American Life in the American Life in the “Roaring Twenties”“Roaring Twenties”

1919 - 19291919 - 1929

Insulating Insulating AmericaAmerica

• THE RED SCARETHE RED SCARE 1919 - 1920 1919 - 1920 – Provoked by fear that labor violence after WWI was Provoked by fear that labor violence after WWI was

associated with the communist revolution in Russia.associated with the communist revolution in Russia.– The US continues to believe that Communism is trying The US continues to believe that Communism is trying

to sink its red teeth into the democratic neck of the to sink its red teeth into the democratic neck of the United States! United States!

– Attorney General A. Mitchell PalmerAttorney General A. Mitchell Palmer• Led raids against suspected left-wing radicalsLed raids against suspected left-wing radicals• Rounded up over 6000 suspectsRounded up over 6000 suspects• Why is he so mad?Why is he so mad?

– Many states passed laws that made unlawful Many states passed laws that made unlawful the mere advocacy (talking) of violence the mere advocacy (talking) of violence to secure social changeto secure social change

Sacco & Vanzetti Trial Sacco & Vanzetti Trial

• Nicola Sacco - (shoe-factory worker)Nicola Sacco - (shoe-factory worker)• Bartolomeo Vanzetti – (fish peddler) Bartolomeo Vanzetti – (fish peddler) • Convicted in 1921 of the murder of a Convicted in 1921 of the murder of a

Massachusetts paymaster & his guardMassachusetts paymaster & his guard– Mainly because they were: Italian, atheists, anarchists, & Mainly because they were: Italian, atheists, anarchists, &

draft dodgers draft dodgers

• Electrocuted in 1927Electrocuted in 1927• Whether they were guilty or Whether they were guilty or

Not, the atmosphere of anti-Not, the atmosphere of anti-

Communism was more than Communism was more than

Enough to have them killed.Enough to have them killed.

KKKKKK• Against:Against:

– Foreigners (nativist) Foreigners (nativist) – CatholicsCatholics– BlacksBlacks– JewsJews– Pacifists Pacifists – CommunistsCommunists– InternationalistsInternationalists– Evolutionists Evolutionists – BootleggersBootleggers– GamblingGambling– AdulteryAdultery– Birth Control Birth Control – Almost everyoneAlmost everyoneExcept white sheets, 800 thread Except white sheets, 800 thread

count of course count of course

• Pro:Pro:– Anglo-SaxonAnglo-Saxon– ““Native” AmericansNative” Americans– ProtestantsProtestants

• They are a new twist on They are a new twist on an old costume.an old costume.

• Especially popular in the Especially popular in the Midwest & “Bible Belt” Midwest & “Bible Belt” South South – 5 million due-paying 5 million due-paying

members members • Decline in late 1920sDecline in late 1920s

Slowing Slowing Immigration Immigration

• Emergency Quota Act of 1921Emergency Quota Act of 1921– European immigrants were restricted by a definite European immigrants were restricted by a definite

quota quota – Quota was set at 3% of their nationality that had Quota was set at 3% of their nationality that had

been living in the US in 1910been living in the US in 1910– Favorable to southern & eastern European Favorable to southern & eastern European

immigrants immigrants • Immigration Act of 1924 Immigration Act of 1924

– Quotas were cut to 2% & base year switched to 1890Quotas were cut to 2% & base year switched to 1890– No Japanese immigrants allowedNo Japanese immigrants allowed– Canadians & Latin Americans were excluded Canadians & Latin Americans were excluded – Who does this hurt?Who does this hurt?– This is overly harsh against Southern and Eastern This is overly harsh against Southern and Eastern

Europeans.Europeans.

Results of Restricted Results of Restricted Immigration Immigration

• Patchwork of ethnic communities Patchwork of ethnic communities separated from each other and larger separated from each other and larger society by language, customs, and society by language, customs, and religion religion

• Employers used ethnic rivalries to keep Employers used ethnic rivalries to keep workers divided and powerless workers divided and powerless – Undermined political and class solidarity Undermined political and class solidarity – Labor unions found organizing difficult Labor unions found organizing difficult

Prohibition Prohibition

• Supported mainly by churches & womenSupported mainly by churches & women• 1919 – 181919 – 18thth Amendment Amendment• Volstead Act – passed by CongressVolstead Act – passed by Congress

– Provided the means to enforce the lawProvided the means to enforce the law• Fairly popular in the Midwest & especially in Fairly popular in the Midwest & especially in

the South the South • Strong opposition in larger eastern citiesStrong opposition in larger eastern cities• Extremely difficult to enforce Extremely difficult to enforce

– ““speakeasies”speakeasies”– ““bathtub gin” bathtub gin”

• Many see as pointlessMany see as pointless

Illegal Illegal Activity Activity

• Gangsters Gangsters – Made lush profits of illegal alcohol, or hooch, led to Made lush profits of illegal alcohol, or hooch, led to

• bribery of the policebribery of the police• Violent gangsViolent gangs• Gang wars – especially in ChicagoGang wars – especially in Chicago

• ““Scarface” Al Capone Scarface” Al Capone – Convicted of income-tax evasion Convicted of income-tax evasion

