Themes (Major Topics) of the 1920s

Immigrant v. American Change Technology Basis of Conflicts Urban v. Rural Wet v. Dry (Alcohol or not?) Leisure Time Religion v. Science African- American Experience Women’s Roles

After WW1 ( ) Fear of foreign Ideas & targeting immigrants (Red Scare) Ku Klux Klan Protect “pure” America Nation wide worker strikes & bombings Want to forget war & get back to normal Gov’t hunts down radicals Laws to reduce immigration Expel & arrest immigrants

"Come unto Me, Ye Opprest!" Literary Digest, 7/5/19. Fear that Radical Immigrants from Europe threaten liberty

The Red Scare Fear of foreign Ideas & targeting immigrants (Red Scare ) The fear that revolution and anarchy would come to America – Hatred switches from Germans to all immigrants – 1919 – Bombing plot exposed – 36 to kill famous & wealthy Americans – 1919 – 8 bombs explode at same time in 8 cities – 3600 strikes by workers nationwide America is hysterical. Conflicts

The Red Scare Fear of foreign Ideas & targeting immigrants (Red Scare) Government targets immigrants & radicals – US Gov’t illegal Palmer Raids arrest thousands – Sacco & Vanzetti convicted of murder. Some say executed b/c they are anarchist Italians. – U.S. ship nicknamed the “Soviet Ark” ships 300 radical immigrants back to Europe. Gov’t passes laws to slash Eastern European immigration. Gov’t hunts down radicals Laws to reduce immigration Expel & arrest immigrants

The Gauntlet Flung Down. 5/21/19. Anarchy uses terror to threaten a free nation

By 1925, 5 million members – midwest & South Main targets are immigrants, Catholics, Jews, evolutionists, drinkers and sinners. Want to get rid of immigrants from Italy, Poland, Russia. Ku Klux Klan Protect “pure” America Conflicts

Obsession with buying “things ” Want to forget war & get back to normal Spectator sports grow Cities boom – jobs and fun Consumer culture & Free Time Cars, radios, movies, appliances Change Growth of Advertising

Economy robust during 1920s – European nations crippled by WW1. High incomes and production – Money to spend on cheap cars (assembly line/Ford) – Consumer credit - crazy buying of goods like radios – Hollywood / movies grow due to technology and demand – City population grows – jobs & entertainment – US is connected through technology; rapid spread of fads & ideas; Want to forget war & get back to normal Consumer culture & Free Time Change

tr Conflicts b/w traditional and new values Prohibition Religion vs. Science Scopes Trial Evolution v. Fundamentalism Purify America Wets v. Drys City v. Country Lack of Gov’t enforcement Rise of Mafia

Dayton Tennessee Scopes “Monkey” Trial 1925 TN outlawed teaching evolution in schools – South is strongly religiously based – belief in literal reading of the Bible. (fundamentalist) – Northern city folk trend toward science Scopes opts to be arrested – can a government dictate a religious belief? Turns into a media circus Scopes convicted – but religious beliefs seen as anti-science & intolerant Religion vs. Science Evolution v. Fundamentalism City v. Country

Congress passes law in 1919 (18 th Amendment to the Constitution) – repealed 1933 Not enough police! – City people ignore the law – Illegal speakeasies (bars) all over cities. – Mafia gangsters compete for control of cities & provide illegal liquor. It does reduce alcoholism and wife abuse Prohibition Purify America Wets v. Drys City v. Country Conflicts

Women’s Changing Roles 19 th Amendment – The Right to Vote Independence & Opportunities The “New” Woman & Flapper Jazz. Speakeasies and Jobs Conflict Change Social, Political, Work Discrimination

Women’s fight for the vote took 100 years Protests in 1910s led to arrests and abuse Law passed in 1920 (19 th Amendment) The “New Woman”/Flappers worked in limited jobs for less pay – They challenged ideas of “proper” behavior – most women looked down on them as immoral. Independent & willing to divorce Women’s Changing Roles

African- American Experience Competition for Jobs, Housing Harlem (NY) Renaissance Racial Conflict / Riots in Multiple Cities Great Migration from South to North Escape Racism, lack of jobs in South Black Pride Jazz Music & Clubs popular Literature and Art

Great Migration – from South to North to escape prejudice, discrimination – Seek better wages & living conditions – need for workers during WWI (immigration drops) – Racial conflict over housing, jobs Harlem Renaissance – Black cultural pride in music, art, literature – White acceptance of aspects of Black culture – Struggle for political and economic equality African- American Experience