LIFE & CULTURE IN AMERICA IN

THE 1920S

THE ROARING TWENTIES

End of WWI & Victory End of WWI & Victory ParadeParade

WWI ends November, 1918US Celebrates the victory with parades in NYC.4+ million soldiers return home from being mobilized in the war

Strikes & Labor UnrestStrikes & Labor UnrestStrikes - workers refusal to work unless their demands are met.

1919 - 4 million workers went on strike.

• Famous strikes:– Boston Police Strike,

1919– No. Indiana

Steelworkers, 1919– United Mine Workers

Coal Mine Strike, 1919

The Roaring Twenties“ A Return to Normalcy”

Almost But First…………………

1919- Spanish Flu Pandemic

Killed 22 Million people Worldwide ( 2X the number of war deaths)

Killed 675,000 Americans ( 7X the number of US war deaths)

Americans want to go back to Isolationism

““Red Red Summer” Summer”

of 1919of 1919

Car bombings, Wall Street, NYCStrikers were subject to hysteria, prone to begin riots.

Fearful of pro-communist actions against the American capitalist system.

Fearful of south & eastern European immigrants.

COMMUNISMNo Private ownership of business. Workers own Everything collectively

1924- Russia changes its name to U.S.S.R.(Union of Soviet Socialist Republic)

CapitalismCapitalismAn economic system based on private An economic system based on private property and free enterprise.property and free enterprise.

Attorney GeneralAttorney GeneralA. Mitchell PalmerA. Mitchell Palmer

Responsible for the US’ 1st “Red Scare”.“Red Scare”.““Palmer raids” Palmer raids” - rounded up Soviet immigrants, deported or detained them.

ACLU founded by U. Sinclair & Jane Adams.

Provided legal assistance to victims of Palmer’s tactics.

““Red

Sca

re”

Red

Sca

re”

Patriotic Americans saw Communism behind union organizers and every labor protestAnti Immigrant feelings were at an all time high.

Bombs Sent to Palmer & Other Gov. Officials

-10,000 Suspected Communists & Anarchists Arrested

-249 Deported to Soviet Union

Sacco & Vanzetti Trial

Sacco & Vanzetti-Italian Immigrants & Anarchists

-Convicted of Murder w/out Much Evidence

-Reflects both Nativism & Anti-Radicalism

-Controversial Execution

Ku Klux Klan Ku Klux Klan ComebackComeback

1924- Membership is 4.5 million1925 - KKK march in Wash. D.C. 40,000 man marchDevoted to “100 Percent Americanism” Anti- immigrant, black, Jews, Catholic, and Communists!!

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

Marcus GarveyMarcus Garvey

Leader of African Americans in 1920s.

Back to Africa movement: Marcus Garvey believed that African Americans should build a separate society (Africa) and he hoped to take them back to Africa & return with imports/products to trade with in the US

MARCUS GARVEY - UNIA

In 1914, Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association Garvey claimed a million members by the mid-1920s He left a powerful legacy of black pride, economic independence and Pan-Africanism

CHANGING WAYS OF LIFE

During the 1920s, urbanization continued to accelerate

New York City was home to over 5 million people in 1920;Chicago had nearly 3 million

This became Warren G. Harding’s campaign slogan when he accidentally messed up the word, “Normality”

Americans loved it and elected him in 1920

“ A Return to Normalcy”

Warren G. Harding elected in 1920

Fighting the Recession

After WWI, 2 million soldiers were looking for work

Factories were closing because they were no longer getting orders for wartime goods from European nations

Demobilization

Demobilization-the process of reducing a nation's armed forces from combat-ready status.

Republicans Rule the 1920s

“HARD”-”COOL”-”HOOV”

All the presidents of the 1920s were Republican

Warren G. Harding 1921-1923 (died in office)

Calvin Coolidge 1923-1929

Herbert Hoover 1929-1933

Washington Naval Conference 1921-1922•Disarming the world’s navies!

•Helping the world get along! PEACE

1928-Kellogg-Briand Pact- Germany, France and U.S. promisenot to use war to resolve disputes

Ahhh Peace is Here!!! Finally!

“Hopeful that, encouraged by their example, all the other nations of the world will join in this humane endeavor and by adhering to the present Treaty as soon as it comes into force bring their peoples within the scope of its beneficent provisions, thus uniting the civilized nations of the world in a common renunciation of war as an instrument of their national policy”

-Section of the Kellogg-Briand Pact

Harding’s Ohio GangHarding’s Ohio Gang

President Harding’s Cabinet “ Ohio Gang” was subjected to mismanagement & corruption. $125k & Hundreds of cattle

were give in the form of a bribe.Conviction, 1 year in jail sentence.

Teapot Dome, WyomingHe secretly leased them to private oil companies

Teapot Dome Scandal1921 - Albert B. Fall gained control of government oil fields in…

Vice President Coolidge swearing in.Vice President Coolidge swearing in.

Warren G. Harding died August 2nd, 1923.– Harding was ill from eating tainted crabs while on a trip to Alaska &

California.– He was also suffering from bronchial pneumonia or he was poisoned.

