Presentation Transcript

1. Ch. 24 – The New EraThe Roaring Twenties

2. The New Era Term used by contemporaries referring to America’s evolution into a modern nation. The 20’s were a period of greatest political, social, and economic change in U.S. history. Often referred to as the “roaring 20s” or the “jazz age”. Renowned for its growing middle class, professional opportunities, and consumerism. More significant for its liberation from tradition and propriety though.
3. The Election of 1920 Red Scare created tension in U.S. society and placed emphasis on desire for return to prosperity. Republicans selected less known candidate from Ohio in Warren Harding. Return to Normalcy was their platform. The “Return to Normalcy” reflected this desire to regain pre-war lifestyle in America. Upon taking office Harding and Republicans focused on policies aimed to help economic growth.
4. The Harding Presidency Harding worked to pass legislation that would benefit American businesses. 1. He passed high protective tariffs – drove up the prices of foreign goods and encouraged people to buy American. 2. Established a federal budget to manage govt. spending. 3. Cut excess profit taxes from the war to help business owners spend on economic needs. 4. Avoided international affairs that would cost money.
5. Behind the Policies Harding chose Andrew Mellon as his secretary of the Treasury and Herbert Hoover as secretary of Commerce. They believed in a policy of “supply side economics” where they cut taxes and passed measures to help wealthiest Americans, in response they create more jobs and growth. When Harding took office the avg. American paid 4% income tax and wealthiest paid 74% income taxes. By 1928 most Americans paid .5% income taxes, and wealthiest paid 25%.
6. Peace Harding initiated the Washington Conferences in November 1921. Negotiated agreements between Britain, France, Japan, Italy, Germany, etc… Provided the opportunity to reduce the amount of naval buildup globally and preserve trade rights Particularly the Open Door Policies.
7. Scandal in the Harding Administration Unfortunately, Harding’s friends from “the Ohio Gang” had ties to political machines. Harding himself was honest, but worry over the scandals caused him to fall ill He passed away from a heart attack before the scandals became public. Teapot Dome Scandal: Albert Fall, Harding’s Secretary of Interior, leased gov’t. oil lands to special interest groups for bribes over $300,000. The Senate investigated the scandal and Fall went to prison.
8. Calvin Coolidge While he differed starkly in personality from Harding, he was similar in regard to his passive approach to the Presidency. Believed government should intervene as little as possible in the life of the nation. Famous Quote “ the business of America is Business”.
9. The Dawes Plan Coolidge protected U.S. businesses by raising high tariffs and practicing limited isolationism. High tariffs upset former allies because it hampered their recovery efforts after the war. Dawes Plan was negotiated by American Diplomat Charles Dawes in 1924 Appeased allies by reducing their war debts considerably and repayments They had to agree to make concessions to the crippled German economy and war debts. Tariffs stayed high though.
10. Technology and Economic Growth Developed for use primarily during WWI for battlefield coordination. Early uses through smalls pulses and Morse code. Canadian scientist, Reginald Fessenden discovered modulation which made it possible to transmit speech and music. Americans flocked to purchase short wave radios powered by vacuum tubes. By the end of the decade almost every home had one. Later would use Fessenden’s model to create radar and television.
11. The Automobile While the Automobile was invented and available in the late 1800s, but predominantly seen as toy for the rich. Henry Ford : Model T and assembly line changed this. Made automobile more affordable and practical for the average American. By the end of the decade there were more than 30 million cars on the road.
12. Ways the Automobile changed Society 1. The automobile obviously made Americans more mobile. Get from point “A” to “B” faster. 2. Increased employment for various other items. Many other industries were created because of the automobile. Parking garages, road development and maintenance, street lights, mechanics, motels, etc… 3. Entertainment – simply riding in the car became an entertaining past-time for many American families. Weekend vacations were much more common.
13. First Gas Station
14. 1920s Roads
15. Automobile cont. 4. Teenage freedom and independence. Kids were capable of going on dates with complete freedom from adult supervision for the first time. This created tension in the home. 5. Status Symbol more competition led to Americans wanting to have the biggest, best, and newest cars. 6. Suburbs people could now live outside cities, and still work in them.
16. Automobile Cont. 7. Education People were now capable of leaving home more easily to get higher education. 8. Extended Families Kids left home to get an education and perhaps met a significant other. They got married, had kids, and only visit their families on holidays and special occasions.
