1920-19291920-1929

Facts, Fun, and FlappersFacts, Fun, and Flappers

National Origins Act 1924National Origins Act 1924

System of quotas developedSystem of quotas developed– No longer accepting “huddled masses”No longer accepting “huddled masses”– Nordics acceptedNordics accepted– Calvin Coolidge:" Biological laws tell us Calvin Coolidge:" Biological laws tell us

that certain divergent people will not that certain divergent people will not mix of blend.”mix of blend.”

Given as a gift to America (1886) from France as a token of their friendship during the Revolutionary War

Nativism RulesNativism Rules

Impact of immigration questionedImpact of immigration questioned– Chinese, Greeks, Italians, and Jews from Chinese, Greeks, Italians, and Jews from

Eastern and Southern EuropeEastern and Southern Europe– Immigration restriction League fretted Immigration restriction League fretted

about the biological outlook for the about the biological outlook for the nation.nation.

Senator Henry Cabot Lodge – ”do not Senator Henry Cabot Lodge – ”do not promise well for the country’s standard promise well for the country’s standard of civilization.”of civilization.”

The Race IssueThe Race Issue

Loyalty questioned during WWI – Loyalty questioned during WWI – people from all over the world in the people from all over the world in the US- maybe spiesUS- maybe spies

EugenicsEugenics adds to problem (“inferior” adds to problem (“inferior” races are classified)races are classified)

National Origins Act would reduceNational Origins Act would reduce– Greeks would go from 3,000 to 100Greeks would go from 3,000 to 100– Italians would go from 30,000 to 4,000Italians would go from 30,000 to 4,000– Polish would go from 30,000 to 9,000Polish would go from 30,000 to 9,000

Paradox of the DecadeParadox of the Decade

Nordics are supreme (sounds like Nordics are supreme (sounds like Hitler doesn’t it?)Hitler doesn’t it?)

Need to produce a standard Need to produce a standard AmericanAmerican

Conflict between tribalism (different Conflict between tribalism (different ethnicities together) and conformityethnicities together) and conformity

Migration to the CitiesMigration to the Cities Citizens now more urban 1920 census showed more Citizens now more urban 1920 census showed more

people lived in cities than in the countrypeople lived in cities than in the country Manufacturing rose 60% creating a new landscape Manufacturing rose 60% creating a new landscape

of cars, roads, electric lights, and housesof cars, roads, electric lights, and houses 2 out 3 homes had electricity (1 in 10 in 1900)2 out 3 homes had electricity (1 in 10 in 1900) Labor saving devices: refrigerators, washers, Labor saving devices: refrigerators, washers,

vacuum cleaners…vacuum cleaners… Rice Krispies, Lender’s Bagels, Mounds Bars, peanut Rice Krispies, Lender’s Bagels, Mounds Bars, peanut

butter, Betty Crocker, and Peter Pan appear new butter, Betty Crocker, and Peter Pan appear new foods to enjoy and producefoods to enjoy and produce

Modern Romance Modern Romance magazine influenced sexual magazine influenced sexual behaviorsbehaviors

Movie Theaters, chain stores (Sears), and radio Movie Theaters, chain stores (Sears), and radio advertising very bigadvertising very big

ConsumerismConsumerism

American’s buy on creditAmerican’s buy on credit Spending on entertainment very big Spending on entertainment very big

– movies, amusement parks (Coney – movies, amusement parks (Coney Island),Island),

professional sportsprofessional sports Movie attendance outstripped church Movie attendance outstripped church

attendance – 100 million viewers per attendance – 100 million viewers per weekweek

““I am so beautiful, why can’t I be I am so beautiful, why can’t I be happy?”happy?”

(F. Scott Fitzgerald)(F. Scott Fitzgerald)