Calvin Coolidge, Harding’s VP was sworn into office on a farm in Vermont, by his father, a notary public at 2:30 am, August 3, 1923.

– He was re-sworn the next day in Washington D.C. by a Supreme Court Justice.– He was on vacation with family during the summer of 1923.

Calvin Coolidge- 1923

President Coolidge was a devout family man.– Enjoyed spending

time with family vs. time with political leaders from around the country & the world.

Averaged a 4-hour work day.

He was one not to indulge in the extravagance of the 1920’s lifestyle.

He was Pro business, as the US economy improved, Coolidge advocated more & more that government should be guided by business principles & practices.

The President Coolidge way The President Coolidge way

Calvin Coolidge as President

“Silent Cal” spoke and spent little (Harding loved to throw parties and give long speeches)

He forced corrupt officials to resign

He was re-elected in 1924 with the slogan “Keep Cool With Coolidge”

Pro-Business!!

From War Goods to Consumer Goods

1. Coolidge cut regulations on businesses

2. Americans’ incomes rose

3. People began to buy refrigerators, radios, vacuums, and other appliances

4. Businesses began to advertise their products

Buying on Credit

Installment Plans= Buying on Credit (Buy now, pay later, worry later)

Demands for goods jumped, but so did Americans’ debt

“If we want anything, all we have to do is go and buy it on credit. So that leaves us without any economic problems whatsoever, except that perhaps some day to have to pay for them.”

–Comedian Will Rogers

Soaring Stock Market

By the late 1920s, more people were investing in the stock market People became rich overnightBull Market: Period of rapidly increasing stock pricesPrices of stocks rose more quickly than the value of the companies themselves

PROHIBITION REVIEW

Reformers had long believed alcohol led to crime, child & wife abuse, and accidents Supporters were largely from the rural south and west The church affiliated Women’s Christian Temperance Union helped push the 18th Amendment through

Poster supporting prohibition

ProhibitionProhibition 1917 - Congress passed the 18th Amendment

– Ratified( Passed) in 1919

“Bootlegging” Liquor

“Speak-Easies”

1933 - Congress passed 21st Amendment

– Ending Prohibition.

SPEAKEASIES AND BOOTLEGGERS

Many Americans did not believe drinking was a sin Most immigrant groups were not willing to give up drinking To obtain liquor illegally, drinkers went underground to hidden saloons known as speakeasies People also bought liquor from bootleggers who smuggled it in from Canada, Cuba and the West Indies

ORGANIZED CRIME

Prohibition contributed to the growth of organized crime in every major city Chicago became notorious as the home of Al Capone – a famous bootlegger Capone took control of the Chicago liquor business by killing off his competitionAl Capone was finally convicted

on tax evasion charges in 1931

GOVERNMENT FAILS TO CONTROL LIQUOR

Eventually, Prohibition ended, because the Govt. failed to budget enough money to enforce the law The task of enforcing Prohibition fell to 1,500 poorly paid federal agents --- clearly an impossible task

Federal agents pour wine down a sewer

SUPPORT FADES, PROHIBITION REPEALED

Many felt Prohibition caused more problems than it solved The 21st Amendment finally repealed Prohibition in 1933

By the mid-1920s, only 19% of Americans supported Prohibition

SCIENCE AND RELIGION CLASH

There was a clash between fundamentalist religious groups and secular thinkers over the truths of science. Fundamentalists found all truth in the bible – including science & evolution

Fundamentalism-The Protestant Christian movement grounded in the literal interpretation of the Bible.

SCOPES TRIAL

In March 1925, Tennessee passed the nation’s first law that made it a crime to teach evolution The ACLU promised to defend any teacher willing to challenge the law – so John Scopes did

Scopes was a biology teacher who taught his students that man derived

from lower species

SCOPES TRIAL

The ACLU hired Clarence Darrow, the most famous trial lawyer of the era, to defend Scopes The prosecution countered with William Jennings Bryan, the three-time Democratic presidential nominee

Darrow

Bryan

SCOPES TRIAL Trial opened on July 10,1925 and became a national sensation In an unusual move, Darrow called Bryan to the stand as an expert on the bible – key question: Should the bible be interpreted literally? Under intense questioning, Darrow got Bryan to admit that the bible can be interpreted in different ways Nonetheless, Scopes was found guilty and fined $100

Bryan

Darrow

Trial should be remembered for getting Christians to consider if they believed the Bible was literal or not, and should public schools control what students can or cannot learn.

Despite the guilty verdict, Darrow got the upperhand during his questioning of Bryan

Role of WomenRole of WomenWomen won the right to vote:

– 19th Amendment, 1920

Change in fashion– “Flappers”– Short Skirts, short

hairdos– Lipstick

THE TWENTIES WOMAN

Women were becoming more independent and achieving greater freedoms (right to vote, more employment,driving cars)

Chicago 1926

THE FLAPPER

During the 1920s, a new ideal emerged for some women: the Flapper A Flapper was a free spirited young woman who embraced the new fashions and urban attitudes

The Dance Craze

The CharlestonHas a quick beatDancers kick out their feetPopular dance for Flappers

More Fads

Flagpole sitting: Where young people would sit for hours and even days on top of a flagpole. (The record: 21 days!)

