of Americans feel more secure. • National Recovery Admin. (NRA) – organized the relief effort, centralized government efforts • Rural Electrification Admin. (REA) – gave several small farmers electricity

37. Wagner Act • Also known as the National Labor Relations Act (1935) • Guaranteed labor unions the right to form unions and to practice collective bargaining • Progressive Legislation??????

38. So What?

39. Central Bank, Silver backing of money, increase circulation Father Coughlin Government Pension Plan for Elderly – no SSA Francis Townsend “Production for Use” – state ownership of land and factories Upton Sinclair

40. Table of Contents #1 Outline/Concepts #16 Hoover vs. FDR #2 Twenties Talk #17 Share our Wealth #3 Sports Stars #18 FDR’s New Deal #4 Who’s Who #19 You and the New Deal #5 Roaring 20s Culture #20 Be a New Deal Worker #6 The Automobile #21 No New Deal #7 The New Woman #22 The S.C. and New Deal #8 Roaring 20s Packet #23 FDR and the S.C. #9 Great Migration #10 Immigration #11 Urban-Rural Change #12 Roaring 20s Politics #13 What caused the Great Depression? #14 Hooverisms #15 Images of the Great Depression

41. The New Deal and the Supreme Court • NRA – Schechter Poultry Corp v. United States (1935) • NRA codes were too much like laws • Executive was legislating • Declared unconstitutional • AAA – declared unconstitutional • Congress passed another similar law to circumvent the Supreme Court.

42. The New Deal and the Supreme Court • Court-Packing • Conservative Court did not follow FDR’s plan • Democratic President and a Republican Court • Proposed a plan to increase the number of justices

43. Third Term Controversy • Elected: • 1932 • 1936 • 1940 • 1944 • Republicans accused him of breaking the unwritten constitution • After death, 22nd Amendment was proposed to limit to two terms • 1951 – 22nd Amendment ratified

44. The Results • Bank Failure

45. Unemployment

46. Loss of homes • “Hoovervilles” Here were all these people living in old rusted-out car bodies. ... One family ... [was] living in a piano box. This wasn't just a little section, this was maybe 10 miles wide and 10 miles long. People living in whatever they could junk together. ..."

47. Depression

48. Did everyone suffer during the depression?

49. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” Franklin D. Roosevelt “Our greatest primary task is to put people to work”

50. A Long Way From Chicago By Richard Peck