Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
Published byTracy Little Modified over 7 years ago
1
A conflict between the familiar (tradition) and the new (modern)
The RoaringTwenties: A conflict between the familiar (tradition) and the new (modern)
2
The 1920’s Themes “CULTURAL CLASH” (“War of the Worlds”)
Between the New Urban Industrial AGAINST the more Traditional Rural-Agricultural. The Battle was over Values. Materialism The “ROARING” ECONOMY of 1920’s But much of the “ROAR” was False Prosperity Unsound economic policies Disillusionment – Disgust about World War I Rejection of International Commitment = “Isolationist” Mentality.
3
1920’s: Culture Clash Old New Rural Religious centered
Slow pace of life Traditional roles Social cohesion New Urban Science/technology Fast paced life Changing roles Unraveling of society
4
Calvin Coolidge – “the business of America is business”
A REPUBLICAN DECADE Calvin Coolidge – “the business of America is business” Warren G. Harding – “A return to normalcy” Herbert Hoover ( ) ( ) ( )
5
Conservative (Republican) Gov’t. & Politics (1920 – 1932)
Return to Laissez faire: Very little regulation Tax breaks for rich & corporations Cut spending High tariffs to protect business Hawley-Smoot Tariff Harding – “Return to Normalcy” Teapot Dome Scandal with Standard Oil Coolidge – “The business of America is business”
6
Economic Changes Brief post-war recession: Appearance of prosperity:
No longer producing war goods, must demobilize Appearance of prosperity: more production rise in income low unemployment higher standard of living Areas of economic growth: auto/auto-related, construction, real estate, radio Not everyone is doing well: farmers, mining
7
Economy of the 1920s Roaring Twenties Advertising Buying on Credit
Materialism Consumer Culture Celebrities
8
Mass Production Manufacturing output rose 60%
Output per worker grew 33% Income grew by 30% Mass production Produced by assembly line More goods = cheaper goods
9
Growth of Advertising Advertise new products: appliances, cars, furniture, radios, vacuums, irons, washing machines Promote “buy now, pay later” mentality Installment buying Stimulate desire for goods, increase economic demand Age of consumer: More materialistic Electricity + new appliances = free time Radio: cheaper, music & entertainment
11
“New Era” of Technology and mass production of our “new” consumer economy
Assembly Line Henry Ford perfected assembly line for his Model T – mass production Cultural impact of automobile: suburbs, “Sunday drive”, dates!!! Radio is used for mass communication entertain, educate and advertise Leisure time and the car led people to take up golf, tennis, swimming and other types of recreation. Electricity was now the major energy source; a wave of new electrical appliances make their way into American homes for the first time
13
Radio / Motion Picture Homogenization of American Culture
1920=20, =13,750,000 Everyone watches the same movies/listens to same show Ends rural isolation Popularizes ragtime and jazz Advertising Increase interest in politics and sports Heroes and celebrities
14
American Celebrities
15
Flappers Harlem Renaissance Religion
1920s Society and Culture Flappers Harlem Renaissance Religion
16
Social Changes: Clash between “old” vs. “new”
Women: Traditional: stay home, dress conservative, no political involvement, religious Modern: work, vote, new fads (“flapper” style), more interested in science
17
Cultural Change “Great Migration” WW I to 1920’s Harlem Renaissance
New modern music: Jazz Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington
18
The Jazz Age The “NEW” Negro (the GREAT MIGRATION) – Harlem Renaissance A rebirth in Black culture in the arts, music and literature Jazz sound entertained American fans; Jelly Roll Morton, Duke Ellington, Louie Armstrong “Harlem Renaissance” occurred: New Black “pride” reflected in poetry of Langston Hughes
20
Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong
-Jazz Musician -Great Trumpeter & singer "What a Wonderful World"
22
Harlem in the 1920’s
23
Langston Hughes ONE WAY TICKET I am fed up With Jim Crow laws,
-Great American Poet ONE WAY TICKET I am fed up With Jim Crow laws, People who are Cruel And Afraid, Who lynch and run, Who are scared of me And me of them. I pick up my life And take it away On a one-way ticket Gone up North Gone out west Gone! -1926
24
The Harlem Renaissance
A rebirth into racial heritage and backgrounds Led by intellectual African Americans Well educated and middle class Felt alienated form society Called for action against bigotry Expressed pride in African American Culture and identity Blending of African-American cultures to establish/find true identity
25
“Lost Generation” The “Lost Generation”
Writers: F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Disillusioned by war Tired of materialism & consumer culture Themes of feeling disconnected
27
Religious Culture Clash
Fundamentalism (Traditional) v. Science (Modern/Science) Darwin’s Theory of Evolution Scopes Trial Darrow defends Scopes against Bryan
28
The Scopes Trial New Emphasis on Literal Interpretation of the Bible – Scopes Trial. Scopes “Monkey” Trial (1925) – Biology teacher in Tennessee on trial for teaching evolution which goes against the Bible - Pro-Evolution (urban) v. anti-evolution (rural) - Scopes was convicted, fined, but a higher court overturned it
30
Prohibition Nativism - Red Scare - Sacco and Vanzetti Trial
More Social Issues Prohibition Nativism - Red Scare - Sacco and Vanzetti Trial
31
Social Changes (cont.) Concerns about drinking
During war: prohibition to save grain After war: 1920: 18th amendment Favored by rural areas, not cities Rise in bootlegging, mob “families”, crime Ordinary Americans breaking the law
32
Carrie Nation
33
Prohibition Under the 18th Amendment –the production, consumption or distribution of alcohol became illegal
35
Al Capone
36
St. Valentine’s Day Massacre
37
The Untouchables Trailer
40
Effects Outrage Leads to organized crime
Al Capone Bootleggers – production “moon shine” in the South 21st Amendment repeals in 1933 Unpopular laws are difficult to enforce
41
The Red Scare of 1919 Nativism and Immigration Emergency Quota Act
National Origins Act Sacco and Vanzetti Trial
42
Immigration Fear Immigration fears: will all these new people “fit in”?25 million new arrivals: So. & E. Europe, Asia, unskilled, not Protestant, language Desire for limits: literacy tests, quotas Nativism gives greater rise to KKK Emergency Quota Act National Origins Act(s) – 3 laws that kept immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe and out of the US A “new” KKK aimed at Jews, Blacks and Catholics and immigrants
44
Fear of Communism Russian Revolution (1917): increased fear of radicalism, fear of foreigners in U.S. Palmer Raids: mass arrests, civil liberties violated Sacco & Vanzetti case: armed robbery, judge openly biased, faulty evidence
45
Sacco and Vanzetti Case
May the red scare is in full effect Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti -2 Italian immigrants arrested for a murder in South Braintree, Mass Evidence was inadequate-as confessed anarchists they were presumed guilty The judge was openly prejudiced Both men were convicted, sentenced to death and executed in 1927 In the 1980’s they were exonerated by governor Michael Dukakis
46
“Anarchist Bastards!!!” -Judge Webster Thayer
47
Heading Towards the Crash
“False Prosperity”
48
1928: Cracks in the Foundation of Prosperity
Farmers: End of war cut demand, left w/ heavy debt (machinery & land) Productivity actually created surplus; hard to reduce, led to slow down Families carrying too much debt
Similar presentations
© 2025 SlidePlayer.com Inc.
All rights reserved.