1. The Jazz Age The 1920’s http://www.gilderlehrman.org/historynow/06_2008/historian5.php

2. The Jazz Age The 1920s were a time of rapid social change in which many people – particularly women – adopted new lifestyles and attitudes. The 1920s were a time of rapid social change in which many people – particularly women – adopted new lifestyles and attitudes.

3. The Flapper Wore shorter dresses than their mothers. (9- inch hemline for mom) Wore shorter dresses than their mothers. (9- inch hemline for mom) Short hair and hats to show off short hair Short hair and hats to show off short hair Bobbed hair Bobbed hair Wore make up Wore make up Drank and smoked in public Drank and smoked in public

4. Women working in the 1920s 15% of women were professionals 15% of women were professionals 20% had clerical jobs 20% had clerical jobs By 1930 29% of the workforce was women. By 1930 29% of the workforce was women.

5. Women and the Vote 1920 – women were allowed to vote. 1920 – women were allowed to vote. 1920 only 35% of the women eligible to vote – did vote. 1920 only 35% of the women eligible to vote – did vote.

6. Americans on the move 1920: First time in American history that there were more people living in cities than on farms. 1920: First time in American history that there were more people living in cities than on farms. African Americans moved North African Americans moved North

7. Growth of Suburbs Electric trolley cars and buses got people from jobs in the city to suburbs quickly and cheaply. Electric trolley cars and buses got people from jobs in the city to suburbs quickly and cheaply.

8. American Heroes Charles Lindbergh Charles Lindbergh Lucky Lindy Lucky Lindy May 20, 1927: First man to fly non-stop New York to Paris. May 20, 1927: First man to fly non-stop New York to Paris. Amelia Earhart Amelia Earhart 1928 – first woman to cross the Atlantic in a plane. 1928 – first woman to cross the Atlantic in a plane. 1932 – first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. 1932 – first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. First to fly from Hawaii to California. First to fly from Hawaii to California.

9. Mass Media and the Jazz Age The founding of Hollywood The founding of Hollywood Drew film makers to the area in 1900. Drew film makers to the area in 1900. Variety of landscapes (mountains, desert, ocean) Variety of landscapes (mountains, desert, ocean) Warm climate Warm climate Lighting was better Lighting was better Large work force from LA. Large work force from LA.

10. Mass Media in the Jazz Age UNTIL 1920s the US had been a collection of regional cultures. UNTIL 1920s the US had been a collection of regional cultures. Accents differed Accents differed Customs differed Customs differed Entertainment differed Entertainment differed

11. Mass Media and the Jazz Age Films, national newspapers and radio created the “ national ” culture of the country. Films, national newspapers and radio created the “ national ” culture of the country.

12. Movies 1910 – 5,000 theaters in the country. 1910 – 5,000 theaters in the country. 1930 – 22,500 theaters 1930 – 22,500 theaters 80 million movie tickets were sold every week. 80 million movie tickets were sold every week. Until 1927 movies were silent. Until 1927 movies were silent. The first sound film THE JAZZ SINGER – 1927 The first sound film THE JAZZ SINGER – 1927 Al Jolson Al Jolson Going to the “ talkies ” was a popular pastime. Going to the “ talkies ” was a popular pastime.

13. Newspapers and Magazines Golden Age of newspapers. Golden Age of newspapers. EVERY town had a newspaper. EVERY town had a newspaper. The rise of newspaper chains. The rise of newspaper chains. Some owners had monopolies on the news in their states. Some owners had monopolies on the news in their states.

14. Newspapers More Americans began to share the same information, read the same events, and encounter the same ideas and fashions. More Americans began to share the same information, read the same events, and encounter the same ideas and fashions. Created a common culture. Created a common culture.

15. Radio 1920 Westinghouse Electric engineer Frank Conrad put a transmitter in his garage in Pittsburgh. Read news, played music. 1920 Westinghouse Electric engineer Frank Conrad put a transmitter in his garage in Pittsburgh. Read news, played music. KDKA – the FIRST American radio station. KDKA – the FIRST American radio station. By 1922 500 radio stations across the country. By 1922 500 radio stations across the country.

16. The Jazz Age The radio audience and the African American migration to the cities made jazz popular. The radio audience and the African American migration to the cities made jazz popular. Improvisation of music Improvisation of music Syncopation – offbeat rhythm. Syncopation – offbeat rhythm.

17. The Jazz Age Young people were NUTS about jazz. Young people were NUTS about jazz. 1929 – 60% of radio air time was playing jazz. 1929 – 60% of radio air time was playing jazz.

18. Heroes of Jazz Louis Armstrong (1901 – 1974) Louis Armstrong (1901 – 1974) “ Satchmo ” and “ The Gift ” “ Satchmo ” and “ The Gift ” New Orleans to Chicago to the world. New Orleans to Chicago to the world. Trumpet and singing “ scat ” Trumpet and singing “ scat ”

19. Jazz Clubs and Dance Halls To hear the “ real ” jazz – NYC and the neighborhood of Harlem. To hear the “ real ” jazz – NYC and the neighborhood of Harlem. 500 jazz clubs 500 jazz clubs Cotton Club the most famous Cotton Club the most famous

20. Literature in the 1920s: The Lost Generation Many writers, artists, and musicians went to Europe and most ended up in Paris Many writers, artists, and musicians went to Europe and most ended up in Paris Cheap living Cheap living Racial tolerance Racial tolerance Intellectual tolerance Intellectual tolerance

21. The Lost Generation F. Scott Fitzgerald F. Scott Fitzgerald Wife Zelda Wife Zelda THE GREAT GATSBY THE GREAT GATSBY THE SUN ALSO RISES THE SUN ALSO RISES Showed the people of the jazz age having self-centered and shallow ways. Showed the people of the jazz age having self-centered and shallow ways.

