The Jazz Age & The Age Of Corruption, 1919=1929 AP United States History Unit 7 A Reluctant Colossus, 1880-1939

The Jazz Age & The Age Of Corruption, The Jazz Age & The Age Of Corruption, 1919=19291919=1929

AP United States HistoryAP United States HistoryUnit 7 A Reluctant Colossus, 1880-1939Unit 7 A Reluctant Colossus, 1880-1939

Russian Revolution & Rise Of Russian Revolution & Rise Of CommunismCommunism

Results Of The Russian RevolutionResults Of The Russian Revolution• The Communists (The Communists (RedsReds) )

win the Revolution, win the Revolution, murdermurder the Russian czar the Russian czar and his family, and placed and his family, and placed all all privateprivate property under property under governmentgovernment control. control.– Scares Scares conservativesconservatives and and

property owners property owners throughout the world. throughout the world. Lenin pushes for a Lenin pushes for a worldwide revolution, worldwide revolution, focusing on industrial focusing on industrial workers.workers.

Lenin Giving A Speech

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Russian Revolution & Rise Of Russian Revolution & Rise Of CommunismCommunism

Appeal Of CommunismAppeal Of Communism• Social and economic Social and economic

equalityequality..• ShareShare in the in the meansmeans and and

profitsprofits of production. of production.• DividedDivided the the

possessions of the possessions of the richrich..

• Highly centralized Highly centralized government meant to government meant to benefit society.benefit society.

Lenin Leading A Rally

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Radical Activity In Post-World War I Radical Activity In Post-World War I AmericaAmerica

Centered Around Centered Around Labor UnionsLabor Unions• Communists appointed Communists appointed

themselves as the themselves as the ““champions of champions of workersworkers.”.”

• Many issues fought for Many issues fought for by union leaders were by union leaders were similarsimilar to Communist to Communist goals.goals.

• When a When a strikestrike broke broke out, people interpreted out, people interpreted as a as a Communist-Communist-inspired conspiracyinspired conspiracy..

Union Workers Striking In 1919

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Radical Activity In Post-World War I Radical Activity In Post-World War I America America

Terrorism IncreasesTerrorism Increases• Anarchists (Anarchists (those against those against

all forms of governmentall forms of government) ) attempt to kidnap, bomb, or attempt to kidnap, bomb, or murder many American murder many American leaders.leaders.– Included Included John D. RockefellerJohn D. Rockefeller, ,

President Wilson, Supreme President Wilson, Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, and Attorney General Holmes, and Attorney General A. Mitchell PalmerA. Mitchell Palmer..

• Many believed that Many believed that anarchists and their anarchists and their terrorist activities were terrorist activities were connected to the connected to the Communists.Communists.

Anarchy Symbol

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Radical Activity In Post-World War I Radical Activity In Post-World War I America America

Myths Increase To Scare AmericansMyths Increase To Scare Americans

• Belief was that all Belief was that all radicals were either radicals were either immigrantsimmigrants or or illegal illegal aliensaliens..

• The enemy becomes The enemy becomes the lowly immigrant, the lowly immigrant, especially those of especially those of Jewish, Russian, Jewish, Russian, Italian, or SlavicItalian, or Slavic heritage.heritage. Slovak Immigrants

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The The Palmer RaidsPalmer RaidsOriginsOrigins

• Many people wanted the Many people wanted the radicals suppressed.radicals suppressed.– A A witch-huntwitch-hunt begins to begins to

track down and arrest track down and arrest Communists and Communists and anarchists.anarchists.

• Enter A. Mitchell Palmer.Enter A. Mitchell Palmer.– August 1919, begins to August 1919, begins to

arrest people on arrest people on suspicion of being suspicion of being Communist.Communist.

– Focused efforts on Focused efforts on union union leadersleaders and immigrants. and immigrants.Attorney General

A. Mitchell Palmer

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The Palmer RaidsThe Palmer RaidsTreatment Of SuspectsTreatment Of Suspects

• Over 6,000 people Over 6,000 people arrested.arrested.– Many Many were not connectedwere not connected

to the radicals, but still to the radicals, but still imprisoned.imprisoned.

– Most had Most had no no communicationcommunication with with friends or families for friends or families for weeks.weeks.

– Visitors of prisoners were Visitors of prisoners were sometimes held as sometimes held as prisoners after visits.prisoners after visits.

