A Changing Society A Changing Society Section 1 – 698-701Section 1 – 698-701

• In 1920, more than half of America’s population lived in urban areas.– Urban areas offer:• Economic Opportunities• Cultural Diversity• Access to art, entertainment and music

• 19th Amendment – 1920 gave women the right to vote.

A Changing SocietyA Changing Society

• In addition to women getting more political freedom, they also experienced more social and economic freedom.– Some young women challenged traditional

dress and behaviors, they were known as Flappers.

A Changing SocietyA Changing Society

The Peacetime EconomyThe Peacetime Economy

• After WWI, 4.5 million soldiers returned home looking for work.– Results:• Women were forced to give up their jobs.• US government cancelled huge contracts

for war materials.–Businesses slowed production and laid

off workers.»Unemployment rose and wages fell.

The Peacetime EconomyThe Peacetime Economy

• As wartime production ended and jobs and wages fell, many workers went on strike.– Strike = when workers join together, stop

working and demand higher pay, better working conditions, better benefits, etc.• Many people felt that Communists and/or

Anarchists were behind these strikes.–Communists = People who want the

government to own all property.–Anarchists = People who want to get rid

of all government.

Fear and ViolenceFear and Violence• Because of strikes and the belief that they were

connected to Communism and/or Anarchism, a Red Scare developed.– Red Scare = Fear of political radicals,

particularly communists who were called reds.

Fear and ViolenceFear and Violence• Several businesses and government leaders’ homes

were vandalized during the red scare.– Attorney General – A. Mitchell Palmer’s home was

destroyed, probably because he represented law and order.

– Result = the Palmer Raids.» Many political radical organizations were

raided and hundreds of suspected Communists were deported.

» In most cases there was no strong evidence against these people. That was a huge civil rights violation.

Fear and ViolenceFear and Violence• Xenophobia = the fear and hatred of foreigners.– Many Americans became concerned that the

country was moving in the wrong direction, and so the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was formed.• The ACLU’s mission is to protect the

peoples’ civil rights.

Fear and ViolenceFear and Violence• During WWI, hundreds of thousands of southern

African Americans began relocating to northern states.– This move is known as the Great Migration.– White people feared competition for housing

and jobs.• This fear led to many race riots.

The Harding Years The Harding Years Section 2 – 702-705Section 2 – 702-705

• In the 1920 Presidential Election, Warren G. Harding ran on a pro-business platform.– His running mate was Calvin Coolidge.– His opponents , James Cox and Franklin D.

Roosevelt ran on a foreign policy and League of Nations platform.• Most Americans had no interest in getting

involved in European affairs b/c the last time that happened, the US was dragged into WWI.

The Harding YearsThe Harding Years

• Warren G. Harding won a landslide victory.– He was not a good leader, but he surrounded

himself with people who excelled in their particular fields.• Harding focused their attention on

strengthening the US economy.–Tax cuts were given and business began

to boom.»Soon, the postwar recession ended as

both unemployment and prices on goods and services fell.

ScandalsScandals• President Harding’s idea to bolster the US economy was not w/o

its problems.– Many of the people that he assigned tasks to, found it

irresistible to steal while at work.– Harding died suddenly of a heart attack, and Coolidge became

president and inherited Harding’s problems.• Teapot Dome Scandal = Secretary of the Interior, Albert

Fall leased oil reserves at Teapot Dome, Wyoming to two oil companies.– In return he received “loans” worth $385,000. He was

convicted, served a year in jail and was fined $100,000.

• Eventually four members of Harding’s cabinet resigned b/c of corruption charges.

Republican Foreign PolicyRepublican Foreign Policy• President Coolidge continued to try and keep the

US out of world affairs.– The US followed a policy on disarmament =

limits on military weapons.– In 1928, the US and 14 other countries signed

the Kellogg-Briand Pact = outlawed war.• The leaders of these countries didn’t know

how to enforce the Pact.

The Election of 1928The Election of 1928

• Herbert Hoover vs. Alfred Smith.– Hoover = promised more prosperity.• “A chicken for every pot and a car in every

garage.”– Smith = primarily concerned himself with

urban areas.• Rural voters felt ignored.

– Hoover won a landslide victory.

ProhibitionProhibition Section 3 – 706-710 Section 3 – 706-710

• In 1920, the 18th Amendment established national prohibition = the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcoholic beverages was banned.

ProhibitionProhibition• The 18th Amendment didn’t stop the sale,

manufacture, transportation and consumption of alcoholic beverages.– Speakeasies = secret illegal clubs that served

alcohol.– Bootleggers = people who manufactured

and/or sold alcohol to speakeasies.

ProhibitionProhibition

ProhibitionProhibition

• Because of prohibition, millions of dollars each year was shifted to criminal organizations.– By 1927, Al Capone was earning $60

million dollars a year through the transportation and sale of alcohol.

ProhibitionProhibition• Prohibition’s downfall:– Difficult to enforce– Unpopular with most law-abiding citizens– In 1933, the 21st Amendment repealed the 18th

Amendment and ended Prohibition.

