11.3

Objectives Compare economic and cultural life in rural American to that in urban America. Discuss the changes in U.S. immigration policy in the 1920s. Analyze the goals and motives of the KKK in the 1920s. Discuss the success and failures of the 18 th Amendment.

Traditionalism & Modernism Clash 1920: More ppl living in urban areas than in rural areas There was an ideological split b/w these ppl Urban Americans: Open to social change + scientific development, consumerism, leisure activities, modernism Modernism – trend to emphasize science + secular values over traditional religious values Rural Americans: Much less consumerism, tradition views on religion and science, less leisure

Education Becomes More Important Rural viewpoint on education: Not vital beyond the 3 R’s – reading, writing, (a)rithmetic Focused more on knowledge of the land, crops and endurance Urban viewpoint on education: Formal education very important More educated = more successful, better jobs

Religious Fundamentalism Grows Many Christians believed that their religion was under siege ∴ turned to fundamentalism Emphasized Protestant teachings + the belief that every word in the Bible was literal truth Used this as a backlash against the growing amount of secular + scientific ideas Every scientific and moral question could be answered using the Bible Fundamentalism was nationwide, strongest in rural areas

Americans Clash Over Evolution Fundamentalist + modernist beliefs clashed at the Scopes Trial over the teaching of evolution in schools. Darwinist theory that ppl originated from simpler life forms Went directly against teachings in the Bible 1925 – law pass in TN that made it illegal to teach evolution in schools

Americans Clash Over Evolution ACLU – Convinced John Scopes, a high school bio teacher, to challenge the law Taught evolution in his classroom Immediately arrested Scopes “Monkey” Trial gained national attention Clarence Darrow defended Scopes, WJB was the prosecutor Scopes guilty of breaking the law, fined $100 Illustrated the nationwide rift b/w urban and rural, fundamentalist and modernist

Restricting Immigration – Nativists Oppose Immigration The Red Scare left many ppl worried about immigrant from eastern Europe Nativists wanted to restrict immigration other saw that immigration was part of being an Americans

Quota Laws for Newcomers Emergency Quota Act of 1921 – established the max. # of ppl who could enter the U.S. from each foreign country National Origins Act of 1924 – quota system to govern immigration from certain countries # of immigrants could not exceed 2% of the 1890 U.S. population of a specific nationality 1890 was prior to the big wave of immigrations

1920s Immigration

The Klan Rises Again Appealed to rural farmers looking to rebel against the urbanization of the era, fearful of change 1915 – Ku Klux Klan revived in GA The “Invisible Empire” had around 4.5 million members by 1924 Klan terrorized blacks, Catholics, Jews, Immigrants, and unions, devoted to “100% Americanism” Dominated state politics in the 1920s  leader was David Stephenson Leaders had names like Grand Dragon and Imperial Wizard

Americans Oppose the Klan NAACP and Anti-Defamation League fought against the Klan and celebrated diversity Klan became very corrupt Bribed politicians, lied and stole from its members Stephenson imprisoned for murder and assault Criminal activity lead to their decline

Government Bans Alcoholic Beverages 1919 – states ratified 18 th Amendment Made it illegal to manufacture, distribute, sell alcohol Passed largely by the support of rural votes Congress passed the Volstead Act: Officially enforced the 18 th Amendment “Drys” argued that alcohol prohibition strengthened families, improved ppl, “noble experiment” “Wets” argued that prohibiting alcohol simply led to organized crime + didn’t stop ppl from drinking

Americans Break the Law Ppl continued to illegally produce, distribute and sell alcohol Bootleggers smuggled + sold alcohol to consumers Hid it in their boots! Speakeasies (secret places to drink) opened in big cities: Asked ppl to talk quietly or “speak easy”

Americans Break the Law Organized crime centered around alcohol Too great a problem for police to control City police + politicians looked the other way Al Capone – Chicago gang leader Many lots of $$$ off illegal alcohol His gang activity transferred into other problematic areas Drugs, prostitution, robbery, murder

Prohibition Divides the Nation Mid-1920s: city ppl called for the repeal of the 18 th Amendment Rural areas associated alcohol w/the issues of the times and fought to keep it illegal 1933: 21 st Amendment repealed the 18 th.