The 1920’sThe 1920’sA Time of ChangeA Time of Change

Calvin CoolidgeCalvin Coolidge

Vice President under HardingVice President under Harding President in 1923 after Harding President in 1923 after Harding

diesdies Reelected in 1924Reelected in 1924 Changes back to a Laissez-faire Changes back to a Laissez-faire

approach to economyapproach to economy Return to IsolationReturn to Isolation

Political ScandalPolitical Scandal

The Teapot Dome Scandal 1924The Teapot Dome Scandal 1924 Secretary of Interior indicted for briberySecretary of Interior indicted for bribery Gave leases to government oil to Gave leases to government oil to

companies for moneycompanies for money Oil reserves in Teapot Dome, WyomingOil reserves in Teapot Dome, Wyoming

RecessionRecession

Economy suffersEconomy suffers Caused by shift from wartime to Caused by shift from wartime to

peacetime economiespeacetime economies– No longer producing for warNo longer producing for war

Production, farm income, exports Production, farm income, exports declinedecline

Unemployment increases (12% in Unemployment increases (12% in 1921)1921)

RecoveryRecovery

Coolidge ProsperityCoolidge Prosperity– Gross National Product up 40% by Gross National Product up 40% by

19231923– Standard of living increasesStandard of living increases

Pro-Business PoliciesPro-Business Policies

Decreased corporate income Decreased corporate income taxestaxes

Decreased national debtDecreased national debt Raised tariffsRaised tariffs Demanded repayment of war Demanded repayment of war

debtsdebts

LaborLabor

During war, strikes decreaseDuring war, strikes decrease Post-war strikes failPost-war strikes fail

– Troops and court orders used to end Troops and court orders used to end strikesstrikes

Union membership decreasesUnion membership decreases Supreme Court rules against child Supreme Court rules against child

labor lawslabor laws

FarmingFarming

Policies favor large commercial Policies favor large commercial farmsfarms

Small farms sufferSmall farms suffer– Production increased during warProduction increased during war– After war they are producing too After war they are producing too

muchmuch Prices dropPrices drop

The Stock MarketThe Stock Market

Investments increaseInvestments increase Buying “on margin”Buying “on margin”

– Small down payments in cashSmall down payments in cash– Borrow the restBorrow the rest– People could pay off the loans as People could pay off the loans as

long as stocks did welllong as stocks did well

Mass ConsumptionMass Consumption

New TechnologyNew Technology– AutomobilesAutomobiles– Mass production, assembly lineMass production, assembly line

Lower pricesLower prices

Cultural HomogenizationCultural Homogenization– Everyone can buy the same Everyone can buy the same

productsproducts Brand namesBrand names

MORE THAN JUST A CARMORE THAN JUST A CAR

Nations biggest manufacturing industryNations biggest manufacturing industry Businesses to service cars and travel Businesses to service cars and travel

growgrow– garages, car dealerships, motels, garages, car dealerships, motels,

campgrounds, gas stations, restaurantscampgrounds, gas stations, restaurants 3.7 million people employed directly or 3.7 million people employed directly or

indirectly by industry in 1929indirectly by industry in 1929 $2 billion to build roads$2 billion to build roads Growth of suburbsGrowth of suburbs

New ValuesNew Values

Emphasis on wealth, possessions, Emphasis on wealth, possessions, funfun

LeisureLeisure– Movies, sports, gamesMovies, sports, games– FlappersFlappers

Young womenYoung women Drank, smokedDrank, smoked More in movies than real lifeMore in movies than real life

Growth of ElectricityGrowth of Electricity

New ways to shopNew ways to shop– Kansas City first shopping mall 1923Kansas City first shopping mall 1923

Growth of electricityGrowth of electricity– 1913 16% people with electric lights1913 16% people with electric lights– 1927 63% people with electric 1927 63% people with electric

lightslights– only 4% farms with electricityonly 4% farms with electricity

Unified AmericaUnified America

Until 1920’s America divided Until 1920’s America divided into regional economies and into regional economies and culturescultures

Growth of Growth of Mass MediaMass Media creates creates a more connected Americaa more connected America– RadioRadio– MoviesMovies

ProhibitionProhibition

Illegal to buy, sell, or consume Illegal to buy, sell, or consume alcoholalcohol

1818thth Amendment in 1919 Amendment in 1919 Hard to enforceHard to enforce

– Bootlegging- illegally making and Bootlegging- illegally making and selling alcoholselling alcohol

Ended in 1933Ended in 1933

Red ScareRed Scare

Fear of spread of communism Fear of spread of communism after Russian Revolutionafter Russian Revolution

Leads to race riots, bombings, Leads to race riots, bombings, police raids, and deportationspolice raids, and deportations

Sacco and VanzettiSacco and Vanzetti

Italian immigrants Nicola Sacco Italian immigrants Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti and Bartolomeo Vanzetti convicted of murderconvicted of murder– Little evidence against themLittle evidence against them– Both anarchistsBoth anarchists– executedexecuted

Ku Klux KlanKu Klux Klan

Reorganized due to anti-foreign Reorganized due to anti-foreign attitudesattitudes

Targeted African Americans, Targeted African Americans, Catholics, Jews, and immigrantsCatholics, Jews, and immigrants

ImmigrationImmigration

Immigration Act of 1924Immigration Act of 1924– Established quotas- limited number Established quotas- limited number

of allowed immigrantsof allowed immigrants– Kept out immigrants from Eastern Kept out immigrants from Eastern

and Southern Europe and Asiaand Southern Europe and Asia

Women’s RolesWomen’s Roles

More women workingMore women working 1920’s Women’s Bureau1920’s Women’s Bureau

– Part of Department of LaborPart of Department of Labor– Improved working conditions Improved working conditions

1919thth Amendment Amendment– Women get right to voteWomen get right to vote

Harlem RenaissanceHarlem Renaissance

African American movement African American movement based out of Harlem, NYCbased out of Harlem, NYC

Called for action against bigotryCalled for action against bigotry Pride in African American culturePride in African American culture WritersWriters

– W.E.B. Du Bois, Langston HughesW.E.B. Du Bois, Langston Hughes Artists, musiciansArtists, musicians

– jazzjazz

Great MigrationGreat Migration

Starting in World War One Starting in World War One African Americans began African Americans began moving from South to Northmoving from South to North

1914 14,000 African Americans 1914 14,000 African Americans in NYCin NYC

1930 200,000 African Americans 1930 200,000 African Americans in NYCin NYC

Jazz AgeJazz Age

Combination of Ragtime and Combination of Ragtime and Blues = JazzBlues = Jazz

Began in New OrleansBegan in New Orleans Grew to dominate radioGrew to dominate radio 500 Jazz Clubs in Harlem 500 Jazz Clubs in Harlem