Conservative Reaction in the 1920 s Women of

Conservative Reaction in the 1920 s Women of the Klan Marching in Front of the Broome County Court House

Historical Context: The Twenties What comes to mind when you think about the 1920 s? ü Changing Gender Roles ü New Styles & Behaviors ü Rapid Economic Expansion ü Cultural Renaissance ü Political Corruption The “Roaring Twenties”

Conservative Reactions to Rapid Change ü Nativism ü Political Intolerance ü Temperance ü Christian Fundamentalism ü Racial Tensions A Temperance Poster The Twenties Were Also an “Age of Conservatism”

Nativism • Nativism: Anti-immigrant feeling • Quota Acts (National Origins Act)… set strict limits on immigration, especially from Eastern & Southern Europe • Based on scientific racism • Reflected growing nativist & antiradical sentiment by groups like the KKK

The Second Ku Klux Klan • Founded at Stone Mountain, GA 1915 by former minister William Simmons • Release of film “Birth of a Nation” in 1915 popularized & glamorized the KKK • Targeted not just African. Americans but also Jews, Catholics and immigrants in general • By mid-1920 s national membership reportedly reached 4. 5 million

The Klan Arrives Broome County • Klan activity in Broome County first noted on St. Patrick’s Day 1923 when KKK pamphlets were left on doorsteps • 20, 000 workers (many of whom were immigrants) in the Triple Cities during the 1920 s, including 12 E-J factories • Local KKK was partly a reaction to this immigration

Binghamton as State Klan Headquarters • 1923 Binghamton chosen as NYS headquarters for the KKK • State-wide conventions held, including cross-burnings and rallies in Endicott & Whitney Point • In 1924 George F. Johnson received anonymous letter from a Klan member threatening a boycott of EJ Shoes unless he fired foreign workers New York State Klan Headquarters Henry & Wall Streets, Binghamton

Klan Rally at Stow Flats Fairgrounds July, 1924

Local Klan Meetings

Religious Revival • 1920 s Marked a Rise in Religious Fervor • Rise of Fundamentalists • “Sister” Aimee, Billy Sunday, and Other Radio Evangelists Reached Mass Audiences “Sister” Aimee Mc. Pherson

The Scopes “Monkey” Trial -High School teacher John Scopes is tried for teaching evolution in Tennessee -Became a debate on evolution & religious fundamentalism Clarence Darrow & William Jennings Bryan -First major trial to reach a mass audience as it was broadcast live on the radio

The Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) -Groups like the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) fought to outlaw alcohol, prostitution, and other vices -Also pushed for some liberal reforms like Women’s Suffrage -In Broome County, appeared to ally with the local KKK

Prohibition -Despite ratification of 18 th Amendment, “bootlegging” remained common -“Speakeasies” like P. J. Clarke’s in New York City continued to sell alcohol Detectives Posing in Front of a Confiscated Distillery during Prohibition in Broome County

Race Riots • WWI sparked the “Great Migration” of African. Americans to northern cities • This led to conflicts with whites over jobs and housing, esp. as white soldiers returned Chicago, 1919

The Red Scare A. Mitchell Palmer, U. S. Attorney General -Response to Russian Rev. & Bombs Sent Palmer & Other Gov. Officials -10, 000 Suspected Communists & Anarchists Arrested -249 Deported to Soviet Union -Labor Unions like IWW targeted

Sacco & Vanzetti Trial -Italian Immigrants & Anarchists -Convicted of Murder w/out Much Evidence -Reflects both Nativism & Anti. Radicalism -Controversial Execution Sacco & Vanzetti