1920’s1920’sThe Roaring TwentiesThe Roaring Twenties

Cultural ClashesCultural Clashes

of the 1920sof the 1920s

Nativism & radicalsNativism & radicals

• Began w/ Bolshevik Revolution in 1917

• Small communist community in America

• Many Americans believed labor troubles resulted from militant Bolsheviks

• Seattle (1919) strike

Billy SundayBilly Sunday• “Fire & Brimstone”

Christian evangelist

•Helped spark anti-red sentiment by declaring ALLALL Bolsheviks should be thrown in jail

Red Scare -- A. Mitchell PalmerRed Scare -- A. Mitchell Palmer

First scare began First scare began from 1919-1920from 1919-1920

Nationwide crusade Nationwide crusade against “left-wingers”against “left-wingers”

Specifically was a Specifically was a crusade against crusade against suspected anti-suspected anti-AmericansAmericans

Strong sense of Strong sense of nationalismnationalism

U.S. Attorney GeneralU.S. Attorney General QuakerQuaker Rounded up Rounded up

thousands of thousands of suspects during scare suspects during scare (6000)(6000)

Later people tried to Later people tried to bomb his house bomb his house which only added to which only added to RED crusade!!RED crusade!!

Sacco & VanzettiSacco & Vanzetti

Nicola Sacco & Nicola Sacco & Bartolomeo Vanzetti (Shoe Bartolomeo Vanzetti (Shoe & fish workers) were & fish workers) were convicted of 1921 murder convicted of 1921 murder of Mass. Paymasterof Mass. Paymaster

Jury & judge prejudiced Jury & judge prejudiced because they were Italian, because they were Italian, atheists, anarchists, & atheists, anarchists, & draft dodgersdraft dodgers

Case lasted for 6 yearsCase lasted for 6 years Each sent to electric chair Each sent to electric chair

despite seriously weak despite seriously weak case against themcase against them

Ku Klux KlanKu Klux Klan

Blossomed again in the 1920sBlossomed again in the 1920s Anti-everything!! Anti-everything!! Foreign, pacifist, Jewish, Foreign, pacifist, Jewish,

Communist, gambling, Communist, gambling, bootlegging, Catholic, birth bootlegging, Catholic, birth control, etc.control, etc.

PRO: Anglo-Saxon, Native PRO: Anglo-Saxon, Native American, & Protestant American, & Protestant ChristianChristian

Especially popular in MWEspecially popular in MW Indiana & Bible BeltIndiana & Bible Belt Violent, intolerant, corruptViolent, intolerant, corrupt

Emergency Quota Act & Immigration Act Emergency Quota Act & Immigration Act (1924)(1924)

• Made in 1921• Restricted newcomers

from Europe• Definite quota of 3%

by 1910• Favorable to southern

& eastern Europeans because of prior immigration

• Cut quota to 2%• Shifted counting from

1910 census to 1890• Japanese completely

shut out• Exemptions were

Canadians & Latin Americans

• 1st time US regulated all immigration

American Economics & Developments in America

Mass-consumption economy• Secretary of Treasury (Andrew) Mellon’s tax policies

favored rapid expansion of capital investment• Assembly line production perfected by Henry Ford’s

River Rouge Plant• Automobile becomes driving force of the 1920’s

economic boom• Changed character of the country--more focused on

consumption and moved away from mass transportation• Advertising became prevalent & commercialized• Buying on credit was invented/created• New rise in individual debts• New technological advancements were made

River Rouge PlantRiver Rouge Plant

Putting America on Rubber Putting America on Rubber TiresTires

Detroit becomes the center of industryDetroit becomes the center of industry ““scientific management” basis of scientific management” basis of

productionproduction Ford’s baby was the Ford’s baby was the Model TModel T (Tin Lizzie) (Tin Lizzie) Very affordableVery affordable Average American could purchaseAverage American could purchase 1920: 1920: 8.1 million8.1 million 1929: 1929: 26.7 26.7

millionmillion One in every 4.9 Americans owned an One in every 4.9 Americans owned an

automobile in the 20’s--much higher than automobile in the 20’s--much higher than the rest of the worldthe rest of the world

Model TModel T

Advent of the Gasoline AgeAdvent of the Gasoline Age

• 6 million people directly or indirectly employed

• Standard of living in America rose rapidly• Petroleum business booms: CA, TX, OK• Railroads left behind• Farmers did well w/ improved

transportation• More leisure hours w/ commuter nation

Humans Develop WingsHumans Develop Wings Wright brothersWright brothers 1st flight on 12-17-1903 in

Kitty Hawk, NC After WW1--private companies began to

manufacture commuter planes Charles Lindbergh’sCharles Lindbergh’s flight makes planes

“popular” Becomes legendary hero for America Military technology added & “globalized” the

world in the 1920’s

1st Flight1st Flight

The Radio Revolution

Guglielmo MarconiGuglielmo Marconi invents in 1890s Develops over next 25 years Long-distance broadcasting possible “national programs”--linked Americans

together Vehicle for free enterprise Sports increased in popularity Politicians changed their speaking patterns News, music & more made way into homes

Hollywood “Filmland” Fantasies

• The Great Train RobberyThe Great Train Robbery-1st nickelodeon• The Birth of a NationThe Birth of a Nation-glorified KKK during

Reconstruction• “Hang the KaiserHang the Kaiser”--WW1 films• The Jazz SingerThe Jazz Singer--1st talkie • Outperformed all other entertainment• Movie “stars” were created• Made the mass media much more influential

Famous posters & photos of the 1920s movie age

Dynamic DecadeDynamic DecadeDynamic DecadeDynamic Decade

• More Americans lived in urban areas vs. rural areas for 1st time in history

• Women find growing employment• Margaret SangerMargaret Sanger introduces contraceptives• Fundamentalist churches grow in power• Ads cater to “sexual allure” to sell products• FlappersFlappers become the symbol of the new youth• Many “taboos” go out the window• Harlem RenaissanceHarlem Renaissance begins with NYC