The Roaring Life of the 1920’s Chapter 13
African-American movement NAACP- fights for African-American rights Anti-lynching bills introduced into Congress Marcus Garvey- immigrant from Jamaica; believed that African-Americans should build a separate society. UNIA- Universal Negro Improvement Association Back-to-Africa; help throw off colonial oppressors Designed a uniform for himself as “Provincial President of Africa”
Changing Ways of Life City life vs. rural life Cities: bustling areas of acceptance and strangers Small-towns: strict values and familiarity Clash on 18 th Amendment (Prohibition)- manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol was legally prohibited. Support came from rural South & West Immigrants resented govt. involvement
Prohibition Speakeasies- hidden saloons & nightclubs Password or card Bootlegger- liquor smugglers Canada, Cuba, West Indies Organized crime grew as a result Chicago & Al Capone $60 million/ year
End of Prohibition Volstead Act established Prohibition Bureau in Treasury Dept. Under funded: patrolled 18,700 miles of coastline, inland borders, distilleries, highways, truck loads etc. 1,500 poorly paid men& local police Often corrupt and paid off to turn their head Ends in repealed by 21 st Amendment Mid 20’s only 19% support Prohibition
Fundamentalism Ideas supported by Protestant religion; Bible is true- science is not. Reject Darwin’s theory of evolution TN passed law -illegal to teach evolution ACLU steps up to defend anyone who does Scopes Trial- John Scopes, Biology teacher is arrested Clarence Darrow defends Scopes against prosecutor William Jennings Bryan Bryan supposed expert on the Bible
The Twenties Woman The flapper- young woman who embraced new fashion, attitudes and freedom of 20’s
Double Standard Change in attitudes toward what was acceptable for girls; Drinking, smoking, dancing, casual sex Marriage is 50/50, premarital sex b/c of birth control Not necessarily the majority of young girls Double standard allows for greater sexual freedom for men than women. Must still observe stricter standards
Work opportunities “Female jobs” for college educated women- teachers, nurses, librarians Clerical, stenographers, clerks, typists Few did men’s jobs; pilots, taxi drivers, oil driller million in jobs, few are managers; still earn less than men Housework gets easier, birth rate drops, ready-made goods Marriages based on love, partnership
Education & Pop Culture Education -grew from 1 million to 4 million high school grads between 1914 & 1926 Educational standards higher; new immigrants enrolled (EL) Mass media-newspapers, magazines become widely read Radio- widespread news coverage as it happened Presidential speeches; sporting events
New Entertainment Leisure- sporting events, flagpole sitting, dance marathons Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey, Helen Wills Charles Lindbergh emerges as a national hero- honest & brave Movies- The Jazz Singer 1 st movie w/sound “talkies” doubles movie attendance Georgia O’Keefe, Gershwin, Sinclair Lewis, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway Encompassing “America” and the time period
The 1920’s Fitzgeralds Lindbergh O’Keefe Babe Ruth “talkies”
Harlem Renaissance A movement of art and creativity in the heart of Harlem, NY- biggest black community in the world. Middle-class African-Americans writers celebrate their heritage Claude McKay & Langston Hughes- poets Zora Neale Hurston- woman writer of folklore Jazz starts in New Orleans – blends ragtime and vocal blues Louis Armstrong- trumpet player; “Duke” Ellington- pianist; Bessie Smith- singer