The “Roaring” Twenties Era of Prosperity, Republican Power, and Conflict

1. The “Roaring” Twenties Era of Prosperity, Republican Power, and Conflict

2. THE Roaring 20’s

3. The 1920's were a prosperous time known as the Roaring Twenties, the Jazz Age, and the Age of Wonderful Nonsense. There were many different and interesting things that occurred during the 1920s in America.

4. Interesting Statistics The population of the US was 106,521,537 people. In the year 2000 it was 281,421,906 people. The average yearly income was $1,236. In the year 2000 it was $28,272. The price of a gallon of milk was $.58. Today it is $3.48. Men lived about 54 years. Women lived about 55 years. Today men live about 74 years, and women live about 79 years A public school teacher earned about $729 a year. Today the average salary for a teacher is $42,898. It took 13 days to reach California from New York driving on 2 lane roads. Today it takes 4 hours by plane.

5. Following the Russian Revolution led by Leon Trotski and Vladimir Lenin, Communism spread to other parts of Europe and infiltrated the US. Communism was the polar opposite of Capitalism and the hysteria of the Red Scare was enhanced by Domestic Terrorist attacks done by Communists, who even attacked the Attorney General Mitch Palmer . Karl Marx Leon Trotsky Vladimir Lenin

6. The Red Scare (1919-1920) • The Red Scare- the fear of communism in America leading to a wave of intolerance against all suspected communists in the U.S. • The distrust of communism had been building since 1900; however, it reached its climax after WWI from 1919 to 1920. • All people suspected of being members of the Communist Party or Communist Labor Party (two different factions) were arrested in the Palmer Raids in January of 1920 and many were sent out of the country. • The Palmer Raids were named after the Attorney General of the time. He served under President Wilson.

7. The Red Scare (1919-1920) • The intolerance was toward anything related to the new Bolshevik regime in Russia. • While only .1% of Americans belonged to the Communist party, all suspicions of Bolshevik activities were taken very seriously. • The Red Scare was bad because of the treatment and perhaps false identification of Communists. • It was also good because it might have expelled real Communists that were actually planning on taking over the American government like they did in Russia. A meeting at University of California to consider dismissal of employees who didn’t sign paper saying they were not Communists.

11. The media propagated the Red Scare. When two Italian immigrants with lengthy criminal backgrounds were charged and convicted of murder a huge social debate arose over immigration and the potential that they could be Communists. Sacco and Vanzetti were both executed and found to have ties to Reds. Sacco & Vanzetti convicted and executed via electricity on August 23, 1927

12. The Roaring Twenties Pro-Business Republican Administrations Prosperity, Republican Power and Conflict Warren Harding – Republican 1921-1923 Calvin Coolidge – Republican 1923 -1929 Herbert Hoover – Republican 1929 - 1933

13. Republican Politics • Republican Presidents of the 1920’s favored tax cuts for wealthy Americans. • During the presidencies of Harding & Coolidge, the federal agencies created during the Progressive Era aided business. • Foreign Policy • Despite its isolationist position in the 1920’s the US government actively participated in decisions regarding international finance and the payment of war reparations. • The Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928 was an international agreement in which 62 nations pledged to forswear war as an instrument of policy. • The Washington Naval Conference of 1921-1922 was called to restrain the naval arms race among the US, Britain, Japan, Italy & France. The signatory nations agreed to limitations on the number of battleships each nation should build. • The US responded to the economic crisis in Germany during the 1920’s by adopting the Dawes Plan. The plan rescheduled German reparation payments and opened the way for American private loans to Germany.

14. In the 1920 election, the Republicans chose Warren B. Harding from the small town of Marion, Ohio. Harding campaigned from his porch, where he would hang out and talk with reporters. Harding promised “A Return to Normalcy”, where the government would literally step out and let society run naturally. Harding won against James Cox (D-OH) in a landslide.

16. Warren Harding • While in office, Harding eliminated many of the restraints applied to business during the Progressive Era and lowered the taxes on the wealthy. • He conducted “laissez-faire” politics, where the government literally stepped out. • Supported anti-lynching laws and helped farmers with farm credit • Harding’s presidency was loaded with scandals. • Harding really didn't do too much politics, and was more often than not found golfing, napping, or drinking (during Prohibition) with some of his friends/advisors. • Harding appointed many of his trusted friends into advisory and cabinet positions. • These friends were very corrupt and “looted” the country's finances. • One of Harding's closest friends/advisors, Albert Fall, sold Navy oil property and kept the profits in what became known as the Teapot Dome Scandal. • Harding also was rumoured to be having several affairs in the Oval office. • All the allegations took a toll on Harding, who died on a brain aneurysm in 1923 in office and Calvin Coolidge took over.

