Ch 31 The Roaring Twenties Introduction l

Ch. 31: The Roaring Twenties

Introduction l After WWI America turns to a mood of isolationalism l “Red Scare”- fear of communism l Russian Revolution (Lenin) l Eugene Debs (socialists) growing numbers l Strikes by Labor Unions (socialist) l Series of Mail Bombs

Seeing Red l Nicola Sacco and Bartolommeo Vanzetti Italian immigrants accused of murder while attempting to hand out anarchist pamphlets. l No real evidence against them Accused b/c they were Italian, atheists, anarchists and draft dodgers. l Tried, convicted and executed l

Stemming the Foreign Flood l Emergency Quota Act (1921): l l Cut the number of immigrants who could enter the country to 3% of their nationality’s US pop in 1910. Immigration Act (1924): l l l 2% of groups US pop in 1890 Closed door to Japanese immigrants Hit the “New Immigrants” hard l l They hadn’t really immigrated to US until after 1890. 1931: Marked the first time more foreigners left US than came

The “Noble Experiment” l Prohibition (1919): 18 th Amendment prohibited the sale, production and consumption of alcohol. l Volstead Act: passed to carry out the 18 th Amendment. l Supported l South: in the South and West keep alcohol out of hands of African. Americans. l West: End problems of saloon lifestyle

“Gangsterism” l Prohibition created an industry of organized crime. l Very profitable l Very Violent l Al Capone “Scarface” l By 1930 gang income was $12 -18 Billion. More then the income of the US government.

Monkey Business in Tennessee l Education began to transform itself. l John Dewey: advocated “learning by doing” not simply memorizing. l “Father l of Progressive Education” As education evolves arguments arise between traditionalists and the “new breed”.

Monkey Business in Tennessee l Scopes Monkey Trial: trial over teaching Darwin’s evolution theory in schools. l Fundamentalists believed in the literal translation of the Bible (Bible Belt in South) l l l Tennessee bans teaching evolution in school John T. Scopes (represented by Clarence Darrow) Creation argument (represented by William Jennings Bryan) l Scopes convicted of crime l Strengthened the fundamentalist due to mocking of their religion by Darrow.

1920’s Economy l Signs of Prosperity Standard of Living rose, more people moved to urban areas l More women and men in office jobs l Increased emphasis on marketing/advertising l Growing investment in stock market 2. Assembly-line production enabled average American families to purchase automobiles 3. Child labor (10 -15) began to decline (industrial) 4. Entertainment 1.

1920’s Economy l Reason for Prosperity 1. 2. 3. l Low tax policies of Sec. of Treasury Andrew Mellon Post war money in the markets Assembly Line (cheaper goods) All of these signs were a bit deceiving and there are signs of a crash to come.

1920’s Economy l Signs that joyride would end in Crash 1. 2. 3. Hundreds of banks failed annually Real Estate Speculation (Florida, underwater) Stock speculation (get rich quick) l 4. Buying “on margin” (small down payment) – 5. Who had the best stock tip? Installment plans, buy on credit Farmers in Midwest and South weren’t prosperous

1920’s Economy l What is new about the economic system and how does it work to bring prosperity? l Production? l Taxes? l Foreign l What Policy? industries/people are affected by these changes?

Automobiles l Automobiles: Henry Ford l l l Make our nation smaller l Commuters/suburbs l Consolidation of schools l People move from less attractive states Better for the environment? l So people thought New power industry l Replaces steel l Replaces RR Jobs l 6 Million Create increases in other industries l Oil, Rubber

Other Impacts of the Roaring 20’s l l l Airplane l Wright Brothers, Kitty Hawk, NC l Charles Lindbergh (Spirit of St. Louis) Radio l Guglielmo Marconi (1890 s) l Along with car completely changed society l Really standardizes American lifestyle l Immigrant culture is lost with this new form of cheap entertainment Movies l Motion pictures (new stars, role models) l The Birth of a Nation: First full length film (1915)

Other Impacts of the Roaring 20’s l Women l Margaret Sanger (birth control) l National Women’s Party (equal rights) l African-Americans l Jazz l Marcus Garvey l United l Harlem Negro Improvement Association Renaissance l Langston Hughes, Louis Armstrong, etc