22. Cultural Conflicts in the 1920s PROHIBITION PROHIBITION The 18 th Amendment to the Constitution The 18 th Amendment to the Constitution Made manufacturing of alcohol illegal. Made manufacturing of alcohol illegal. Most people chose to ignore it. Most people chose to ignore it.

23. Goals of Prohibition Eliminate drunkenness Eliminate drunkenness Causing abuse of family Causing abuse of family Get rid of saloons Get rid of saloons Prostitution, gambling dens Prostitution, gambling dens Prevent absenteeism and on-the-job accidents stemming from drunkenness Prevent absenteeism and on-the-job accidents stemming from drunkenness

24. How Effective was Prohibition? They drank in the White House They drank in the White House 1924 – Kansas had 95% of people obeying the law not to drink. 1924 – Kansas had 95% of people obeying the law not to drink. Only 5% of New Yorkers obeyed the law. Only 5% of New Yorkers obeyed the law. Contrast between rural and urban moral values. Contrast between rural and urban moral values.

25. Speakeasies Bars that operated illegally. Bars that operated illegally. To get into a speakeasy – you needed a password or be recognized by a guard. To get into a speakeasy – you needed a password or be recognized by a guard. Sometimes hidden behind legit businesses. Sometimes hidden behind legit businesses.

26. Speakeasies Before Prohibition the whole state of Massachusetts had 1,000 saloons. Before Prohibition the whole state of Massachusetts had 1,000 saloons. AFTER Prohibition Boston alone had 4,000 speakeasies and 15,000 bootleggers. AFTER Prohibition Boston alone had 4,000 speakeasies and 15,000 bootleggers.

27. Age of Excess America in the 1920s was undergoing dynamic changes. America in the 1920s was undergoing dynamic changes. Between 1921 and 1924 the country’s gross national product jumped from $69 billion to $93 billion while aggregate wages rose from roughly $36.4 billion to $51.5 billion. Between 1921 and 1924 the country’s gross national product jumped from $69 billion to $93 billion while aggregate wages rose from roughly $36.4 billion to $51.5 billion. The United States had entered World War I a debtor nation and emerged as Europe’s largest creditor, to the tune of $12.5 billion. The United States had entered World War I a debtor nation and emerged as Europe’s largest creditor, to the tune of $12.5 billion. From a relative standpoint, America was rich, and it showed. From a relative standpoint, America was rich, and it showed.

28. Innovation Wealth seemed to breed innovation. It took over one hundred years for the US Patent Office to issue its millionth patent in 1911; within fifteen years it issued its two-millionth. Wealth seemed to breed innovation. It took over one hundred years for the US Patent Office to issue its millionth patent in 1911; within fifteen years it issued its two-millionth. Scores of new factory products flooded the growing consumer market. Scores of new factory products flooded the growing consumer market.

29. Social Responsibility People hadn’t had this kind of wealth before People hadn’t had this kind of wealth before People spent money a lot more freely and were less responsible People spent money a lot more freely and were less responsible It is common to hear that the 1920’s was a time of little social responsibility and chasing of the “American Dream” It is common to hear that the 1920’s was a time of little social responsibility and chasing of the “American Dream”

30. Celebrity Americans in the 1920s were also obsessed with a new cult of celebrity. Americans in the 1920s were also obsessed with a new cult of celebrity. The decade gave rise to sports legends like Babe Ruth, who was just as renowned for his voracious appetite as for his homerun record, and Jack Dempsey, the heavyweight champion who by the mid-1920s appeared in almost as many films as he did title fights. The decade gave rise to sports legends like Babe Ruth, who was just as renowned for his voracious appetite as for his homerun record, and Jack Dempsey, the heavyweight champion who by the mid-1920s appeared in almost as many films as he did title fights.

31. Conflict If they enjoyed its prosperity, they also feared its social consequences. If they enjoyed its prosperity, they also feared its social consequences. The rise of premarital sex, the entry of women into the workplace, the breakdown of traditional religious mores, and the influx of millions of new immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe gave rise to a powerful backlash. The rise of premarital sex, the entry of women into the workplace, the breakdown of traditional religious mores, and the influx of millions of new immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe gave rise to a powerful backlash. Thus, the same decade that gave rise to Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald also witnessed a powerful backlash. Thus, the same decade that gave rise to Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald also witnessed a powerful backlash.

32. Conflict Cont’d In towns and cities throughout America, a revitalized Klu Klux Klan railed against African Americans, immigrants, Catholics and “loose women.” In towns and cities throughout America, a revitalized Klu Klux Klan railed against African Americans, immigrants, Catholics and “loose women.” Supporters of Prohibition drove through a restrictive law that banned the sale or production of liquor. Supporters of Prohibition drove through a restrictive law that banned the sale or production of liquor. Conservative Christians formed Fundamentalist churches and sought to restore God to his traditional place in homes and schools. Conservative Christians formed Fundamentalist churches and sought to restore God to his traditional place in homes and schools. There was, in short, a deep and pervasive contradiction – and many Americans sensed it. There was, in short, a deep and pervasive contradiction – and many Americans sensed it.

33. The End The world that Fitzgerald chronicled came crashing down on October 29, 1929. The world that Fitzgerald chronicled came crashing down on October 29, 1929. That was Black Tuesday, when the stock market collapsed. The boom economy went bust. That was Black Tuesday, when the stock market collapsed. The boom economy went bust. America’s Jazz Age was officially over. America’s Jazz Age was officially over.