17. The Harding Presidency Perfect Image for a President US leader to show peace and stability Healing time – “Back to Normalcy” – return to peacetime economy and isolationism Kellog-Briand Pact – Disarm “super -nations” of Japan, US, GB, Italy and France; Had no way to effectively enforce

18. Harding Presidency • Issues of Post War Repayment • England and France owed US $10 Billion • England and France looked to Germany • Germany was in a terrible situation • Fordney-McCumberTariff • Raised taxes on all Imports to 60% • Dawes Plan – U.S. lent money to Germany to pay back Allies from WWI then Allies would pay back the U.S. • Did not work because US basically was repaying money with their own money

20. Harding Scandals • President appointed a lot of friends and former political associates to cabinet positions • Herbert Hoover – Sec. of Commerce • Andrew Mellon (Very Rich) – Sec of Treasurer • Charles Even Hughes – Sec of State • Ohio Gang – buddies of Harding’s • Harding just held office but did not understand the issues • Led to very corrupt behavior from high officials • Bribery and cover-ups including the famous Teapot Dome Scandal • Albert B. Fall – Sec of Navy……embezzled 400,000 in oil scam by selling private government lands to oil companies

22. Republican & Democratic Views REPUBLICAN • Don’t get tangled up over Ku Klux Klan. • Support tax reductions. • Limit government’s role in society. • Provide tariff protection for Americans. • Participate in world reductions of arms. • Participate in World Court. • Bickered endlessly over the Ku Klux Klan. • Graduated income tax. • Tough enforcement of antitrust laws. • Lower the tariffs. • Public projects to curb unemployment. • Independence to Philippines. • Farm relief. DEMOCRAT

24. “Keeping it Cool With Coolidge” • After Harding's death, Calvin Coolidge took over as President. Coolidge was sworn in while camping in a log cabin by his father at 3 am. • Coolidge hoped to restore America's faith in the President after the scandalous years of Harding. • “Silent Cal” didn't say much but promised to maintain the same laissez-faire policies as Harding.

25. Calvin Coolidge • Coolidge – “Keep Cool with Coolidge” • Aimed to restore public faith in Presidency • Loved Big Business – “The business of America is business” • Got rid of bad Harding appointments • Laissaiz – faire policies

26. Republican & Democratic Views(Election of 1928) REPUBLICAN • Oppose McNary-Haugen Farm Bill. • Enforce Prohibition. • Maintain high tariff. • Continue same foreign policy. • Quietly support farmers. • Support collective bargaining. • Escape scandals. • Independence for Philippines. DEMOCRAT

28. Herbert Hoover • Rugged Individualism – idea that America was growing because individuals were given equal opportunities, a free education, and a will to succeed • “Keep Taxes Down and Business profits up!” • Ideas of Credit to make businesses expand

29. The Model T • Henry Ford - the first person to make the automobile an affordable to the average American. • Used assembly line methods – using interchangeble parts to speed up production time • It is generally regarded as “the car that put America on wheels.” • Cost went from $850 down to $260

30. Henry Ford & The Model T In the late 1920s, Ford introduced America to his 2nd type of car The Model A - more sportier looking and available in many different colors, rather than his original Model T, only in black. By this time there were many different types of cars available from many different makers, German engineering provided the fastest and sleekest cars. They had concept cars made, like the Mercedes T 80 (1939) that was timed at over 40 mph!!! and had a V12 engine with 3500 horses!

32. America On Wheels • The “Model T,” though not Ford’s first model, was his most successful, selling 500,000 by 1914. • By the time of the Great Depression, 26 million motor vehicles, registered in the U.S, far more than anywhere in the world.

33. IMPACT OF INDUSTRY • Impact of Automobile • Roads like Route 66, Holland Tunnel • Gas Stations, Repair Shops, garages, motels, camps and shopping centers, Car Plants in Michigan • Urban Sprawl (Houston…..Great Example) • Airplanes • Carried Mail, Created Jobs, Faster Transportation • Glenn Curtiss – created 1st plane to land on water (led to naval aviation) • Expendable income • 40% of world wealth was in US

34. IMPACT OF INDUSTRY • NEGATIVE EFFECTS • Speculation – purchase of an item not for personal use in the hope of selling it later at a higher price • Buying on credit – paying a small down payment in order to take item home, then paying small monthly payments which included interest • Uneven prosperity – top 0.1% controlled about 1/3 of all savings. Top 0.1% had combined income of bottom 42% of population

35. Prohibition In 1919, the 18th Amendment passed the Act of Prohibition, which made the making of, the transportation of, and the selling of alcohol illegal. The intent of the Amendment was to lower the crime rate and to improve the general way of life, but the opposite happened.

