Society in the 1920’s

1. Society in the 1920’s • The 1920’s were a time of rapid social change • Young people – especially women – adopted new lifestyles and attitudes • The rural population continued to decline and the urban population continued to increase – traditional values were challenged

2. Society in the 1920’s • The 19th Amendment (women’s suffrage) and the increase of women workers during WWI put women in a higher social status • At first many women did not vote because they didn’t feel comfortable, didn’t want to leave children and go, and families discouraged them – but that changed. • A new image of women was developed called the “flapper image” and was rebellious

3. Society in the 1920’s • Only a small number of American women were flappers yet it had a wide impact on fashion and behavior • Hemlines on dresses rose higher, long hair was cut short, and wore heavy makeup – rejected the Victorian style. • Flappers also drank and smoked in public – to express their want to break from the past

4. Society in the 1920’s • Some businesses still remained prejudiced against female workers – but the number of women in the workforce increased • Women began taking part in politics and voting – although transformation was slow • Jeannette Rankin (Montana) first women to serve in Congress

5. Society in the 1920’s • Demographics in America also changed in 1920’s • First time in nation’s history that urban population was larger than rural population • Farmers were struggling – crop prices dropped and production costs rose – bad formula

6. Society in the 1920’s • African-Americans continued the Great Migration from the south to the north during the 1920’s • In 1860 – 93% of blacks lived in the south – in 1910 – 89% and by 1930 it was 80% • However the north was no promised land – blacks faced anger and hatred there as well

7. Society in the 1920’s • The results of WWI also forced many European refugees to enter the United States • Laws were passed to limit immigrants from Europe – but laws did not prevent Mexicans and Canadians • Barrios – or Spanish speaking neighborhoods popped up in Los Angeles

8. Society in the 1920’s • The growth of cities resulted in the creation of suburbs and change in cities • Transportation systems were built – like trolleys which used overhead wires for power • Buses and cars also emerged during the 1920’s which changed transportation and city life

9. Developing a National Culture • Roaring Twenties also saw the creation of many national heroes • Public was recovering from WWI and the new cultural changes – heroes reminded them of the “good old days” • Heroes had bravery and were courageous – representing the values of America

10. Developing a National Culture • Charles Lindbergh – nicknamed “Lucky Lindy” became the world’s best and most famous aviator • Contest for $25,000 for first non-stop flight from New York to Paris – across the Atlantic Ocean • Took off from Roosevelt Field, Long Island May 20, 1927

11. Developing a National Culture • Lindbergh landed in Paris 34 hours later on May 21, 1927 • Flight was very difficult – no co-pilot, no computer, weak radio • Lindbergh was given Congressional Medal of Honor and became global icon

12. Developing a National Culture • Amelia Earhart became first woman to fly solo, non-stop across the Atlantic in 1928. • Broke numerous flying records during the 1920’s – first to Hawaii from California • In 1937 she tried to fly around the world – disappeared over the Pacific Ocean. Declared dead in 1939.

13. Developing a National Culture • Boxing became very popular – Jack Dempsey became a heavyweight legend. • Babe Ruth became a national hero with his record breaking 60 home runs. • Gertrude Ederle – gold medalist in the 1924 Olympics – 1926 first woman to swim across the English Channel (35 mi.)

14. Developing a National Culture • Changes in mass media also helped promote a new national culture and identity • Before the 1920’s America was very regionalized – they did not share common culture • Films, news gathering and the new radio broadcasting changed all that

15. Developing a National Culture • Between 1910 and 1930 the number of theaters rose from about 5,000 to 22,500 – selling 80 million tickets a week • First film introduced with sound – The Jazz Singer in 1927 • Audiences loved it – called them “talkies”

16. Developing a National Culture • Americans used newspapers and magazines to follow the off-screen lives of stars • The use of newsprint doubled between 1914 and 1927 – newspapers grew in size and circulation • Newspaper companies were combined – helping to create a national culture

