1. 1920s
What is your vision of the 20s?

2. The Red Scare
With 1917 Russian Revolution, Americans imagined Communists as threat
Strikes increased; government responded with raids by J. Edgar Hoover to round up suspected radicals

3. The Ku Klux Klan
By1919 Klan was anti-foreign, anti-Semitic, and anti-Catholic
Opposed evolution, short skirts and “demon rum”
Supported their version of religion, and immigration restrictions
Especially motivated to keep black Americans “in their place” through intimidation and violence

4. The Automobile Culture
Car manufacturing growth in the postwar
Increase in rubber, steel, petroleum industries
More affordable cars forced governments to pave more streets with federal help
Cars contributed to the creation of city suburbs and pollution

6. A Communications Revolution
During the 1920s, the number of homes with telephones increased from 9 to 13 million
Radio and motion pictures began to solidify a shared identity of Americans through entertainment, news, and sports

11. Religious Fundamentalism
Many of the religious faithful saw a major spiritual crisis in the changes of the 1920s
Fundamentalism survived the era of sophistication, modernization, and change
Radio spread the message of the fundamentalist preachers and attracted numerous converts to those ministers who could readily adapt to the new communications technology

12. Rural America in the 1920s
American farmers, as a rule, did not share in the prosperity of the 1920s.
A vicious cycle of overproduction to meet demands continually lowered market prices of produce, forcing many farmers into poverty
Advancements in agriculture (pesticides and advanced fertilizers) increased yield per acre and put many farmers out of business

13. Progressivism Survives
In 1919, Congress passed the Volstead Act which banned the brewing and selling of most alcoholic beverages; this became the Eighteenth Amendment of Prohibition

14. Stock Market Crash
The prosperity of the decade came to a screeching halt in 1929 with the collapse of the nation’s stock market
Many investors had responded to the booming economy by buying stocks on margin (borrowing to invest).
An overextension of the market caused a crash with a represented loss of over $26 million on paper