– Jammed into small, filthy Jammed into small, filthy cells, beaten, and forced cells, beaten, and forced to sign “to sign “confessionsconfessions.”.”

Palmer Raids Political Cartoon

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Strikes Of 1919Strikes Of 1919Problems With Problems With DemobilizationDemobilization

• Government Government cancelscancels military contracts. military contracts.• Industries begin to Industries begin to lay off workerslay off workers..• 4.5 million4.5 million soldiers were returning and needed soldiers were returning and needed

jobsjobs..• Women were Women were forced to leaveforced to leave their jobs to be their jobs to be

replaced by men.replaced by men.• Wartime shortages left Wartime shortages left prices highprices high, but wages , but wages

remained lowremained low..• ConversionConversion to consumerism was slow and would to consumerism was slow and would

not come until 1921.not come until 1921.• Employees were tired of their treatment and Employees were tired of their treatment and

wanted change.wanted change. – 1,000 strikes between 1919 to 1923.1,000 strikes between 1919 to 1923.

Strikes Of 1919Strikes Of 1919Boston Police StrikeBoston Police Strike, Sept. 1919, Sept. 1919

• Police officers want to Police officers want to form a union for better form a union for better pay and working pay and working conditions.conditions.– Boston police Boston police

commissioner will not commissioner will not allow it.allow it.

Boston Police Strike, 1919

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Strikes Of 1919Strikes Of 1919Boston Police Strike, Sept. 1919Boston Police Strike, Sept. 1919

• Nearly Nearly 75%75% of the of the police force would police force would strike as a result.strike as a result.– Riots and mobs in the Riots and mobs in the

streets leads streets leads Massachusetts Governor Massachusetts Governor Calvin CoolidgeCalvin Coolidge to send to send in the in the National GuardNational Guard..

– Officers agree to return to Officers agree to return to work, but are work, but are locked outlocked out by the police by the police commissioner.commissioner.

– Returning Returning war veteranswar veterans were hired as were hired as replacements.replacements.

Riots In Boston, 1919http://cdn.dipity.com/uploads/events/d84b0839bb99cc36428e16f8d2627283_1M.png

Strikes Of 1919Strikes Of 1919Boston Police Strike, Sept. 1919Boston Police Strike, Sept. 1919

• Coolidge’s reaction.Coolidge’s reaction.– Sides with the Sides with the

commissioner.commissioner.– States that “States that “there is there is

no right to strike no right to strike against the public against the public safety by anybody, safety by anybody, anywhere, anytimeanywhere, anytime.”.”

Coolidge Inspecting

The Mass. Militia

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Strikes Of 1919Strikes Of 1919Pittsburgh Steel StrikePittsburgh Steel Strike, Sept. 1919, Sept. 1919

• 365,000 steelworkers 365,000 steelworkers in Western in Western Pennsylvania walk Pennsylvania walk off the job.off the job.– Demand union Demand union

recognition, an recognition, an increase in pay, less increase in pay, less hours, and better hours, and better working conditions.working conditions.

Union Workers Striking In 1919

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Strikes Of 1919Strikes Of 1919Pittsburgh Steel Strike, Sept. 1919Pittsburgh Steel Strike, Sept. 1919

• U.S. Steel’s U.S. Steel’s strikebreaking strikebreaking techniques.techniques.– Strikers were Strikers were jailed, jailed,

beaten, or shotbeaten, or shot by the by the police.police.

– African-Americans and African-Americans and Mexicans were Mexicans were brought in to work, brought in to work, leading to leading to racial racial tensionstensions in the area. in the area.

Steel Strike 1919

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Economic BoomEconomic BoomImpact Of World War IImpact Of World War I

• America emerges as an America emerges as an economic powerhouseeconomic powerhouse..– Was Was physically untouchedphysically untouched

by the war, unlike their by the war, unlike their main competitors in main competitors in Europe.Europe.

– Both the Allies and Central Both the Allies and Central powers powers owedowed the United the United States States moneymoney..

– Workers and soldiers were Workers and soldiers were forced to save due to forced to save due to rationingrationing. Leads to having . Leads to having money to money to investinvest in in businesses and businesses and spendspend on on new consumer goods.new consumer goods.

Munitions Factory During WWIhttp://www.picturehistory.com/images/products/0/7/6/prod_7631.jpg

Economic BoomEconomic BoomIncreased Productivity & ProfitsIncreased Productivity & Profits

• Business Business management management becomes a becomes a science science studiedstudied at at universities.universities.– Leads to more Leads to more

competent owners, competent owners, managers, and managers, and workers.workers.