17. Developing a National Culture • In 1920 Frank Conrad – an engineer – set up a radio transmitter in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Conrad sent recorded music and baseball scores over the air – response was fantastic • First U.S. radio station developed – KDKA – by 1922 500 stations were on the air

18. Developing a National Culture • The radio, combined with the Great Migration of African-Americans to northern cities helped make jazz music popular in the 1920s • Jazz grew out of ragtime and blues music of the south • By 1929 – two-thirds of the radio stations were dedicated to jazz music

19. Developing a National Culture • 1920’s also became known as the Jazz Age • Most popular place to hear jazz music was Harlem – a district in northern Manhattan – place known for speaking out against racial issues. • Harlem had over 500 jazz clubs where musicians – mostly black – entertained audiences

20. Developing a National Culture • Famous musicians like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman rose from Harlem • Dance called the Charleston was the “in” thing to do – wild, reckless and full of kicks • The jazz uprising in Harlem created what was called the Harlem Renaissance

21. Developing a National Culture • The Harlem Renaissance transformed the African-American identity • Painting, and literature also thrived along with music during the Harlem Renaissance • Langston Hughes, Claude McKay and Dorothy West were famous Harlem Renaissance artists

22. Capone and Scopes • Rapid social change after World War I caused conflicts among people with differing beliefs and values. • The 18th Amendment passed in January 1920 made all alcoholic beverages illegal. • Prohibition – a social experiment had worthy intentions, but went horribly wrong.

23. Capone and Scopes • Eliminate drunkenness and abuse of family members • Get rid of saloons where prostitution and gambling thrived. • Prevent absenteeism and on the job accidents.

24. Capone and Scopes • Not everyone obeyed the law – 95% of the people in Kansas obeyed – 5% of people in New York. • Bootleggers developed – people who provided illegal alcohol in the U.S. • Some operated private stills – others smuggled it in from Canada and Caribbean.

25. Capone and Scopes • Bootleggers sold their alcohol to owners of speakeasies – or illegal bars and saloons. • Speakeasies were hidden, and people entering often had to say a password or show a membership card to get in. • Bootlegging also led to organized crime waves.

26. Capone and Scopes • “Gangsters” controlled alcohol distribution, gambling, racketeering, and prostitution. • For gangsters, territory equaled money – gangs fought for control of more territory. • Fights were bloody – machine guns, shotguns and other violent weapons were used.

27. Capone and Scopes • The most notorious gangster outfits operated in Chicago. • In 1925 a young gangster murdered his way to the top – named Al “Scarface” Capone. • Capone made $60 million a year from illegal activities and bought police and judges for protection.

28. Capone and Scopes • Capone eventually was convicted of income tax evasion in 1931 – Prohibition ended in 1933. • Religion was also a area of conflict in the 1920s – especially the subject of evolution. • A debate formed over whether or not evolution should be taught in public school.

29. Capone and Scopes • Religious fundamentalists – or strict followers of religion were feeling threatened throughout the 1920s. • Questions were being asked about God’s role in life – the devastation of war caused the questions. • Fundamentalists hated the idea of evolution – because it went against the story of the bible.

30. Capone and Scopes • Tennessee following fundamentalist urging banned the teaching of evolution in school. • A science teacher named John T. Scopes challenged this law – and arrested for teaching evolution. • The trial that followed became famous – known as the Scopes Trial.

31. Capone and Scopes • Trial put country’s best lawyers head to head – William Jennings Bryan (fundamentalist) and Clarence Darrow (for evolution). • Trial took place in Dayton, Tennessee in July 1925. • Press swarmed – first trial ever broadcast over the radio.

32. Capone and Scopes • Scopes found guilty – paid a $100 fine. • Best part of trial was when Darrow put Bryan on the stand and directly questioned him on the bible. • The debate was engaging to the public – Bryan died days later.

33. Racial Tensions • Americans clashed over race in the 1920s. • There was a Great Migration of African-Americans from the south to north in 1920s – more job opportunities in north. • During the summer of 1919, mob violence between black and white Americans erupted in 25 cities. • Called the “Red Summer” because of all the blood that was spilled.

