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The Roaring '20s

The Roaring '20s. A. The Economy of the 1920's. Demobilization. WWI Agencies dismantled Production of Consumer goods resumes The United States “Returns to Normalcy” Decade of Prosperity after short post-war recession. Republican Economic Policies.

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The Roaring '20s

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  1. The Roaring '20s

  2. A. The Economy of the 1920's

  3. Demobilization • WWI Agencies dismantled • Production of Consumer goods resumes • The United States “Returns to Normalcy” • Decade of Prosperity after short post-war recession

  4. Republican Economic Policies • Three Republican Presidents: Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover • Return to Laissez-Faire Economic Policies • Fordney-McCumber Tariff (1922) • Increased to 38.5% • Reduction of Taxes under Sec of Treasury Andrew Mellon Calvin Coolidge Warren G. Harding Herbert Hoover “The Business of the American people is BUSINESS”

  5. New Products and Technologies • Mass Production → Over Production • New industries • Chemicals, Aviation, Movies • Electronics: Radios, Washing Machines, Vacuums, Refrigerators • By 1929, U.S. producing 40% of world’s manufactured goods

  6. Backbone of economic growth was the Automobile • No longer a luxury item • Affordable because of Ford & his assembly line • Multiple car companies now exist • By 1929, U.S. produces 85% of world’s cars

  7. New Infrastructure • Building of Roads and Highways by the gov’t • Foster the advance of new industries • gas stations, restaurants, and motels

  8. Consumerism • Massive Spending by Americans • Dawn of modern advertising • Psychologically sell items • Blurred distinction between wants and needs • Use of Credit (the Installment Plan)

  9. The Stock Market • People wanted to make $$ in the 1920’s • Speculation • Land • Stocks • Stocks = company ownership • Buying stock “on the margin” • Small down payment • Borrow the rest • Led to a “Bull Market” with soaring prices

  10. The Farmers • Ag prices soared during the War • Gov’t support • Foreign Sales • Post WWI, ag prices decline • Full mechanization during the 1920’s with ag equipment • Face same problems as before

  11. The Fall of Labor Unions • In 1919 over 4 million workers walked out on strike • Gov’t no longer willing to help • Great Steel Strike (1919) • During the 1920’s unions lost over 2 million members mainly b/c of Red Scare

  12. B. Society of the 1920's

  13. The Red Scare (1917 – 1920) • Wave of Nativism & Political Intolerance • Palmer Raids 1919-1920: • Led by Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer • Convinced labor strikes & bombings were the result of rising Communism • Hunted down suspected Communists • Targeted Union leaders and immigrants • Over 6,000 arrested and over 500 deported

  14. Sacco and Vanzetti • 2 Italian immigrants charged with robbery & murder in 1921 • Bad evidence: • Italian • Atheists • Anarchists • Convicted & electrocuted in 1927 Bartolomeo Vanzetti and Nicola Sacco

  15. The Second Klan • KKK reemerges in the 1920’s • Targets groups they see as “un-American” • Blacks • Foreigners • Communists • Jews/Catholics • Gamblers/Adulterers/ Birth Control • Membership reaches 5 million • Now in the North, South & West

  16. Immigration • Little immigration during WWI • 1919-21 immigration increases 600% • Emergency Quota Act (1921) • 3% of 1910 immigrants from each country • National Origins Act (1924) • 2% of 1890 immigrants • limit to a total of 150,000 • No Japanese • No limit for countries in W. Hemisphere

  17. Prohibition 1920 – 1933 • 18th Amendment & Volstead Act “ended” drinking in the U.S. • Popular in South & West • Many felt it violated individual freedom & didn’t like gov’t control over private lives • Enforcement was lacking • Understaffed • Underpaid • Turned country to “hard” alcohol • Country did not follow

  18. Golden Age of Gangsterism • Organized crime developed to provide people with alcohol • Speakeasies • Bootleggers • Bribes • Most notorious was “Scarface” Al Capone • Led to other vices • Prostitution • Gambling • Narcotics

  19. C. Culture of the 1920's

  20. The Jazz Age • Rejection of traditional society in urban areas • Adopted more open attitude towards sex, drinking, dancing to jazz music • Main dance was the Charleston

  21. The Changing Role of Women • Desire for personal freedom • Bobbed their hair • Wore short skirts • Wore make-up • Publicly smoked and drank • Used birth control • Became known as “Flappers”

  22. Leisure Activities • Entertainment became an important part of life • Radio • Movies • Sports • Celebrities • Charles Lindbergh • Babe Ruth • Charlie Chaplin

  23. Literature & Lost Generation • Common form of entertainment that embraced the Jazz Age • “Lost Generation” rejected mainstream American culture • F. Scott Fitzgerald • Ernest Hemingway

  24. Education • More and more states passing compulsory school laws • High School graduates double in the 1920’s

  25. Fundamentalism • Religious revival mainly in rural areas • Disturbed by changing American morals • Billy Sunday was the most famous preacher

  26. Scopes Monkey Trial (1925) • John Scopes on trial for teaching evolution in TN • Battle between modernists vs. Fundamentalists • Gains national attention • W.J. Bryan vs. Clarence Darrow • Scopes convicted • Importance: shows there are 2 different cultures that are going to clash

  27. The Harlem Renaissance • Celebration of African-American culture • Poets, Musicians, Artists • Express the pride & difficulties of being African-American • Brought African-American culture out to all Americans • Langston Hughes, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington

  28. United Negro Improvement Association • Founded by Marcus Garvey • Form separate community away from white society • Economically independent • Encouraged investment in African-American business • Black Star Line and “Back to Africa”

  29. D. Politics

  30. Corrupt Administration b/c of the “Ohio Gang” Not a moralistic man Attorney General accepted bribes not to prosecute criminals Head of the Veterans Bureau received kickbacks President Harding 1921-1923

  31. Tea Pot Dome was the biggest scandal • Secretary of the Interior Albert Fall leased out oil reserves for $500,000 • He kept the money

  32. 1922 Political Cartoon about Harding Scandals

  33. President Coolidge 1923-1929 • Assumes presidency after the death of Harding • Less scandal, pro-business approach

  34. Dealings with Europe • Europeans owed the U.S. money from WWI • They can’t pay it back • Passes disastrous Dawes Plan

  35. Dawes Plan(1924)

  36. President Hoover 1929-1933 • Becomes president at a prosperous time

  37. E. The End of It All

  38. The Stock Market Crash • “Black Tuesday” – October 29, 1929 • The end of Prosperity & the beginning of the Great Depression

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