Section 3 Social and Cultural Tensions DO NOW: Page 677 both “Thinking Critically” questions

Times were harder in rural areas. Rural people generally preferred traditional views of science, religion, and culture. In cities, many people enjoyed prosperity and were open to social change and new ideas. Rural vs. Urban

An example of this clash of values was the tension between modernism and Christian fundamentalism in the 1920s. Modernism emphasized science and secular values. Fundamentalism emphasized Protestant teachings and taught that every word in the Bible was the literal truth.

Attitudes toward education illustrate another difference between urban and rural perspectives. Urban people saw formal education as essential to getting a good job. In rural areas, “book learning” interfered with farm work and was less highly valued.

SCIENCE AND RELIGION CLASH  Another battleground during the 1920s was between fundamentalist religious groups and secular thinkers over the truths of science  The Protestant movement grounded in the literal interpretation of the bible is known as fundamentalism  Fundamentalists found all truth in the bible – including science & evolution

SCOPES/Monkey TRIAL  In March 1925, Tennessee passed the nation’s first law that made it a crime to teach evolution  The ACLU promised to defend any teacher willing to challenge the law – John Scopes did Scopes was a biology teacher who dared to teach his students that man derived from lower species

SCOPES TRIAL  The ACLU hired Clarence Darrow, the most famous trial lawyer of the era, to defend Scopes  The prosecution countered with William Jennings Bryan, the three-time Democratic presidential nominee Darrow Bryan

SCOPES TRIAL WORKSHEET  Trial opened on July 10,1925 and became a national sensation  In an unusual move, Darrow called Bryan to the stand as an expert on the bible – key question: Should the bible be interpreted literally?  Under intense questioning, Darrow got Bryan to admit that the bible can be interpreted in different ways  Nonetheless, Scopes was found guilty and fined $100 Bryan Darrow

TEKS 8C: Calculate percent composition and empirical and molecular formulas. In 1924, the National Origins Act set up a quota system for immigrants. For each nationality, the quota allowed up to 2 percent of 1890’s total population of that nationality living in the U.S. This limited the ability of many immigrants, such as Italian and Asian people, to enter the country.

The Ku Klux Klan Returns New Klan established by preacher in 1915 ▫Kidnappings, Beatings, and Lynching's ▫Not just in the South and not just Blacks  Also targeted Catholics, immigrants, Jews, and radicals ▫Membership soared due to the Red Scare  5 million members at its peak  They actually WON elections (LA, OH,OK,OR,TX)

African Americans Defend Their Rights Anti-lynching campaign started by NAACP Some lost hope of being treated equally in US and believe they needed their own nation Marcus Garvey starts Universal Negro Improvement Association, 2 main goals ▫African American economic independence ▫Establish independent black homeland in Africa

PROHIBITION Prohibition lasted from 1920 to 1933 when it was repealed by the 21 st Amendment

SUPPORT FOR PROHIBITION  Reformers had long believed alcohol led to crime, child & wife abuse, and accidents  Supporters were largely from the rural south and west

ORGANIZED CRIME  Prohibition contributed to the growth of organized crime in every major city  Al Capone – a famous bootlegger  Capone took control of the Chicago liquor business by killing off his competition Al Capone was finally convicted on tax evasion charges in 1931

GOVERNMENT FAILS TO CONTROL LIQUOR  Eventually, Prohibition’s fate was sealed by the government, which failed to budget enough money to enforce the law  The task of enforcing Prohibition fell to 1,500 poorly paid federal agents --- clearly an impossible task