1920s A New Era

Politics Through the 1920s, three Republican presidents would control the executive branch Through the 1920s, three Republican presidents would control the executive branch Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover

Politics Congress was solidly Republican Congress was solidly Republican

Republican Control U.S. business boomed U.S. business boomed Farmers & labor unions struggled Farmers & labor unions struggled

Business Doctrine Limited government regulation as an aid in helping business Limited government regulation as an aid in helping business

Business Doctrine The nation would benefit if business & the pursuit of profits took the lead in developing the economy The nation would benefit if business & the pursuit of profits took the lead in developing the economy

New Culture The Census reported that, for the first time, more than half of the American population lived in urban areas The Census reported that, for the first time, more than half of the American population lived in urban areas

New Culture Culture of the cities was based on: Culture of the cities was based on: Popular tastes Popular tastes Habits of mass consumption Habits of mass consumption

New Culture Increasingly at odds with the strict religious and moral codes of rural America Increasingly at odds with the strict religious and moral codes of rural America

New Culture Jazz Age Jazz Age Harlem Renaissance Harlem Renaissance Consumerism Consumerism Impact of the Automobile Impact of the Automobile

New Culture Entertainment (radio, rise of movie industry) Entertainment (radio, rise of movie industry) Popular heroes (Jack Dempsey, Babe Ruth, Bobby Jones) Popular heroes (Jack Dempsey, Babe Ruth, Bobby Jones)

Literature of Alienation Many leading writers of the postwar decade bitterly condemned the sacrifices of wartime as a fraud perpetrated by money interests Many leading writers of the postwar decade bitterly condemned the sacrifices of wartime as a fraud perpetrated by money interests

Lost Generation Disillusionment caused writer Gertrude Stein to call these writers a “ lost generation ” Disillusionment caused writer Gertrude Stein to call these writers a “ lost generation ” F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Sinclair Lewis F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Sinclair Lewis

Lost Generation Expressed disillusionment with the ideals of an earlier time & with the materialism of a business-oriented culture Expressed disillusionment with the ideals of an earlier time & with the materialism of a business-oriented culture

Cultures in Conflict Dominant social and political issues of the 1920s expressed sharp divisions in U.S. society Dominant social and political issues of the 1920s expressed sharp divisions in U.S. society

Cultures in Conflict: Divisions Between young & old Between young & old Between urban modernists & rural fundamentalists Between urban modernists & rural fundamentalists Between prohibitionists & anti- prohibitionists Between prohibitionists & anti- prohibitionists Between nativists & foreign-born Between nativists & foreign-born

Impact of Automobiles Helped the economy to boom Helped the economy to boom Spurred the building of paved roads, service stations, garages Spurred the building of paved roads, service stations, garages Gave people freedom to travel Gave people freedom to travel Led to urban sprawl Led to urban sprawl Gave Americans a new status symbol Gave Americans a new status symbol

Impact of Automobiles Company or Product: Model T Ford Company or Product: Model T Ford Cost - $290 (Model A - $495) Cost - $290 (Model A - $495) Available in colors (Model A – black only) Available in colors (Model A – black only)

Airplane Industry Established a new means of transportation for people and goods Established a new means of transportation for people and goods Gave people greater freedom to travel Gave people greater freedom to travel

Electricity – Alternating Current Made it possible to distribute electric power over greater areas Made it possible to distribute electric power over greater areas Led to the electrification of homes and widespread use of electrical appliances Led to the electrification of homes and widespread use of electrical appliances Made housewives ’ work easier— freeing them up for other activities Made housewives ’ work easier— freeing them up for other activities

Electricity – Alternating Current Helped the economy to boom Helped the economy to boom Company or Product—Electric refrigerator Company or Product—Electric refrigerator

Advertising Created greater demand for consumer goods Created greater demand for consumer goods Increased sales and profits Increased sales and profits Turned luxuries into necessities Turned luxuries into necessities Helped the economy to boom Helped the economy to boom Company or product - Listerine Company or product - Listerine

Installment Plan Helped the economy to boom Helped the economy to boom Helped to create a false sense of prosperity Helped to create a false sense of prosperity Allowed people to buy goods over an extended period of time without having to put up much money at the time of purchase Allowed people to buy goods over an extended period of time without having to put up much money at the time of purchase

Installment Plan Company or Product - Automobiles Company or Product - Automobiles