1. Prosperity, Modernism, and Conflict
The Roaring Twenties
Prosperity, Modernism, and Conflict

2. Post WWI
Warden Harding, elected in 1920, promises a return to “normalcy”
What about Wilson’s idea of a US involved in world affairs?
What about progressivism?

3. Harding receives 60% of the vote
The American people reject internationalism and progressivism

4. Overview of America in the 1920s
By 1920, US is the richest and most industrialized country in the world
A creditor nation – countries owe US more than US owes them
European powers were weakened from war
Overall, this is a period of great change and “modern America” is born

5. The Booming Economy 1920s was a consumer revolution
Affordable goods produced quickly
What is the “driving” force behind this?
Automobile Industry
Henry Ford uses assembly lines to mass produce cars – the Model T (cost about $850)
By 1927, it cost $290
In 1919, 10% of Americans had cars. By 1927, 56% had cars

7. The Booming Economy How did the Automobile Industry spur growth?
What do cars require?
Gas, steel, oil, glass, rubber
Need streets/highways which means you need gas stations, diners, and hotels
Henry Ford gives workers more pay, 8 hrs, weekends off – potential customers/leisure time
With cars, people can live further away and drive to work – suburbs

8. The Booming Economy Installment Buying
Not need cash. Simply put down payment and then pay monthly payments. Use credit.
Stock market becomes a “Bull Market”
Rising stock prices and Americans invest money to get rich quick

9. Conservative Government
Harding and Coolidge (Republican)
“The business of American is business”
Practice laissez-faire policy
Reject progressivism, want to help business
Reduce spending from 18 billion to 3 billion
Lower taxes but raise tariffs
Dawes Plan – loans to Germany so can repay France and GB who can then repay US

10. Isolationism Stay out of world affairs and avoid another war
Washington Naval Conference – limit size and construction of navy/warships
Kellogg-Briand Pact – not use war to settle disputes
US stays out of World Court
*** Helps lead to WW2***

11. Culture and Society of the 20s
More people live in urban areas
Leisure time and more money
Jazz, theaters, radio, phonograph, baseball
Women take on social/political rights
Enter workforce
Go into politics
“The Flapper”

12. Flappers

13. A New Culture

14. A New Culture

15. A New Culture

16. A New Culture The Lost Generation F. Scott Fitzgerald
No more reliance on Victorian era
Now they look for new truths/generation
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Ernest Hemmingway
Sinclair Lewis
Gertrude Stein

17. New Culture: The Harlem Renaissance
Blacks moving North/to cities during and after WWI
Emergence of a black middle class
Blacks “reinvent” their culture
Black pride/nationalism
Marcus Garvey and the “Back to Africa” movement
Jazz – Cotton Club

18. Troubles and Conflict of the 20s

19. Corruption Teapot Dome Scandal Harding Administration – a “delegator”
Sec of Interior Fall was to arrange oil reserves in CA and WY to be transferred to from Navy Dept to Interior Dept
Instead, he gives land to private oilmen in return for bribes

20. The Red Scare Fear of communists within country Why?
Russia Revolution – want International Revolution
Want workers to rise up and overthrow capitalism
What happens in US?
Palmer Raids – attorney general/police arrest thousands of suspects
Who? – immigrants from S. & E Europe
ACLU – American Civil Liberties Union

21. The Red Scare Arrests of Sacco and Vanzetti Italian immigrants
Known anarchists
Charged with killing two men
What is the evidence?
Witness said robbers looked Italian

22. The Red Scare Nativism is on the rise
Anti-immigration
Emergency Quota Act and the National Origins Act
Establish quota system for immigrants from specific countries
Formula: # of immigrants from country could not exceed # of immigrants of nationality in 1890.

23. Rural/Religious America vs Urban/Modernist America
Religious Americans see attack on Christianity with urban culture that is emerging
Fundamentalists vs Modernists in Scopes Trial
TN’s law against Darwin’s theory vs ACLU/Scopes
Creationism vs Evolution

24. Booming Economy in the cities…. But what about Agriculture/Rural Areas?
Better technology - more food/less labor – lower prices – not make as much – banks call in loans - early depression for farmers

25. KKK – The Invisible Empire
Revived in 1915
Against changes in cities
Target blacks, Jews, Catholics, immigrants, immorality
Attracted 4-5 million
Americans join b/c fearful of change

26. Prohibition and Organized Crime
Problem: 18th Amendment and Volstead Act
“Drys” say its good b/c stop child abuse, not waste money, liver disease, moral
“Wets” say will not stop people from drinking, lead to organized crime
Both are right

27. Organized Crime Get illegal network of gangs/business
Make or smuggle alcohol into the country
Bootleggers – people who sold alcohol
Speakeasies – secret drinking establishments
Often spread to other area such as murder, robbery, drugs
Most notorious – Al Capone