LESSON 2 The Twenties

Postwar Prosperity and Glamour The Twenties Postwar Prosperity and Glamour After the war, Americans became consumers, spending money instead of saving. Cars became more affordable and therefore more popular. Most homes had electricity so Americans bought appliances like toasters and refrigerators. Since most families only had one income, people relied on credit to pay for things.

What’s in a Name? The “Roaring Twenties” The “Jazz Age” The decade of the Twenties has several nicknames. The “Roaring Twenties” The “Jazz Age” The “Lawless Decade” What do these nicknames tell you about the 1920s?

A Time of Prosperity After the war, the US economy began to boom. Businesses grew and people had money to spend. Many people moved from rural, farming areas to urban areas (cities). As a result, cities grew. Americans, especially young Americans began to challenge traditional values. Ask students what “traditional values” are? How do they think Americans viewed the roles of men and women, boys and girls during the early 1900s? What do they think may have changed people’s ideas about these roles after the war ended?

Mass Media & Entertainment The Twenties Mass Media & Entertainment Art, music, and literature transformed into new forms. The blues and jazz filled nightclubs across the country. Families listened to comedies, detective stories and jazz music. The earliest films, Silent Films, became a hit. Baseball and Boxing events became huge spectator events.

Automobiles and Tourism The Twenties Automobiles and Tourism Transportation changes impacted life in South Carolina in the 1920’s Trollies and automobiles led to the creation of suburbs. Cars also made it easier to travel. South Carolina beaches became a popular spot for tourism. New roads and highways made the broad beaches of the state accessible to many people. Sullivan’s Island, Hunting Island, Edisto and Pawley’s Island led to a rush of vacationers. New bridges made it easier to reach these barrier islands. Myrtle Beach would soon become one of the most popular destinations in North America.

The Car Culture Emerges The Twenties The Car Culture Emerges

The Harlem Renaissance Southern Literary Renaissance The Twenties A Cultural Awakening The Harlem Renaissance Southern Literary Renaissance A period of great achievement by African American writers, artists, and performers. A celebration of black literature, music, theater, and visual arts centered in NYC’s Harlem District. Its influence spread to urban areas throughout the country. The response of southern writers and artists to criticisms that the South was “an unsophisticated cultural wasteland.” This movement celebrated the cultural heritage of the South. Led by the Poetry Society of South Carolina Have students find artwork, music, poetry, plays, or other literature from one of the people listed and share it with the class. How did the piece they found contribute to either renaissance? How did it contribute to a cultural awakening among all Americans?

Actors rehearsing a Langston Hughes play. A Cultural Awakening Actors rehearsing a Langston Hughes play.

The Twenties A Decade of Hard Times Although many businesses prospered in the 1920s, many farmers did not. SC’s agriculture had been in steady decline after WWI ended. Farmers were producing as if a war time economy still existed. European countries were not trading as much as they could focus their own agricultural production now that the war was over Boll weevils destroyed much of the cotton crop that decade. Years of drought added to the difficulties. Many farm families were forced to leave the state.

The Twenties A Decade of Hard Times Because of the declining cotton prices, farmers were not making enough money to pay off their mortgages. Many farmers lost their farms. This becomes a problem for the banks as they could not sell the foreclosed farms. This caused bank failure in South Carolina even before the stock market crashed in 1929.

Tough Times for Textiles The Twenties Tough Times for Textiles Despite the troubles faced by cotton farmers, the textile industry grew. South Carolina led the nation in production of cotton goods. Northern industrialists were attracted to South Carolina because of the ready supply of cheap labor

Tough Times for Textiles The Twenties Tough Times for Textiles Factory owners began using the “speed up” and “stretch out” methods to increase production while lowering production cost. Machines set at a faster speed to produce more. Workers were stretched out and given more machines to tend to. In the late 1920’s, industry began to decline as there was a lower demand and over production of textiles.

The KKK, the Red Scare, and Prohibition The Twenties The KKK, the Red Scare, and Prohibition The 1920s saw a return of the KKK. This KKK was different from the KKK of the 1860s and 1870 as they targeted more groups The group continued to target blacks, but expanded their hatred to Catholics, Jews, immigrants, and bootleggers. Lynchings and beatings resumed. The climate of the 1920s contributed to the KKK’s resurgence as they used advertising and business organizations to promote their organization. Ask students how the Red Scare influenced the KKK.

The KKK, the Red Scare, and Prohibition The Twenties The KKK, the Red Scare, and Prohibition A “Red Scare” swept the country. Since Russia had been taken over by Communists, scared Americans thought the US was next. The country passed the 18th Amendment which banned the making or selling of liquor. This led to an increase in crime. Organized crime made millions of dollars selling illegal alcohol. This was called bootlegging. Ask students how the Red Scare influenced the KKK.