Howard Hughes

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Economic BoomEconomic BoomIncreased Productivity & ProfitsIncreased Productivity & Profits• Assembly lineAssembly line..

– Created by Created by Henry FordHenry Ford for for the the automobile industryautomobile industry, , would be adopted by other would be adopted by other industries.industries.

– Ford’s ideal was to train Ford’s ideal was to train workers to do one job that workers to do one job that they could perform at a they could perform at a rapid pace all dayrapid pace all day..

– Leads to lower costs, Leads to lower costs, increased productivity, increased productivity, lower consumer prices, lower consumer prices, increased demand, and increased demand, and profits galore.profits galore.

Henry Ford, Ca. 1888

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Economic BoomEconomic BoomIncreased Productivity & ProfitsIncreased Productivity & Profits

• Energy Energy technologies.technologies.– Increased use and Increased use and

efficiency of efficiency of products utilizing products utilizing oiloil and and electricityelectricity..

Early Electric Appliances

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Economic BoomEconomic BoomIncreased Productivity & ProfitsIncreased Productivity & Profits• Government policies.Government policies.– Congress and the President are both Congress and the President are both

RepublicanRepublican..• Believed that the “Believed that the “business of America is businessbusiness of America is business.”.”• Traditionally Traditionally laissez-fairelaissez-faire economics domestically, economics domestically,

protectionistprotectionist internationally. internationally.

– Most of the big money men in the first place.Most of the big money men in the first place.

• Favored the Favored the growthgrowth of big business. of big business.– Raised tariffsRaised tariffs to protect American business. to protect American business.– Cut taxesCut taxes on corporations and individuals. on corporations and individuals.– Did little to enforce antitrust laws.Did little to enforce antitrust laws.

Rise Of Rise Of Growth Growth IndustriesIndustries

DefinedDefined• A key industry whose A key industry whose rapid expansion rapid expansion contributes to the contributes to the growth of other sectors growth of other sectors of the economy.of the economy.– In the 1920s, included In the 1920s, included

automobiles, automobiles, construction, real estate, construction, real estate, appliances, electric appliances, electric power, telephone and power, telephone and radio companies, and radio companies, and chemicalschemicals..

Early Telephonehttp://www.policensw.com/images/oldphone.jpg

Consumer GoodsConsumer GoodsDefinedDefined

• Goods that people Goods that people use in their daily use in their daily lives and that can lives and that can be a measure of be a measure of standard of living.standard of living.– Leads to an increase Leads to an increase

in demand for new in demand for new goods, which in turn goods, which in turn leads to increases in leads to increases in production, jobs, production, jobs, and profits.and profits.

Old Consumer Radio

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Impact Of The Impact Of The Economic BoomEconomic Boom

ImpactImpact• Real income Real income risesrises 30%. 30%.

• Unemployment fellUnemployment fell to its lowest level in years. to its lowest level in years.

• Increased researchIncreased research in technology, energy, and in technology, energy, and chemicals.chemicals.

• Mass production Mass production lessens the valuelessens the value of skilled of skilled workers.workers.

• More people are investing.More people are investing.– A double-edged sword.A double-edged sword.

• Good because more money is available for economic expansion.Good because more money is available for economic expansion.• Bad because people are looking to get rich quick, which leads to Bad because people are looking to get rich quick, which leads to

the practice of the practice of speculationspeculation (betting that a company or industry (betting that a company or industry will do well in the immediate future).will do well in the immediate future).

• People begin to People begin to borrow moneyborrow money from banks to play with on the from banks to play with on the stock market.stock market.

Business Mergers Business Mergers IncreaseIncrease

Why???Why???• Allowed for more Allowed for more business mergers by business mergers by relaxing antitrust relaxing antitrust enforcement.enforcement.

• Key example: the Key example: the automobile industry.automobile industry.– 181 companies existed in 181 companies existed in

1903. By 1930, only 11 1903. By 1930, only 11 existed through mergers, existed through mergers, buyouts, and bankruptcies.buyouts, and bankruptcies.

– The “Big Three” (The “Big Three” (Ford, Ford, Chrysler, and General Chrysler, and General MotorsMotors) produced over 85% ) produced over 85% of all vehicles.of all vehicles.

