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The Roaring 20s: Changing attitudes. The 1920s was a decade of societal revolution in America. The youth of the age rebelled against the acceptable norms of American society set in the decades following the Civil War.
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The 1920s was a decade of societal revolution in America. The youth of the age rebelled against the acceptable norms of American society set in the decades following the Civil War. Question: What could have happened leading into the 20s to produce such a shift? TOPIC STATEMENT
A. Emphasized youth/personal freedom 1. Reaction to horrors of WWI B. Marriage 1. Romance, pleasure 2. public discussion C. Auto: youth “going out” I. The New Morality
II. Women and the Family • Change (& continuity) for women: • Female workers after WWI were limited to teachers, nurses, & other low-paying jobs • The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote but few women voted
Alice Paul’s National Women’s Party (NWP) failed to pass an Equal Rights Amendment
Women and the Family • “Flappers” rebelled against Victorian customs • Divorce rates doubled But…most women looked forward to lives as a mother and a wife “The creation and fulfillment of a successful home…compares favorably with building a beautiful cathedral.” —Ladies Home Journal
Women and the Family “I have been kissed by dozens of men. I suppose I’ll kiss dozens more.” —character in F. Scott Fitzgerald novel • Families became smaller due to greater access to birth control • Children were no longer need to work to support their families • Teens began to “discover” their adolescence & revolt against their parents by drinking, having premarital sex, & searching for new forms of excitement
New businesses • New towns • Roads: 1919, 7k miles. ’27, 50k miles • Out and about • Lover’s Lane • Suburbs • Debt III. Impact of the car
A. Fundamentalist Beliefs 1. Response to New Mor. 2. Bible literally true 3. creationism over evolution B. Scopes Trial 1. Evolution 2. In Tenn./guilty $100 fine I. The Fundamentalist Movement
A. Enforcement • 10k miles border/coastline • Canada • ships • Bootleggers • $40 million in ’24 • Dr. prescriptions • home brew/stills cheap II. Prohibition fails
B. Attitude problem • Disobeying law: no biggie • San Fran jury • Majority thought stupid • C. Mafia • Gov’t bribery/corruption • bought breweries • armored trucks
Anti-all minorities/immigrants Social belonging “Pure” Americans 5 million at height Kokomo, Indiana Birth of a Nation Late 20s dropoff III. The new klan
A. Amount of goods each hour of labor produced 1. 1922-28: by 70% 2. Electric motors 3. Assembly lines 4. Other war nations I. Industrial Productivity
A. Assembly line 1. 14 hrs to 93 mins 2. Every 10 seconds 3. Napoleon & Jesus 4. Cost >$300 to buy II. Ford’s Revolution