Roaring ‘20s

1. Roaring ‘20s Chapter 31

2. Jazz Age • 1920's collectively known as the "Roaring 20's", or the "Jazz Age" • in sum, a period of great change in American Society - modern America is born at this time • for first time the census reflected an urban society - people had moved into cities to enjoy a higher standard of living

3. A Society in Conflict • for immigrants – the point of origin had shifted to S & E Europe and new religions appeared: Jewish, Orthodox, Catholic • N. European immigrants of early 19c. feared this shift and felt it would undermine Protestant values • this fear was known as NATIVISM • many wanted Congress to restrict immigration, leading to a quota system that favoured n. areas of Europe • National Origins Act • fear of immigrants (from SE Europe) led to a sentiment known as the Red Scare (fear of comm. post-Bolshevik Rev.)

4. A Society in Conflict • Wilson’s Attorney General, A. Mitchell Palmer, wanted to take a shot at the presidency - he used fears of both immigrants and communism to his advantage • he had J. Edgar Hoover round up suspected radicals, many of which were deported (Palmer Raids) • Sacco-Vanzetti Trial • Italian immigrants and radicals • Unfair trial – convicted and executed

5. KKK • Anti-Black • Anti-Catholic • Anti-Immigrant • Anti-Semitic • Anti-bootleggers • Anti-women’s suffrage • Great rise and then fall in the 1920s

6. Prohibition • “Noble Experiment” • bans manufacture and sale of alcohol • adopted in 1919 - 18th AMENDMENT • an outgrowth of the temperance movt • in WWI, temperance became a patriotic mvmt. - drunkenness caused low productivity & inefficiency, and alcohol needed to treat the wounded

7. Prohibition • difficult law to enforce... organized crime, speakeasies, bootleggers were on the rise • Al Capone virtually controlled Chicago • “Eliminated” competition • Bribed police officers • Prohibition finally ended in 1933 w/ the 21st Amendment

8. Scopes Trial • Dewey – learn by doing • Science vs. Religion • Scopes – high school biology teacher who was indicted for teaching evolution • Defended by Clarance Darrow • Wm. Jennings Bryan prosecuted for fundamentalists • Outcome – Scopes loses, but it was a hollow victory for fundamentalists

9. Heroes of the ’20s • Babe Ruth – homerun king • Jack Dempsey – boxing king • First million dollar gate • Charles Lindbergh – pilot who crossed the Atlantic • Wholesome, handsome youth

10. Consumerism • Radio • Knitted the nation together • Advertising! • By persuasion, seduction, sexual suggestion • Make Americans want more, more, more • Installment Plan/Credit • Hollywood Films • First Talkie – the Jazz Singer -- 1927

11. Consumerism • Assembly line methods and mass production techniques • Frederick Taylor – father of scientific mgmt. • Eliminate wasted motion • Automobile and related industries • Ford mastered the standardized assembly line • By 1929, 29 million cars were registered in US • Glass, rubber, fabric, service stations, etc.

12. women... • 1920 - 19th Amendment gave them the federal vote • after 1920, social circumstances changed too as more women worked outside the home • and more women went to college and clamoured to join the professions • 1st birth control clinic – Margaret Sanger • women didn't want to sacrifice wartime gains - amounted to a social revolt

13. women... • characterized by the FLAPPER/ "new woman" • (bobbed hair, short dresses, smoked in public...) • Independent • Justified new sexuality with writings of Freud – sexual repression leads to ills • Danced to Jazz Music

14. Great Migration • Great Migration • 1910-1920 • Hundreds of thousands of African-Americans moved from the South to the cities of the North • In search of jobs • However, northern cities, in general, did not welcome the massive influx of African-Americans • Tensions escalated • Approx. 25 race riots in the summer of 1919

15. Harlem Renaissance • African American Writers • Literary movement led by well-educated, middle class African Americans • A new pride in the African American experience • Celebrated heritage • Claude McKay • Novelist, poet, and Jamaican immigrant • Urged African Americans to resist prejudice and discrimination • Langston Hughes • Harlem Renaissance’s best known poet • Poems described the difficult lives of working class African Americans • Poems moved to the tempo of jazz and blues

16. African Americans and Jazz • Jazz was born in New Orleans • Blend of instrumental ragtime and vocal blues • Joe Oliver and his Creole Jazz Band traveled North to Chicago • Carried Jazz with them • Louis Armstrong • Joined Oliver’s group • His talent rocketed him into stardom • Jazz spread quickly to other cities • Popular music for dancing

17. Marcus Garvey • Marcus Garvey (Jamaican born immigrant) established the Universal Negro Improvement Association • believed in Black pride • advocated racial segregation b/c of Black superiority • Garvey believed Blacks should return to Africa • he purchased a ship to start (the Black Star line) • attracted many investments: gov't charged him with w/fraud • he was found guilty and eventually deported to Jamaica, but his organization continued to exist

18. UNIA Parade, 1924

19. 1920s Literature • F. Scott Fitzgerald • Great Gatsby, This Side of Paradise • Commentary on false American ideals • Ernest Hemingway • The Sun Also Rises, A Farewell to Arms • Anti-war experience • Sinclair Lewis • Babbitt – anti-conformity and materialism • Lost Generation – rebelling against American society of the 1920s