Religious BeliefsReligious Beliefs• Many religious leaders were worried when

prohibition wasn’t working and young people were acting out (flappers). – They called for a return to traditional values.• Fundamentalism = the belief that the Bible

is free from error and is literally true.

Religious BeliefsReligious Beliefs• Darwin’s Theory of Evolution = Humans evolved from

simpler forms of life over millions of years.– This theory conflicted with the Fundamentalist idea of

Creationism = Humans were created in God’s image.• In 1925, Tennessee made it illegal to teach anything other

than creationism.– In that same year, John Scopes, a high school science

teacher was arrested for teaching evolution.• Scopes was convicted and fined $100.• In 1927, the Supreme Court overruled the lower

court’s decision.

NativismNativism• Strong anti-immigrant feelings were increasing

b/c of the enormous influx of immigrants (800K in 1921).– Fear of competition for jobs, and housing.– Emergency Quota Act of 1921 = total

immigration could not exceed 357,000/year.• This law did not limit immigration from

countries in the Western Hemisphere.– National Origins Act of 1924 = favored

northern European immigrants and completely stopped Japanese immigration.

NativismNativism• Loudest voices against immigration came from

the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). – Hostile towards Catholics, Jews, foreigners,

and African Americans.– Intimidated their victims through cross-

burnings, beatings, and murder.– By the mid 1920’s there were approximately 5

million members including women and children.

Minority RightsMinority Rights• Many African American and minority leaders worked

together to protect their rights and fight racism.– Black Nationalists = African American leaders

who encouraged black people to take pride in their culture and become economically independent.• Marcus Garvey was a Black Nationalist who

founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association in 1914.–He wanted black people to be proud of their

race.– Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 = gave all

American Indians legal and voting rights as US citizens.

Minority RightsMinority Rights

Marcus Garvey President Coolidge w/Native Americans at the White House after signing the Indian Citizenship Act

The Rise of the AutomobileThe Rise of the Automobile Section 4 – 711-714

• By 1921, Henry Ford’s, Ford Motor Company was selling more than 1 million cars a year.– The Model T was the first car and was very

durable.• Durability was key b/c most roads in the

1920’s were not paved.

The Rise of the AutomobileThe Rise of the Automobile• Ford’s goal was to build reliable cars that were

easy to repair.– For the cars to be easy to repair, they all

needed to use the same parts and be assembled in the same way.• Ford developed the Assembly Line = a

system of chains, slides, and conveyor belts that moved parts and cars along a line to different groups of workers that would build a particular part of the car.

Business BoomsBusiness Booms• The concept of the assembly line and what is

called Mass Production moved into all forms of manufacturing.– US manufacturing doubled in the 1920’s and

prices began to drop.– The electrical appliance industry experienced

tremendous growth• It was then much more realistic for the

average American family to own such things as a vacuum cleaner, washing machine and a refrigerator.

Business BoomsBusiness Booms

• In addition to household goods being cheaper, they could also be bought on credit.– Installment Plans = place a small down

payment on an item and then make a monthly payment with interest until the principle balance is paid.• Principle Balance = the cost or “sticker

price” of the item.

A National Culture A National Culture Section 5 – 715-719

• During the 1920’s, fads became popular– Fads = when many people pursue an interest

with great excitement for a short period of time.• flagpole sitting, marathon dancing, mah-

jongg

A National CultureA National Culture

• During the 1920’s there was an “explosion” of mass media.– The country became connected

through:• newspapers, magazines, movies, radio

A National CultureA National Culture

• Also in the 1920’s, movies became a staple for inexpensive and fun entertainment.– Early theaters were called nickelodeons

because admission typically cost $.05.– In 1927, The Jazz Singer became the first

talkie = a movie with sound and/or dialogue.

A Search for Heroes A Search for Heroes • In the 1920’s, organized sports became popular,

and the “celebrity athlete” was born.– Jim Thorpe = Olympic Gold Medalist – Track

and Field, Pro. Football and Baseball– Gertrude Erderle = Olympic Gold Medalist –

Swimming and swam the English Channel in 15 hours.

A Search for HeroesA Search for Heroes

George Herman “Babe” Ruth Leroy Robert “Satchel” Paige

A Search for HeroesA Search for Heroes• Pilots also became famous.– Many veteran fliers of WWI became stunt

pilots and earned money giving rides.– Charles “Lucky” Lindbergh flew solo across

the Atlantic Ocean in the Spirit of St. Louis.

Blues and JazzBlues and Jazz• The 1920’s are often called the Jazz Age.• Jazz = Came from southern cities and is a blend

of African American spirituals, European harmonies, and West African rhythms.

• Blues = developed in the Mississippi Delta region and expressed the difficulties that African Americans faced during and after slavery.

Literature and the ArtsLiterature and the Arts• During the Great Migration, New York City’s,

Harlem became the largest African American community.– During this time many African American

artists developed their talents and their art grew in popularity. This is known as the Harlem Renaissance.

Literature and the ArtsLiterature and the Arts• Many writers also excelled during this period

including:– Edna St. Vincent Millay– F. Scott Fitzgerald– Ernest Hemingway

Literature and the ArtsLiterature and the Arts

• Architecture became “modernistic,” a style that is known today as art deco.– Includes many vertical and zigzag design

elements.