CULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS AND

INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS

DURING THE 1920SSS5H4 The student will describe U.S. involvement in World War I and post- World War I America.

b. Describe the cultural developments and individual contributions in the 1920s of the Jazz Age (Louis Armstrong), the Harlem Renaissance (Langston Hughes), baseball (Babe Ruth), the automobile (Henry Ford), and the airplane (Charles Lindbergh).

The Jazz Age

The first years of the 1920s were called the Jazz Age.

Jazz: a new form of music that made its way from New Orleans to northern cities in the early 1900s.

Louis Armstrong

Born and raised in New Orleans

He was born into poverty and was raised by his mother.

His formal education, or schooling, was neglected so he could help support his family.

Louis was placed in a home for teens in 1912 where he learned to play several instruments and sing in a band.

Louis Armstrong - Jazz Age His favorite instrument was the cornet.

The cornet is a brass instrument similar to a trumpet.

Louis’ natural ability and talent was envied by many; but, he could not afford his own cornet.

He joined a Jazz band and was noticed by many popular musicians.

Louis rose from poverty to become a legend in jazz.

Harlem Renaissance

The Harlem Renaissance was an important movement among the African American community.

This was a time when African American writers, artists, and musicians expressed their talents.

It was named for Harlem, New York, the community where it began.

Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes was a poet whose popularity grew during the 1920s and 1930s. He wrote “Jazz Poetry.”

Jazz poetry is poetry that "demonstrates jazz like rhythm or the feel of improvisation.”

Improvisation – not following a script or set pattern; “playing it by ear”

Langston Hughes –Harlem Renaissance

Poets like Langston Hughes incorporated the rhythms and repetitive phrases of blues and jazz music into their writing.

Many of Hughes' poems sounded similar to the popular jazz and blues songs of the period.

He was one of the most famous writers during the Harlem Renaissance.

Henry Ford Moving Assembly Line = Mass Production

Henry Ford revolutionized the automobile industry.

He developed the first moving assembly line which led to mass production of the Model T.

Ford’s assembly line increased production by moving the parts along the line to each worker. The workers did not have to move positions.

The workers stayed at their location and specialized in only one part of the automobile. This decreased the amount of time spent on each part and on each car.

Henry Ford: Assembly Line = Mass Production= Lower

Prices

This style assembly line, decreased production time and increased the number of automobiles produced each day.

Production was quicker and easier.

If productivity increased because of more efficient methods, then the production costs decreased.

If cars cost less to make, then they could be sold for less.

Henry Ford:Mass Production = Lower

Prices The first automobile to be mass produced, was the Ford

Model T. (It was not the first car invented!)

Mass production began in 1917. More Americans could afford to buy a car

because the prices of cars, decreased. Ford also paid his employees very reasonable

salaries which allowed them to save enough

money to purchase a car.

STOP & THINK: Do you think Henry Ford was a smart business man when he paid his employees higher salaries? Why or Why not?

Domino Effect: Example… If more employees purchased cars, then Ford’s company made

more money or profit. If the company made more money, then they could pay their employees even more. If the employees made more money, they could then spend more money in the markets and this would boost the economy!

Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth was a very famous baseball player who shocked the nation with his “power” hitting!

He was known by many names. His legal name was, George Herman Ruth, Jr.

Several Nicknames Include: 1. The Sultan of Swat 2. The Great Bambino 3. The King of Crash4. The Babe5. The Colossus of Clout

Babe Ruth Babe Ruth’s first baseball team was, the

Boston Red Sox. Babe Ruth was left handed. He pitched and

played outfield. In 1918, the Red Sox traded Babe Ruth to the

New York Yankees because he demanded a higher salary.

The Red Sox’s owner did not want to pay or deal with Ruth anymore, so he traded Ruth.

Babe Ruth held the homerun record, with 714 homeruns, until Hank Aaron broke Ruth’s record.

Charles Lindbergh

Charles Lindbergh was the first pilot to make a solo flight from New York to Paris, France.

Charles was working as a mail pilot when he decided to make the dangerous flight.

On May 20, 1927 Lindbergh took flight in his plane called, “The Spirit of St. Louis.”

Lindbergh arrived in Paris, France on May 21, 1927. His famous flight took him less than 34 hours.

Charles Lindbergh Lindbergh used only a magnetic

compass, an airspeed navigator, and luck to find his way.

Lindbergh’s flight was being funded, or paid for, by several businesses from St. Louis. They were paying to build the plane Lindbergh designed.

If Charles Lindbergh, successfully made the flight he would win $25,000. Lindbergh did NOT stop at all!