34. Racial Tensions • The worst of the race riots occurred in Chicago. • Stone throwing at a Lake Michigan beach led to a violent race riot. • After the riot, 23 blacks were dead and 15 whites died – 537 wounded – massive property loss.

35. Racial Tensions • The Ku Klux Klan also saw a revival in the 1920s behind the leadership of William J. Simmons – their targets were African-Americans, Catholics, Jews, and immigrants. • 1922 KKK had 100,000 members – by 1924 it was up to 4 million. • Not just a southern problem now – largest membership was in Indiana – a northern state.

36. Racial Tensions • Federal Government once again fought back – leader of KKK in Indiana arrested and sentenced to life in prison. • By 1927 – KKK had diminished again thanks to government action – most Americans saw nation as a “melting pot” and opposed KKK views. • KKK still had an impact in the 1920s – terrorizing, killing and lynching.

37. Racial Tensions • African-Americans became frustrated with violence and racism – dreamed of returning to homeland. • Marcus Garvey led a movement to try to make that happen. • Garvey – from Jamaica – established the Universal Negro Improvement Association – UNIA.

38. Racial Tensions • Garvey encouraged blacks to build self-respect and economic power. • Also supported a movement to return to “motherland Africa” – and a separation of the races. • Garvey raised $10 million for a steamship company called the Black Star Line.

39. Racial Tensions • However, Garvey was sentenced to prison on fraud charges. • Later he was deported back to Jamaica – and the UNIA in America collapsed. • Garvey’s ideas served as an inspiration for future black Civil Rights movement leaders.

40. Red Scare • The Russian Revolution in 1917 and a series of strikes and bombings at home convinced people that political violence was a real threat to America. • Communism was being ushered into Russia and threatened American values and beliefs.

41. Red Scare • Communism has three main parts: • 1. The government owned all land and property. • 2. A single political party controlled the government. • 3. The needs of the country is more important than the needs of the individual.

42. Red Scare • However, the major reason Americans feared communism because it was hostile against capitalism and freedom – and they wanted to spread communism throughout the world. • The Russian communist flag was red – hence, Americans fear of communism became known as the “Red Scare”.

43. Red Scare • During the Red Scare – Americans became suspicious of European radicals entering the country. • The Supreme Court decision in Schenk vs. U.S. gave the government power to jail radicals. • During WWI, Charles Schenk mailed letters to drafted men urging them not to report for duty.

44. Red Scare • Schenk was arrested and he defended himself with the “freedom of speech” argument. • Supreme Court overruled Schenk, saying that freedom of speech can be suspended when there is a “clear and present danger”. • The case opened the door for the “Palmer Raids”.

45. Red Scare • A series of bombs exploded in several cities – damaging the home of A. Mitchell Palmer – Attorney General of U.S. • Palmer convinced that radicals were trying to overthrow government. • Claimed they were a “clear and present danger” to the U.S.

46. Red Scare • Palmer led government raids that arrested suspected radicals. • Many arrested were innocent – and deported without evidence. • Palmer Raids lost steam as people lost faith in the methods being used.

47. Red Scare • The Red Scare also played a part in one of the most controversial events in US history. • Gunmen robbed and killed a guard and paymaster of a shoe factory in Massachusetts. • Police arrested two Italian immigrants – Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti.

48. Red Scare • Guns were found on both men when arrested – and Sacco’s gun matched the model used in the shooting. • However, many Americans felt the two men were arrested because they were radicals. • Many criticized the trial as unfair – but they were convicted and electrocuted for the crime.

49. Labor Strikes and Harding • Labor strikes throughout the country fueled more fear of a communist revolution in America. • 3,500 to 4,500 strikes between 1916 and 1920. • Fear was that communist agitators were behind the strikes.

50. Labor Strikes and Harding • Boston police formed a union – angry over no pay raise since 1914. • 19 officers fired for union activity – whole police force went on strike. • Rioting started in Boston – National Guard called in to restore order.