1. The Roaring Twenties: American Life Changes

2. Learning Goal 1.Explain how America reacted to a changing society by examining issues associated with Prohibition, the Scopes Trial, and the changing role of women and African Americans (USH.4.3)

3. Main Ideas 1.New Roles for Women 2.Conflicts Over Values 3.Effects of Urbanization 4. Prohibition

4. New Roles for Women 1. New Opportunities Voting – 19 th Amendment ratified (1920) - resulted in women being elected to state and local offices - Nellie Taylor Ross became first governor (Wyoming) and Miriam “Ma” Ferguson was elected same year (Texas) - no major impact in national government - still tended to vote the same as husband or father did Entered the workforce Attended college

5. New Roles for Women 2. New Family Roles Basic rules that defined female behavior were beginning to change Continued to have primary responsibility of caring for the house and children Most still depended on men for financial support Women sought a greater sense of equality in relationships with men

6. New Roles for Women 3. The Flapper Popular image of the 1920s that reflects the changes affecting women Young women who defied traditional ideas of proper dress and behavior - short haircuts - raised their hemlines - wore makeup - smoked cigarettes - drank alcohol - danced in nightclubs

7. The Flappers The term suggested a certain lifestyle of great independence and freedom “She’s not what Grandma used to be.” – Dorothy Parker Not all women were flappers and not all women agreed with the lifestyle

8. Conflicts over Values 1.Rural vs. Urban The shift from a mostly rural America to mostly urban one produced important shifts in these values Rural American values: traditional spirit of the nation, hard-working, self-reliant, religious, and independent Cities represented changes that threatened those values

9. Conflicts over Values 2. Rise in Fundamentalism religious beliefs based on literal interpretation of the Bible Billy Sunday (revivalist preacher) condemned radicals and criticized the changing attitudes of women

10. Conflicts over Values Aimee Semple McPherson presented a more sophisticated image - embraced the glamour fundamentalist warned about -especially well known for healing the sick through prayer

11. Conflicts over Values 3. The Scopes Trial As fundamentalism gained strength, it came into conflict with the teaching of modern science Fundamentalists believed Darwin’s theory of evolution went against the Bible’s account of how God created humans Several states passed laws that banned teaching Darwin’s ideas and including evolution in classrooms Opponents quickly challenged the law John Scopes was arrested and put on trial for teaching evolution in Tennessee

12. The Scopes Trial Clarence Darrow represented Scopes William Jennings Bryan led the prosecution Scopes’ guilt was never the question, the trial dealt with bigger issues - freedom of speech - Christianity vs. evolution The Tennessee law remained into the 1960s, other states soon repealed the law

13. Effects of Urbanization Division between the nation’s booming cities and the countryside developed Farming did not prosper from the economic prosperity of the 1920s Rural population decreased as farmers sought jobs in the cities - according to the 1920 census more Americans lived in urban areas than in rural areas for the first time - 75% of all workers worked somewhere other than a farm

14. Effects of Urbanization The rise of the automobile broke down the borderline between urban and rural - distance that separated them shrank - rural people were spending more time in town interacting and joining the urban culture Increase in education - laws required young children to attend school - also taught immigrants about American life - school attendance increased with industry - more families could afford to send children to school (high school and college enrollment increased)

15. Prohibition Arguments for prohibition - promote family stability - reduce crime - need for grains (WWI) - discipline among troops - immigrants abused alcohol - urban evil

16. Prohibition 18 th Amendment ratified in 1919 - made it illegal to manufacture, transport, or sell alcohol in the United States Volstead Act passed by Congress to enforce the 18 th Amendment 18 th Amendment + Volstead Act = Prohibition

17. Prohibition Prohibition did reduce the amount of alcohol Americans consumed Enforcing the new law proved to be virtually impossible Drinking alcohol was not included in the law - many continued to drink during prohibition - had little trouble getting it

18. Prohibition Gave rise to huge smuggling operations -slipped through seaports and across Canadian border -Bootleggers were hunted by the government (seldom caught) -Many made their own liquor using homemade equipment (bathtub gin) -Doctors prescribed for medical reasons -Illegal liquor became foundation for criminal organizations

20. Prohibition Al Capone -most notorious gangster of the era -Brutally destroyed his competitors -Used illegal alcohol trade to build a business that earned tens of millions of dollars Capone and other gangsters frightened and paid off law- enforcement agents

21. Prohibition Government diligently worked to enforce the law -Shut down speakeasies -Destroyed barrels of confiscated alcohol and equipment Couldn’t keep up with the criminals -Too few agents to enforce the law, no more than 3,000 at one time Lack of public support increased unsuccessfulness