• Other profitable & illicit activitiesOther profitable & illicit activities– Prostitution , gambling & narcotics Prostitution , gambling & narcotics

• Lindbergh LawLindbergh Law– Making interstate abduction in certain circumstances Making interstate abduction in certain circumstances

a death-penalty offense a death-penalty offense

Education in Education in the 1920s the 1920s

• High School Graduation rate – 25%High School Graduation rate – 25%• John Dewey – father of educationJohn Dewey – father of education

– ““learning by doing” & “education for life”learning by doing” & “education for life”

• Rockefeller Foundation launched a public Rockefeller Foundation launched a public health program in the South health program in the South – Increased life expectancy by 9 yearsIncreased life expectancy by 9 years– Virtually eradicated hookwormVirtually eradicated hookworm

• FundamentalistsFundamentalists– Teaching Darwinian evolution was destroying faith in Teaching Darwinian evolution was destroying faith in

God & the Bible & contributing to the moral God & the Bible & contributing to the moral breakdown of the youth in jazz agebreakdown of the youth in jazz age

The Monkey TrialThe Monkey Trial

• 1925 – Dayton, Tennessee1925 – Dayton, Tennessee– John T. Scopes, a high school biology teacher, was John T. Scopes, a high school biology teacher, was

indicted for teaching evolution indicted for teaching evolution – Prosecution – William Jennings Bryan Prosecution – William Jennings Bryan

(Fundamentalist) (Fundamentalist) – Defense – Clarence Darrow Defense – Clarence Darrow – Scopes was found guilty & fined $100Scopes was found guilty & fined $100

• Fined set aside on technicality Fined set aside on technicality

– Absurdities of the trial cast ridicule Absurdities of the trial cast ridicule on their cause on their cause

The Mass-Consumption The Mass-Consumption EconomyEconomy

• Recession of 1920 – 1921, then sprinted Recession of 1920 – 1921, then sprinted forward for the next 7 yearsforward for the next 7 years– War & Treasury Secretary Andrew War & Treasury Secretary Andrew

Mellon’s tax policiesMellon’s tax policies

• Productivity of the laborer increasedProductivity of the laborer increased– Assembly lineAssembly line– Electrical powerElectrical power– Automobile Automobile

• Advertising Advertising – Bruce Barton Bruce Barton – The Man Nobody Knows– The Man Nobody Knows 1925 1925

• Jesus Christ was the world’s best adman Jesus Christ was the world’s best adman

Commercialized Commercialized Atmosphere Atmosphere

• Sports:Sports:– George H. “Babe” Ruth – baseball George H. “Babe” Ruth – baseball

• Yankee Stadium Yankee Stadium

– Jack Dempsey – boxerJack Dempsey – boxer

• Buying on credit / installment buyingBuying on credit / installment buying– Refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, cars, & radios Refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, cars, & radios

Putting America on Rubber Putting America on Rubber Tires Tires

• By 1890s, Henry Ford & a few other inventors By 1890s, Henry Ford & a few other inventors developed the infant auto industry developed the infant auto industry

• Detroit became the car capital of America Detroit became the car capital of America – Stop-watch efficiency of Frederick w. Taylor, sought Stop-watch efficiency of Frederick w. Taylor, sought

to eliminate wasted motionto eliminate wasted motion

• By 1929, 26 million motor vehicles registered By 1929, 26 million motor vehicles registered in US, 1 for every 4.9 Americansin US, 1 for every 4.9 Americans

• Ford’s Model T (“Tin Lizzie”) cheap, rugged, Ford’s Model T (“Tin Lizzie”) cheap, rugged, and reasonably reliable and reasonably reliable

Advent of the Gasoline Advent of the Gasoline AgeAge

• Automobile industry employed directly Automobile industry employed directly and indirectly 6 million and indirectly 6 million – Thousands of other jobs created by Thousands of other jobs created by

supporting industries supporting industries • Glass, rubber, fabric, service stations, garages, Glass, rubber, fabric, service stations, garages,

highway construction highway construction

• New industries boomed New industries boomed – Petroleum in Texas, California, OklahomaPetroleum in Texas, California, Oklahoma– Railroads impacted negatively by growth of Railroads impacted negatively by growth of

cars, trucks, and busses cars, trucks, and busses

Impacts of the Gasoline Impacts of the Gasoline Engine Engine

• New highways ribboned out New highways ribboned out • Called Americans to open road for Called Americans to open road for

vacations vacations • Consolidation of schools Consolidation of schools • Expansion of sprawling suburbs and Expansion of sprawling suburbs and

commuting workforce commuting workforce • Drawbacks: Drawbacks:

– Death and injury Death and injury – ““houses of prostitution on wheels” houses of prostitution on wheels” – Quick getaways for gangsters Quick getaways for gangsters

Humans Develop Wings Humans Develop Wings

• Wright Brothers—1903 Wright Brothers—1903 – Orville and Wilbur successful 12 second Orville and Wilbur successful 12 second

airborne flight in Kitty Hawk, NC airborne flight in Kitty Hawk, NC

• 1920 – 11920 – 1stst transcontinental airmail route transcontinental airmail route from NY to San Francisco from NY to San Francisco

