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A Return to Normalcy: American Life in the 1920s

A Return to Normalcy: American Life in the 1920s. LESSON 34 American Life in the Roaring Twenties (1919-1929). POLITICAL PHILOSOPHIES OF THE 1920s. RADICAL . CONSERVATIVE. LIBERAL. MODERATE. REACTIONARY. Socialists Anarchists Communists. Progressives seeking societal reform.

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A Return to Normalcy: American Life in the 1920s

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  1. A Return to Normalcy:American Life in the 1920s LESSON 34 American Life in the Roaring Twenties (1919-1929)

  2. POLITICAL PHILOSOPHIES OF THE 1920s RADICAL CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE REACTIONARY • Socialists • Anarchists • Communists Progressives seeking societal reform People stuck in the middle of Progressive agenda and Republican and Democratic similarities Pro-business forces in America (typically Republican) Idealists that sought some nativist aims (KKK, Mugwumps)

  3. How did economic boom color the view of American society? • A “MASS CONSUMPTION” ECONOMY • “Golden ’20s”  BOOMING BUSINESS • Era of prosperity • New inventions • Widespread confidence in business and economy

  4. How did economic boom color the view of American society? • Symbols of prosperity • Automobile production perfected through assembly line (1929: 1 car per 4.9 Americans) • Boom in gasoline industry fed off of automobiles  spurred migration to cities and new jobs • Advertising targeted consumers  seduction and sex appeal!

  5. How was society affected by the Roaring ’20s? • SOCIAL ASPECTS OF THE ROARING ’20s • PROHIBITION ERA:Alcohol use blamed for many urban problems • 18th Amendment (1919):Prohibited manufacture, sale, and distribution of alcohol in U.S. • Bootlegging and organized crime were on the rise  rise of Al Capone and organized crime The original “Scarface”…

  6. How was society affected by the Roaring ’20s? • 1930: Organized crime taking in $12-18 billion in profit  helped by new lines of business (prostitution, gambling, narcotics) • Did prohibition help? • Absenteeism at work down • Personal savings increased among lower classes • SPEAKEASIES: Middle-class havens for drinking • Enforcement difficult and casual The original “Scarface”…

  7. How was society affected in the Roaring ’20s? • NATIVISM • Increased as nation became increasingly isolationist • Denouncement of “radical” and “un-American” ideas  paranoia over Bolshevism • Period of increased labor strikes  20% of workforce walked out (1920) over inflation • Sacco & Vanzetti Trial (1921): Italians convicted of murder although presence at crime could not be confirmed

  8. How was society affected in the Roaring ’20s? • Ku Klux Klan (KKK) revival • 5 million strong (greater spread in Midwest) • Racist and isolationist  more nativist than later years • “Red Scare” – Palmer Raids (1919-1920) • Series of arrests to eliminate suspected communists • Caused cutbacks on free speech and deportation to Europe  emphasis on “Americanism” A. Mitchell Palmer

  9. How was society affected in the Roaring ’20s? • Immigration laws • EMERGENCY QUOTA ACT (1921):3% limit on certain nationalities in U.S.  focused on Poles, Italians, Russians • NATIONAL ORIGINS ACT (IMMIGRATION ACT OF 1924): Cut limit to 2% and shut door on Japanese • Led to more foreigners leaving by 1931 than coming in

  10. Why did religion factor in a society driven by consumerism? • THE EMERGENCE OF THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT • FUNDAMENTALISTS: Christian reformers who aimed at Darwinism • Darwinian belief destroyed faith in God and society • Led to growth in Baptist church and Church of Christ • BUTLER LAW (1924): Tennessee law banning teaching of evolution  against creationism (Christian belief) • SCOPES TRIAL (1925): Biology teacher indicted for teaching Darwinian theory in class  case fought by ACLU • Placed fundamentalism on trial • Scopes found guilty, but fine waived • Both Darwinism and fundamentalism strengthened

  11. What signaled the development of the “Lost Generation”? • YOUNG & RESTLESS: • Rebellion against conformity • Further liberation of women • BULL MARKET: Overspeculation led to ever-growing stock market  crippled by credit concerns and tax cuts for rich

  12. How did the Great Depression begin worldwide economic collapse? • CAUSES OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION • 1920s: Underlying problems with U.S. economy • Investment on credit:High level of debt to investment banks and creditors  debt caused by buying on margin and speculation • Overproduction:production of more goods than could be sold to the public

  13. How did the Great Depression begin worldwide economic collapse? • Uneven distribution of income:Half of population lived at or below the poverty level • Shrinking international trade:Tariffs made it hard to sell products abroad • Shaky banking and credit:Banking was still unregulated by the federal government

  14. How did the Great Depression begin worldwide economic collapse? • October 29, 1929: STOCK MARKET CRASH • Signaled beginning of Great Depression • Failure of overvalued businesses • Shaky banking system crumbled • Bankruptcy hit farmers struggling due to severe droughts • Very high unemployment  by 1933, over 25% of American workers unemployed

  15. How did the Great Depression begin worldwide economic collapse? • Dust Bowl:Overproduction of ’20s countered with severe droughts  over 1 million farmers driven from land

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