“Lean Years” or Roaring 1920s

1. “Lean Years” or Roaring 1920s I. Organized Labor under Attack A. Political Climate B. Red Scare C. Open shop drive D. Legal Assault E. Law II. The Worker in the “New Era” A. Mass Production B. Mass Culture C. Welfare Capitalism, or “Fordism” D. Conclusion

2. Politics • Calvin Coolidge • “The chief business of the American people is business” • “The man who builds a factory builds a temple, and the man who works there worships there”

3. The Red Scare Continued • Italian-American anarchists arrested 5/5/1920 • Accused of killing two while robbing factory • Executed 8/22/1927 • Worldwide protest Sacco Vanzetti

4. Open Shop Drive • Employer assault on closed shop agreements • AFL loses 1.5 million members between 1920-5 Chicago Building trades’ officials, Shea, Miller, Mader, and Murphy on trial, 1922.

5. Law USSC decisions: • Yellow-dog contracts • Hitchman (1917) • Boycotts • Duplex Printing Press (1921) • Peaceful picketing • Tri-City (1921) • Liability • Coronado (1922)

6. Labor Divided • Right • Samuel Gompers • William Green • Left • William Z. Foster

7. Mass Production • The Assembly Line • reduces cost from $1,200 (1904) to $290 (1924) • reduces time from 12 hours to 2 hours Henry Ford

8. Mass Culture • Entertainment • Hollywood • Radio • Sports • Suburban development • Automobile • Consumer goods • Candy, clothes, tobacco • Advertising • Services • Dry cleaning  Clara Bow-- The “It” Girl

9. Welfare Capitalism • American Plan • Stock options • Worker councils • Company unions or open shop • Worker loyalty • Sports, picnics • Fordism • The Five Dollar Day • Mass consumption • workers purchase cars • Prevent turnover & strikes • Paternalism • Demand assimilation, thrift, no unions