• 1927 – Charles Lindberg’s solo flight 1927 – Charles Lindberg’s solo flight across the Atlanticacross the Atlantic– Piloted Piloted Spirit of St. Louis Spirit of St. Louis from NY to Paris in from NY to Paris in

33 hours and 39 minutes 33 hours and 39 minutes

The Radio Revolution The Radio Revolution

• Guglielmo Marconi—invented wireless Guglielmo Marconi—invented wireless telegraphy in 1890s telegraphy in 1890s

• November 1920: KDKA first broadcast November 1920: KDKA first broadcast • Early local broadcasts gave way to Early local broadcasts gave way to

national networks and standardized national networks and standardized accents accents – Sportscasts, politicians, and popular musicSportscasts, politicians, and popular music

More ChangesMore Changes

• 1903 – 11903 – 1stst movie movie The Great Train RobberyThe Great Train Robbery• 1927 – 11927 – 1stst “Talkie” movie “Talkie” movie The JThe Jaazz Singerzz Singer

– Age of silents ushered out as theaters wired for soundAge of silents ushered out as theaters wired for sound

• *** *** The automobile, radio, & motion picture all The automobile, radio, & motion picture all contributed to the “Standardization” of contributed to the “Standardization” of American life.American life.– Provided Americans with a shared experiencedProvided Americans with a shared experienced

HarlemHarlem Renaissance Renaissance

• Took root in HarlemTook root in Harlem• Writers:Writers:

– Claude McKayClaude McKay– Langston HughesLangston Hughes– Zora Neale Hurston Zora Neale Hurston

• Jazz Musicians:Jazz Musicians:– Louis ArmstrongLouis Armstrong– Eubie BlakeEubie Blake– Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald

• ““New Negro” – full citizen New Negro” – full citizen & equal rights& equal rights

• Marcus GarveyMarcus Garvey– United Negro United Negro

Improvement Association Improvement Association (UNIA)(UNIA)

– Promoted the Promoted the resettlement of blacks to resettlement of blacks to AfricaAfrica

– ““Put black dollars into Put black dollars into black pockets”black pockets”

– Later deported back to Later deported back to Jamaica Jamaica

– Led to the later founding Led to the later founding of the Nation of Islam of the Nation of Islam (Black Muslim) (Black Muslim) movement movement

Life Style ChangesLife Style Changes

• By 1920, most Americans lived in citiesBy 1920, most Americans lived in cities• Margaret SangerMargaret Sanger

– Led the first organized birth-control movement in the Led the first organized birth-control movement in the USUS

• Period of sexual liberation – The FlappersPeriod of sexual liberation – The Flappers

New Generation New Generation of Writers of Writers

• Social critics of materialism & the loss of Social critics of materialism & the loss of idealism idealism – Ernest Hemingway – Ernest Hemingway – The Sun Also Rises & A Farewell The Sun Also Rises & A Farewell

to Armsto Arms– F. Scott FitzgeraldF. Scott Fitzgerald – The Great Gatsby & This Side of – The Great Gatsby & This Side of

Paradise Paradise – Sinclair Lewis – Sinclair Lewis – Main Street & BabbittMain Street & Babbitt– William Faulkner – William Faulkner – Soldier’s Pay, The Sound & the Soldier’s Pay, The Sound & the

Fury, & As I Lay DyingFury, & As I Lay Dying• Strong southern themesStrong southern themes

Wall Street’s Wall Street’s Big Bull MarketBig Bull Market

• Incomes & living standards roseIncomes & living standards rose• Signals did exist that a crash may be on the Signals did exist that a crash may be on the

horizonhorizon– Several hundred banks failed annuallySeveral hundred banks failed annually– Speculation in the stock market ran wildSpeculation in the stock market ran wild– Stocks were being purchased “on-margin”Stocks were being purchased “on-margin”

• Small down payment & borrow the rest from broker Small down payment & borrow the rest from broker – National debt increased: 1921 - $23.9 billion National debt increased: 1921 - $23.9 billion

• 1921 - Bureau of the Budget 1921 - Bureau of the Budget – Created to assist the president in preparing estimates Created to assist the president in preparing estimates

of receipts & expenditures for submission to Congress of receipts & expenditures for submission to Congress for annual budget for annual budget

The Tax Burden The Tax Burden

• Sec of Treasury Mellon’s theory Sec of Treasury Mellon’s theory – ““The poor rich people” The poor rich people” – High taxes forced the rich to invest in High taxes forced the rich to invest in

tax-exempt securities rather than in the factories that tax-exempt securities rather than in the factories that provided prosperous payrolls provided prosperous payrolls

– High taxes discouraged business & also brought a High taxes discouraged business & also brought a smaller net return to the Treasury than moderate smaller net return to the Treasury than moderate taxes taxes

– Shifted the tax burden from the wealthy to the Shifted the tax burden from the wealthy to the middle-income groupsmiddle-income groups

– Was successful in reducing the national debt by $10 Was successful in reducing the national debt by $10 billion billion