1920’s Lecture Notes

Revolution Abroad and Reaction at Home American Communist Party formed in 1919 communist ideas frightened much of the public Palmer Raids (1919) resulted in the deportation and arrest of thousands no evidence of revolutionary conspiracies uncovered

The “Red Scare” Communism: The government owns all land & property Single party controls the government Country takes priority over the individual Why would the United States see this as a threat?

The “Red Scare” April 15, 1920 gunmen robbed and killed the guard and paymaster of a shoe factory in Massachusetts Sacco and Vanzetti trial (1920) exposed fears and suspicions of immigrants Both were found guilty and executed, despite lack of solid evidence and worldwide protests

Labor Unrest Red Scare fears led to growing hostility toward labor unions Boston police strike (1919) ended when Governor Calvin Coolidge called in National Guard, officers were replaced U.S. Steel Corporation strike (1919) was met with violence against striking workers John L. Lewis emerged as a leading labor figure during United Mine Workers strike (1919) Union membership dropped during the 1920s

Labor vs. Capital Cartoons A series of labor strikes from 1919-1920 pitted workers demanding higher wages after the war vs. industrialists who viewed labor unions as the product of foreign-inspired anarchists and Communist agitators. Majority of Americans sided with “capital” Businesses

1920’s Popular Culture The 1920’s saw the birth and development of many aspects of American culture: Consumerism Transportation Mass Media Women’s Rights “Sports Mania” The Jazz Age Literature and Art

Prohibition & Crime The 18th Amendment established prohibition terms were defined by the Volstead Act Americans had little regard for the new law “speakeasies” and bootleggers supplied the public with alcohol rise of organized crime (Al Capone)

Fundamentalism and the Scopes Trial Clash between tradition and scientific progress “fundamentalists” insisted on a literal interpretation of the Bible Many states had banned the teaching of evolution John T. Scopes was placed on trial, found guilty Clarence Darrow vs. William Jennings Bryan

Ku Klux Klan Resurgence in 1915 Numbers Colonel William J. Simmons –Methodist Preacher from Alabama Use of fundraising and publicity methods Numbers Grew to 4 million followers in 1926 Not just a Southern organization Attacks against African Americans, Jews, Catholics, immigrants, etc.

Harlem in the Twenties African Americans experienced an increased racial consciousness NAACP protested racial violence James Weldon Johnson led an anti-lynching campaign More radical messages emerged Marcus Garvey’s “Back to Africa” movement

The Harlem Renaissance Literary movement reflected pride in African-American culture Langston Hughes, Claude McKay, Zora Neale Hurston Phonograph ushered in the “Jazz Age” Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Bessie Smith