2. Conservatism and Cultural Diversity in the 1920s
Get out the Chapter 15 packet and take a look at the first page
Read aloud... need volunteers!

3. Key Concepts for the 1920s
The 1920s were dominated by conservative Republican presidents.
Americans experienced an unprecedented burst of consumer activity as new mass-produced commodities were made available.
Tensions prevailed between rural and urban America.
The decade witnessed a rise in nativism and racism.
 The period was culturally vibrant as new forms of music and art became popular
The U.S. government persecuted radicals in the red scare.

4. “Return to Normalcy” Election of 1920
Cox/F. Roosevelt (D) v. Harding/ Coolidge (R)
Idealism v. Normalcy
Republicans win the election
Mandate from the American people?

5. Harding Administration
Sought to cut taxes (esp. wealthy)
Reduce government spending
Protect American industries
FYI- Harding never really wanted to be President
Died 3 years into his term  in comes Coolidge

6. Coolidge Administration
“Silent Cal” – the best thing for a president to do is very little, especially when it came to government control or regulation of the economy
Business flourished!
Won election in 1924, but promised
not to run in 1928
1928 election winner:
Herbert Hoover

7. Mass Consumerism Economy reached unprecedented heights in the 1920s
Stock market “bubble”
Purchasing on credit (installment buying)
Buy now, pay later
Needs  wants
Radio, automobile/assembly line, motion pictures, professional sports
Steamboat Willie

9. Ford has been called the “Father of the Traffic Jam.”

10. Divisions Domestically
Urban vs. Rural
Those living in rural areas saw the city as a place of crime and sin
Prohibition! (18th Amendment)
Drys, Wets, Speakeasies, Bootleggers
Prohibition Video

11. Harlem Renaissance Modern v. Traditional art forms
Harlem, NY- Center of Black American cultural and intellectual life- cultural mecca
Artists, poets, authors, musicians, painters
Opportunity to protest racial issues and promote black pride
Langston Hughes

12. Nativist Anxiety Reemergence of the Ku Klux Klan
Targets: Jews, eastern Europeans, Catholics, radicals, unions, Black Americans
Sacco and Vanzetti Trial
Italian immigrants convicted
and executed for murder
despite lack of evidence
“Hundred Percenters”

13. The Only Way to Handle It?
Isolationists and nativists succeeded in damming up the flow of immigrants to the United States in the early 1920s.
The Immigration Act of 1924 placed strict quotas on European immigrants and completely shut out the Japanese.

14. Margaret Sanger- lectured about contraception
The Woman’s Era?
19th Amendment (1920) Gave women the right to vote
Margaret Sanger- lectured about contraception

15. Woman in the driver’s seat
The Morality Police
Woman in the driver’s seat

16. Why so important?
Historians see the period as one where Americans became identified with consumerism and materialism
Actions of those during the 20s are in reaction to Progressive Era and WWI
Development and expansion of American economy like nothing before