Marathon Dancing-Don’t stop until you are the last one dancing.

RADIO COMES OF AGE

Although print media was popular, radio was the most powerful communications medium to emerge in the 1920s News was delivered faster and to a larger audience Americans could hear the voice of the president or listen to the World Series live

SportsSports

Becomes a big Business/Entertainment“Heros”

– Baseball: Babe Ruth & Ty Cobb

– Boxing: Jack Dempsey

AMERICAN HEROES OF THE 20s In 1929, Americans spent $4.5 billion on entertainment (includes sports) People crowded into baseball games to see their heroes

Babe Ruth was a larger than life American hero who played for the NY Yankees. Home Run Slugger!!

CHARLESLINDBERGH’S

FLIGHTCharles Lindbergh made the first nonstop solo trans-atlantic flight He took off from NYC in the Spirit of St. Louis and arrived in Paris 33 hours later to a hero’s welcome

““The Jazz Singer”The Jazz Singer”1927 musical film. 1st full length feature motion picture, using synchronized dialogue.“Talkies” film.

ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS

Even before sound, movies offered a means of escape through romance and comedy

First sound movie: The Jazz Singer (1927) First animated with

sound: Steamboat Willie (1928) By 1930 millions of Americans went to the movies each week

Walt Disney's animated

Steamboat Willie marked the debut of Mickey Mouse. It was a seven minute long black and

white cartoon.

Movies & FilmMovies & FilmDouglas Fairbanks

Clara Bow

Lillian Gish

Mary Pickford

Comedy StarsCharlie ChaplinBuster KeatonHarold LloydFatty ArbuckleLaurel and Hardy

MUSIC AND ART

Famed composer George Gershwin merged traditional elements with American Jazz Painters like Edward Hopper depicted the loneliness of American life Georgia O’ Keeffe captured the grandeur of New York using intensely colored canvases

Gershwin

Hopper’s famous “Nighthawks”

Radiator Building, Night, New York , 1927

Georgia O'Keeffe

20’s Writers

Writer F. Scott Fitzgerald coined the phrase “Jazz Age” to describe the 1920s Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby reflected the emptiness of New York elite society

The Lost Generation

Ernest Hemingway, wounded in World War I, became one of the best-known authors of the eraHis simple, straightforward style of writing set the literary standard The Old Man and the Sea, The Sun also Rises, For Whom The Bell Tolls,

Hemingway - 1929

THE LOST GENERATION

Some writers such as Hemingway were so soured by American culture that they chose to settle in Europe In Paris they formed a group that one writer called, “The Lost Generation”

John Dos Passos self – portrait. He was a good amateur painter.

THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE

Between 1910 and 1920, the Great Migration saw hundreds of thousands of African Americans move north to big cities By 1920 over 5 million of the nation’s 12 million blacks (over 40%) lived in citiesMigration of the Negro by

Jacob Lawrence

HARLEM, NEW YORK Harlem, NY became the largest black urban community in the USIn the 1920s, it was home to a literary, musical and artistic revival known as the Harlem Renaissance

Harlem suffered from overcrowding, unemployment and poverty later in the 20th Century which tarnished its reputation.

Harlem Renaissance PoetsClaude McKay: From

Jamaica, wrote the poem, “If We Must Die” that condemned lynchings.

Countee Cullen: Taught high school in Harlem, wrote of the experiences of African Americans

Langston HughesMost well-known of the Harlem Renaissance poets-Also wrote plays, short stories, and essays-Encouraged African Americans to be proud of their heritage-Protested racism and acts of violence against blacks

“The night is beautiful,

So the faces of my people.

The stars are beautiful,

So the eyes of my people.

Beautiful also, is the sun.

Beautiful also, are the souls of my people.”

-Langston Hughes, “In My People”

ZOLA NEALE HURSTON

Zola Neale Hurston wrote novels, short stories and poems She often wrote about the lives of poor, unschooled Southern blacks

AFRICAN-AMERICAN

PERFORMERS

During the 1920s, black actors won large followings Paul Robeson, son of a slave, became a major actor.

LOUIS ARMSTRONG

Jazz was born in the early 20th century In 1922, a young trumpet player named Louis Armstrong joined the Creole Jazz Band Later he joined Fletcher Henderson’s band in NYC Armstrong is considered the most important and influential musician in the history of jazz

EDWARD KENNEDY “DUKE”

ELLINGTON In the late 1920s, Duke Ellington, a jazz pianist and composer, led his ten-piece orchestra at the famous Cotton Club Ellington won renown as one of America’s greatest composers

BESSIE SMITH

Bessie Smith, blues singer, was perhaps the most outstanding vocalist of the decade She achieved enormous popularity and by 1927 she became the highest- paid black artist in the world