1920s: More Cultural Conflicts

Rural vs. Urban Life Urban Life Rural Life Background: By 1920, more than ½ of Americans lived in the cities. These numbers continued to accelerate throughout the 20s Rural Life Conservative moral values Close social relationships Slow paced Urban Life Tolerated drinking, gambling and casual dating Impersonal / anonymous Fast-paced Crowded

Prohibition: Wets vs. Drys Began in 1920 with the 18th amendment; ended in 1933 with the 21st amendment Banned the manufacture, sale and transportation of alcoholic beverages Drys Considered alcohol a prime cause of Corruption Crime Child / wife abuse Accidents on the job Many reformers included Protestants from the rural South and West Wets Wanted to enjoy their life Drinking was a natural part of socializing Especially to many immigrants Resented government meddling

Effects of Prohibition Disrespect for the law People went around the law Speakeasies Hidden saloons and nightclubs Bootleggers People who smuggled alcohol into the US and sold it Criminals found a new source of income Via bootlegging Organized Crime Grew In nearly every major city Al Capone = most notorious Prohibition era gangster Bootlegging empire netted over $60 Million a year

Science vs. Religion Science Secular thinkers In favor of more modern ideas Supported the theory of evolution American Fundamentalists Protestants who believed in a literal, non-symbolic interpretation of the bible All stories in the bible were true Skeptical of science Against the theory of evolution Scopes Trial: 1925, John T. Scopes from Tennessee was put on trial for teaching evolution in his biology class. He was found guilty

19th Century vs. 20th Century Women In the rebellious, pleasure-seeking atmosphere of the 20s, many women began to assert their independence, reject the values of the 19th century and demand the same freedoms as men 19th century Women: Duties centered around being a wife and mother Limited opportunities outside the home Unequal rights 20th Century Women: Gaining rights Becoming more assertive The Flapper More job opportunities outside the home