17. Consumerism As a result of the growing employment rates Americans began buying goods for pleasure rather than need in large quantities. Appliances like electric washing machines, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners. Luxury items like wrist watches, cigarettes, and jewelry. For the first time cosmetic and toiletry items were commonly used. Such new needs gave rise to a growing advertisement industry that preyed on people’s need to fit in, feel desirable, and live luxuriously.
18. The Original Appliances
19. 1920’s Advertisements
20. What is this Advertisement for?
21. Entertainment Industry Movies became popular during the 1920s. The first “talkies” emerged in 1927 The Jazz Singer was the first full length feature film with sound. Following a few controversial films Hollywood studios developed the Motion Picture Association to regulate, censer, and promote the Cinema industry. Given the culture of the day movie going became favorite past time, creating movie stars.
22. Commercial Radio In 1920 KDKA in Pittsburgh became the nation’s first commercial radio broadcast. By 1927 the National Broadcast Company created the first national broadcast. By that time there were over 500 radio stations broadcasting news, entertainment, and commercial advertising nationwide.
23. Changing Culture The Flapper: modern woman of the 20’s whose liberation was reflected in dress, conduct, hair style, and provocative behavior. While the career woman in professional occupations was widely publicized, in reality a relatively low percentage of women were truly independent of men. League of Women Voters and National Woman’s Party were formed to fight for equal rights throughout the 20s. Dominated various consumer groups and increased in influence.
24. Science vs. Religion “Scopes Monkey Trial”: John Scopes, Biology teacher in Dayton, Tennessee, was charged and prosecuted for teaching evolution in his classroom. Scopes was influenced by the ACLU to break the law so they could challenge it in court. The Scopes Trial made national headlines when 3-Time Presidential Candidate William Jennings Bryan prosecuted him, and famous trial attorney Clarence Darrow defended him. Darrow publicly challenged traditional religious views. The Trial became a symbol or old conservative views versus new ideas.
25. The Jazz Culture Jazz: popular new music style of the 20’s that had a faster beat which challenged traditional conservative tastes. Jazz music had such a large impact on American culture that the 20’s are often referred to as the “Jazz Age”. The black migration north following WWI brought southern jazz to urban centers The Phonograph and radio helped to circulate this style and feed the craze.
26. Alcohol and Organized Crime Prohibition: many Conservative Protestants felt that alcohol use was at the root of many social evils. Progressives were able to pass the 18th Amendment which made the sale of liquor illegal. While the Amendment saw limited initial success, within a year its limitations became apparent. Younger Americans with a more carefree attitude began to resent the new laws. Enforcing the law became nearly impossible as time passed and people found creative ways around it. The government had only hired 1,500 agents to enforce the law and many places received little help from local police.
27. Al Capone Organized Crime: Violation of the Prohibition Act became a major industry nationwide. Men like Al Capone became famous household names for their outright defiance of an unpopular law. Bought off local officials and corrupted Chicago politics, paid for an army of 1,000 gunmen to protect his investments Capone’s thugs were linked to over 250 murders between 1920-1927. Eventually was sent to prison for tax evasion.
28. The Speakeasy Speakeasies: secret bars, casinos, and social centers where people could engage in activities deemed inappropriate by Conservatives and Protestants. Depending on the level of funding, some speakeasies were high class establishments where law enforcement would even frequent. Even with all the problems, Prohibition continued with support of rural protestants. Would not be overturned until 1933, heavy pressure from the depression.
29. Rise of the New Klan and Nativists Growing concern regarding the influence of immigrants on American culture. Capone represented the influence of Italian Catholics on culture while growing concern mounted over the number of Japanese immigrants. 1921 Congress passed an emergency quota act that greatly decreased the percentage of immigrants from various nations. National Origins Act of 1924 banned immigration from east Asia entirely.
30. Klan Film Birth of a Nation glorified the early Klan and inspired new groups to establish. Reconstruction was no longer a problem, this time the Klan focused on Jews, Catholics, and immigrants. Also spread out of rural Southern towns to big Midwestern and Northern urban centers. Indiana had the largest membership of any state. By 1924 the Klan reported 4 million members nationwide.
31. Bartolomeo Vanzetti & Nicola Sacco The Sacco and Vanzetti Trial: Italian immigrants with questionable political views. Controversy over their trial and the way in which it occurred led many Americans to believe they were innocent. Both men were executed by electrocution anyway. Trial became a symbol of the ethnic tensions that existed in America.