Henry Ford & His Model T

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Long-Term Consequences Of Long-Term Consequences Of MergersMergers• Reduced competitionReduced competition leads to an leads to an increaseincrease in in

prices.prices.• Illegal practices increase, including Illegal practices increase, including

collaborationcollaboration and and collusioncollusion..– With only a few companies controlling an industry, it With only a few companies controlling an industry, it

makes it easier for the big companies to work makes it easier for the big companies to work together to set prices, incentives, and production together to set prices, incentives, and production levels to ensure the greatest profit.levels to ensure the greatest profit.

• Worker independence.Worker independence.– By 1929, over half of American wage earners were By 1929, over half of American wage earners were

working for companies considered to be large working for companies considered to be large (employing over 250 people).(employing over 250 people).


Little Resistance To Business Little Resistance To Business PracticesPractices

• Consumers are Consumers are happyhappy with their with their new products and new products and the large the large companies keep companies keep prices relatively prices relatively reasonable.reasonable.

McCall’s Ad, 1928

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Little Resistance To Business Little Resistance To Business PracticesPractices• Justice Department was busy.Justice Department was busy.

– More worried about More worried about enforcing Prohibitionenforcing Prohibition..

Abbott & Costello

Meet the Keystone Cops

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Of Illegal alcohol

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Little Resistance To Business Little Resistance To Business PracticesPractices• Supreme Court & “Supreme Court & “the the

rule of reasonrule of reason.”.”– The question was not whether The question was not whether

a merger resulted in the a merger resulted in the outlawed restraint of trade, but outlawed restraint of trade, but whether the Supreme Court whether the Supreme Court thought the restraint was thought the restraint was reasonable or unreasonablereasonable or unreasonable..

– Will lead the Supreme Court to Will lead the Supreme Court to take little action against big take little action against big business.business.

– In the Age of Corruption, even In the Age of Corruption, even Supreme Court judges could Supreme Court judges could be bought.be bought.

William Howard Taft,

Chief Justice from 1921-30

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Warren G. HardingWarren G. Harding, 1921-, 1921-19231923

BackgroundBackground• Not a very sophisticated Not a very sophisticated

person or politician, person or politician, showing his ignorance showing his ignorance during his campaign.during his campaign.– Coined the term “Coined the term “normalcynormalcy” ”

when referring to American when referring to American society and life before the society and life before the Great War. Really meant to say Great War. Really meant to say “normality.”“normality.”

• Lesser officials were his Lesser officials were his friends from Ohio, who took friends from Ohio, who took advantage of his friendship advantage of his friendship for their own personal gain. for their own personal gain. Known as the “Known as the “Ohio GangOhio Gang.”.”

Warren Harding with Babe Ruthhttp://img.nytstore.com/IMAGES/NSAPAP13_LARGE.JPG

Warren G. Harding, 1921-Warren G. Harding, 1921-19231923

International NormalcyInternational Normalcy• America steps out of the spotlight and America steps out of the spotlight and returns to returns to

isolationismisolationism..

American Isolationismhttp://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://web.mac.com/gileshill/

iWeb/history%2520at%2520hand/GCSE%2520Podcasts/GCSE%2520Podcasts


Return Of The ScandalsReturn Of The Scandals

• Teapot Dome ScandalTeapot Dome Scandal..– Involved Secretary of the Involved Secretary of the

Interior Albert Fall.Interior Albert Fall.

– Actively Actively accepted bribesaccepted bribes for granting oil leases to for granting oil leases to private companies.private companies.

Teapot Dome Scandal

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Return Of The ScandalsReturn Of The Scandals• Veterans Bureau Chief Veterans Bureau Chief

Charles ForbesCharles Forbes..– Defrauded the Defrauded the

government and veterans government and veterans of over $200 million by of over $200 million by demanding kickbacks.demanding kickbacks.

– Took supplies meant for Took supplies meant for veterans and sold them at veterans and sold them at reduced prices, making a reduced prices, making a profit for himself.profit for himself.

Department of Veterans Affairs,

Formerly the Veterans Bureau

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Return Of The ScandalsReturn Of The Scandals

• Attorney General Attorney General Harry Daugherty.Harry Daugherty.– Accepted bribes from Accepted bribes from

organized crimeorganized crime and and agreed not to agreed not to prosecute certain prosecute certain trials.trials.

A.G. Harry Daugherty &

President Warren Harding

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Death Of HardingDeath Of Harding

• Died suddenly in August Died suddenly in August 1923 while traveling through 1923 while traveling through the West.the West.

