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Changing Ways of Life in the 20s

Discover how the 1920s reshaped American society with urban living thriving in big cities and rural life holding onto conservative values. Explore the impact of Prohibition, organized crime, bootlegging, and the Scopes Trial.

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Changing Ways of Life in the 20s

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  1. Changing Ways of Life in the 20s What societal differences does America see in the 20s?

  2. I. Urban Living…The Place To Be A. 1920: 51% of Americans lived in a city 1. More job opportunities, easy transportation, diverse, nightlife, drinking, gambling & casual dating tolerated * Big Cities include New York (5.6m), Chicago (3m), Philadelphia (2m)

  3. II. Rural Life A. Small towns & farms had conservative values & were religious B. Rural people saw cities as immoral places, esp. due to alcohol use, gambling, and new roles for women 1. Rural America favored prohibition of alcohol to “save America”

  4. III. Prohibiting Alcohol A. 18th Amendment: goes into effect in 1920, outlawing the sale, consumption & manufacturing of alcohol B. Volstead Act passed to enforce law, but not properly funded 1. As a result, hidden saloons & social clubs called “speakeasies”open in major cities, criminals run the illegal speakeasies

  5. Speakeasy Ad

  6. IV. Organized Crime & Bootlegging A. Bootleggers: people who smuggle alcohol 1. Some smuggle alcohol from Canada, Cuba or W. Indies B. Money made helped fund organized crime 1. Most organized crime run by immigrants that were discriminated against in America (esp. Italians & Jews) 2. Chicago: Al Capone ran 10k Speakeasies, gambling clubs, and brothels. Capone responsible for 522 gang-related murders

  7. V. The Scopes Trial A. Fundamentalists were gaining ground in rural America B. 1925: Fundamentalists challenge the teaching of evolution in schools, TN = first state to make it illegal to teach evolution 1. Teacher John Scopes is arrested for teaching evolution C. ACLU hires lawyer Clarence Darrow to defend Scopes’ 1st Amend. right D. William Jennings Bryan helps prosecution. E. Scopes is found guilty but verdict is overturned, law still remained in effect results in overall lack of science education and a national falling behind in the sciences

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