36. Prohibition – Banning the sale of Alcohol in the USA “3000 infants smothered to death by drunken parents” (As said by the Anti Saloon League) Why Prohibition? Big Brewies were owned by Germans. People were seen to be ‘traitors’ by drinking beer. Alcohol was linked to other ‘evils’: Madness, poverty, crime etc It “destroyed” families

37. Groups like the ‘Anti Saloon League’ became very powerful groups in the USA. They advertised alcohol as the evil that was causing many of society’s problems. Such cartoons show how they tried to persuade people to support prohibition. However, the effects of Prohibition caused even more problems. Frances Willard – National Women’s Temperance Unit – fought to get the 18th amendment passed as well as prison reform for women, women’s suffrage, improved worker conditions, and an 8 hour workday “Daddy’s in there ……….And our shoes and stockings and clothes and food are in there too and they’ll never come out.”

38. Why was Prohibition difficult to enforce? People were not prepared to stop drinking alcohol. People enjoyed it. Why so difficult? There were hardy any prohibition agents to enforce the law. There were more Speakeasies in Chicago than agents in the USA. BOOTLEGGERS could easily smuggle alcohol into the country. The border with Canada was far too large to patrol. Gangsters like Al Capone paid policemen and judges etc (CORRUPTION) to make sure they weren't arrested

39. Scarface Al Capone • Local mafias fought for control over the speakeasies. In Chicago, Al “Scarface” Capone strong-armed his way to becoming the under boss of Chicago. • Scarface was responsible for violently wiping out all opposition in his turf. He ordered the killings of many people in the ruthless battle to control the alcohol trade. • Capone took power when he was in his early twenties, and by the time he was 28 he had complete control over Chicago. • The residents loved Scarface. He did massive charity work, soup kitchens, played ball with the kids. Famous for the St Valentine’s Day Massacre in Lincoln Park in 1929. Capone got rid of his rival Bugsy Moran

40. St Valentine’s Day Massacre 1929 South Side (Capone) vs. North Side (Moran)

41. The Untouchables • The government soon went after the speakeasies. • J. Edgar Hoover, a young law clerk only in his early twenties in DC, created a database of all the known communists, mafia and liquor lords. • Hoover sent a police officer from Cleveland, OH to Chicago to go after Capone. • Elliott Ness led the Untouchables, a group of cops who went after the speakeasies and mobsters. They were considered inaccessible to the mob.

42. Speakeasies Speakeasies popped up all over the country. New York City alone had in some estimates as many as 15,000 illegal bars in operation at any given time throughout the 1920s. They were never advertised as bars, usually had secretive ways of getting in, and the drinks were not tasty and very overpriced! Most of the speakeasies opened up after hours until dawn. But, hey!, you had your liquor! The most famous of the speakeasies was the infamous Cotton Club of Harlem. Here, upper class whites were able to enter the black suburb of the city, party with famous jazz musicians, and then go back home in the morning after spending a fortune. The Cotton Club's house musician was Duke Ellington. Duke actually turned down many record deals to remain as the headliner at the Club because he was making so much money.

43. The Scopes “Monkey” Trial • One example of this clash between modern (science) and conservative (religion) beliefs was the much-publicized Scopes Trial. • John Scopes was a science teacher who was charged with breaking a law which banned teaching the theory of evolutionin Tennessee schools. • This trial received wide-spread publicity and sparked an international debate.

44. William Jennings Bryan • The prosecuting attorney, Bryan, presented the fundamentalist argument that, since the Bible said the world was created in seven days, the theory of evolution contradicts the Bible’s creation story. • Furthermore, he believed man could not have come from monkeys.

45. Scopes “Monkey” Trial Evolution vs. Creationism Science vs. Religion Dayton, Tennessee Famous Lawyers John Scopes High School Biology teacher

46. Clarence Darrow • The American Civil Liberties Union hired Clarence Darrow, a famous lawyer to defend Scopes. • Trial sparked world-wide debate. It was really a fight over the role of science and religion in public schools and in American society. • Scopes was convicted and made to pay a small fine, but the debate continues . . .

47. Re-birth of Nativism • Passage of the Immigration Acts of 1921, 14, and 29. • Aimed to limit immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe. • Charles Davenport and the Theory of Eugenics • Belief that the human race could be improved by breeding • Closely related to Social Darwinism • Belief that different human races competed for survival just as different plants and animals did

49. Immigration also greatly increased into the US during the 1920s. Because America was the land of opportunity, many immigrants moved from Central and Southern Europe and found their ways into the cities of the US. The first thing they'd see when entering our harbor was the Statue of Liberty greeting them. Qkgtl lt

50. The Ku Klux Klan Great increase In power Anti-black Anti-immigrant Anti-Semitic Anti-Catholic Anti-women’s suffrage Anti-bootleggers