• Suffered a Suffered a heart attackheart attack..– Was traveling with the Was traveling with the

Surgeon GeneralSurgeon General (another (another corrupt friend) who corrupt friend) who diagnosed the condition as diagnosed the condition as food poisoningfood poisoning and told and told Harding all he needed was Harding all he needed was rest.rest.

– Less than an hour later, Less than an hour later, Harding was dead.Harding was dead.

Calvin Coolidge Sworn In As President

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Calvin CoolidgeCalvin Coolidge, 1923-, 1923-19291929

BackgroundBackground• Former governor of Former governor of

Massachusetts, Massachusetts, instrumental in ending instrumental in ending the Boston Police force the Boston Police force strike.strike.

• ““Silent CalSilent Cal.”.”– Nickname, gained for his quiet Nickname, gained for his quiet

demeanor and lack of public demeanor and lack of public speaking appearances.speaking appearances.

– ““If you don’t say anything, If you don’t say anything, you won’t be called on to you won’t be called on to repeat itrepeat it.”.”

Calvin Coolidge

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Calvin Coolidge, 1923-Calvin Coolidge, 1923-19291929

PhilosophyPhilosophy• ““The business of America is The business of America is

businessbusiness.”.”– Oversaw one of the most Oversaw one of the most

tremendous eras of prosperity in tremendous eras of prosperity in American history.American history.

– Believed in a Believed in a limited government limited government that stood aside and allowed that stood aside and allowed businesses and people to do what businesses and people to do what was needed.was needed.

– Cut government spendingCut government spending to the to the bone.bone.

– Vetoed bills helping veterans and Vetoed bills helping veterans and struggling farmers, leading to struggling farmers, leading to future problems for presidents future problems for presidents Hoover and Roosevelt.Hoover and Roosevelt.

Coolidge Dressed As A Native American

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““Peace Without A SwordPeace Without A Sword””Resurgence Of IsolationismResurgence Of Isolationism

• Many Americans wanted Many Americans wanted nothing to do with European nothing to do with European affairs.affairs.– Would result in America Would result in America

withdrawing any consideration in withdrawing any consideration in the League of Nationsthe League of Nations and placing and placing major restrictions on major restrictions on immigrationimmigration..

• Were disillusioned by World War Were disillusioned by World War I.I.– Known as the Known as the Lost GenerationLost Generation..– The bloodiness and senseless The bloodiness and senseless

brutality of the Great War brutality of the Great War convinced millions to follow convinced millions to follow Washington’s advice to “Washington’s advice to “steer steer clearclear” of “” of “foreign entanglementsforeign entanglements.”.”

American Isolationism

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““Peace Without A Sword”Peace Without A Sword”Business NeedsBusiness Needs Come First Come First

• Isolationism comes Isolationism comes only in the form of only in the form of military involvement military involvement and political alliance, and political alliance, not in economics.not in economics.– Still needed to be Still needed to be

involved with the world.involved with the world.– Wanted to bring Wanted to bring

““stabilitystability” to backward ” to backward nations, especially in nations, especially in Latin America.Latin America.

– Would further stimulate Would further stimulate the American economy.the American economy.

Model T Assembly Line

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““Peace Without A Sword”Peace Without A Sword”Kellogg-Briand PactKellogg-Briand Pact

• France wanted to collect France wanted to collect allies in case of a allies in case of a resurgence of resurgence of GermanGerman power.power.

• American isolationists American isolationists wanted a permanent wanted a permanent agreement to never use war agreement to never use war as a foreign policy tool.as a foreign policy tool.– Both diplomats knew that the Both diplomats knew that the

pact was meaningless, but pact was meaningless, but would gain political support would gain political support at home.at home.

Coolidge Signs

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Harlem RenaissanceHarlem RenaissanceWritersWriters

• Expressed a range Expressed a range of emotions from of emotions from bitterness to joy bitterness to joy and hope.and hope.

• Included Included Langston Langston HughesHughes, Claude , Claude McKay, and James McKay, and James Weldon Johnston.Weldon Johnston.

Funeral Armbandhttp://www.executedtoday.com/images/Sacco_Vanzetti_funeral_armband.jpg

Documents

The Jazz Age & The Age Of Corruption, 1919=1929 AP United States History Unit 7 A Reluctant Colossus, 1880-1939