The Vibrant “Roaring Twenties” in America

1. The “Roaring Twenties” 1920 - 1929 Pageant Chapter 32

2. What are the “Roaring 20s”? • The decade of the 1920s in the United States • America was strictly isolated after being disillusioned with Wilson’s idealism in Europe • New president Warren G. Harding was preaching “normalcy” • After fighting a world war, Americans wanted to have fun • The 20s was much like what we see today in America • A mass-consumption society • A strong economy • Mass entertainment • Celebrities • Dancing • Liberal expression in clothing, art, and language

3. 1. Prejudice, Immigration, and Anti-Foreignism • After World War I, Americans wanted nothing to do with anything foreign • This led to anti-immigrant sentiment; as well as paranoia of foreigners • The Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 • Russia is now the Soviet Union; a large and influential communist nation • Americans feared communists were going to come over and overthrow capitalism; this especially led to fear of labor strikes and uprisings since communism supports the working class (proletariat) • The Red Scare of 1919-20; a widespread panic and paranoia of communism • General Mitchell Palmer rounds up 6 thousand suspects; mostly on flimsy evidence • We’ll see this again in the 1950s during the Cold War • Conservatives used the Red Scare as an excuse to break unions by labeling them “Soviets in disguise”

4. 1. Prejudice, Immigration, and Anti-Foreignism • Fueled by this anti-immigrant sentiment; a new Ku Klux Klan was formed in the early 1920s; they had not met since Reconstruction • The Klan expanded to 5 million members • The new KKK didn’t target just African-Americans • They were against anyone foreign, Catholics, Jews, communists, adulterers, gamblers, and people who used birth control. • Emergency Quota Act of 1921; limited immigration from countries based on the census of 1910 • The Immigration Act of 1924 further limited immigration based on the 1890 census

5. 2. Booze and Monkeys • The Temperance movement supporters finally got their way in 1919 • The 18thAmendment was passed – prohibition • It would be repealed in 1933 • Led to the rise of organized crime and “gangsters” • Al Capone took advantage of illegal alcohol by selling bootleg liquor

6. 2. Booze and Monkeys • Public education made huge leaps in the 20s • More and more states were requiring students to attend school until the age of 16-18 • Professor John Dewey • As public education became more common, controversy was inevitable • The Scopes Trial • John T. Scopes was a science teacher who taught evolution; that humans came from apes • The evolutionary theories of Charles Darwin vs. the Biblical interpretation in the Book of Genesis • William Jennings Bryan, advanced in age, prosecuted Scopes • Scopes was defended by Clarence Darrow; famous defense attorney • Scopes gets convicted and fined $100; the Supreme Court sets the fine aside

7. 3. Automobile Revolution • Just as the RR was the catalyst for the Industrial Revolution following the Civil War, the automobile was the catalyst for the 20s • The automobile was the result of scientific engineers who sought to improve the technology of transportation as well as the assembly line of Henry Ford. • Ford’s assembly line would not only revolutionize the automobile industry, but all industry • The Ford Model-T • The assembly line dramatically cut costs • In 1924, it only costed 2.5 months wages to buy a car • This was a sharp decreased from 20 months wages in 1908 • 1) The petroleum business grew b/c of the need for gas; as well as road construction business • 2) Schools consolidated since travel became easier; suburbs formed as people didn’t need to live so close to the city; car accidents were tragic results as well as the breakdown of home life

8. 4. Communication and Cultural Revolution • Revolutionary impacts on the U.S. during the 20s include: • 1) The Airplane - The airplane (invented in 1903) would be improved during WW1 and by the 20s planes were being used for mail and entertainment but not travel just yet. • 2) Radio - Became an American’s primary source for home entertainment, news, sports events, church services, and politics • 3) Movies – Started in 1903; used for war propaganda during WW1; then came the 20s– Hollywood, movie stars, mass entertainment • 4) Women’s Role / Rights – females grew more adventuresome; they wore bathing suits; the “flapper” – short hair and short skirts – more outspoken and loud • 5) Sexuality – before the 20s, a kiss was pretty much a marriage proposal; during the 20s “necking” (making out) was a common hobby of young couples, committed or not

9. 4. Communication and Cultural Revolution • 6) Music – new music styles flooded the 20s; Tin Pan Alley – loud banging on the piano; Jazz – African – American - mixture of blues and improv music; originated in New Orleans then moved Northward • 7) African American Culture – the Great Migration – millions moved northward to escape Jim Crow and to look for jobs; the Harlem Renaissance – flowering of A.A. culture, arts, and music • 8) Literature – After WW1 a new generation of writers showed up; F. Scott Fitzgerald – The Great Gatsby; Langston Hughes – Influential African-American poet

10. Wall Street Boom? • Yes, the economy was doing well • At least on the surface it looked great • The market peaked with the massive amounts of buying and selling going on • The problem? • Too much speculation – people were buying and selling based on their predictions, not necessarily on what they knew was going to happen • Lots of people were buying on credit; and if you understand how credit works – then you know it’s a risky business • Stock investors were margin buying – buying stock on borrowed money • Everyone thought it couldn’t get any better, but it’s about to get really bad…