The Roaring Twenties - Ch.30 1-25

Warren Harding

The 29th President of the United States (1921-1923) known for his 'return to normalcy' campaign. His administration was marred by scandals such as Teapot Dome."

Fordney-McCumber Tariff Act (1922)

A law that raised American tariffs on many imported goods to protect factories and farms. It reflected American isolationist and protectionist policies of the 1920s."

Hawley-Smoot Tariff

A 1930 law that raised U.S. tariffs on over 20,000 imported goods to record levels. It is often cited as exacerbating the Great Depression."

Bureau of the Budget

An agency created in 1921 to assist the President in preparing the federal budget. It was the forerunner to today's Office of Management and Budget (OMB)."

Teapot Dome

A scandal during the Harding administration involving the illegal leasing of federal oil reserves in Wyoming to private companies. It highlighted corruption in the U.S. government during the early 1920s."

Calvin Coolidge

The 30th President of the United States (1923-1929), known for his pro-business policies and laissez-faire approach to government. His presidency is often associated with the economic prosperity of the 1920s."

Herbert Hoover

The 31st President of the United States (1929-1933) who served during the onset of the Great Depression. His response to the economic crisis was widely criticized for being inadequate."

Alfred E. Smith

A four-time governor of New York and the Democratic candidate for President in 1928. He was the first Catholic to run for the presidency and lost to Herbert Hoover."

Business Prosperity

A period in the 1920s characterized by rapid economic growth, technological innovation, and rising consumer demand. This era, known as the 'Roaring Twenties,' saw increased production and widespread prosperity."

Henry Ford

An American industrialist and founder of the Ford Motor Company. He revolutionized the automobile industry with the development of the assembly line method of production."

Assembly Line

A manufacturing process in which a product is assembled in a sequential manner as it moves along a conveyor belt. This innovation, popularized by Henry Ford, drastically reduced production time and costs."

Open Shop

A workplace where employees are not required to join a labor union. It was part of the anti-union movement in the 1920s to promote individualism and reduce union influence."

Welfare Capitalism

A practice in which businesses provide welfare-like services to employees, such as health care and housing. It was aimed at reducing labor unrest and discouraging unionization."

Jazz Age

The period in the 1920s when jazz music and dance became popular in the United States. It was characterized by a cultural shift towards modernity and a break from traditional values."

Consumerism: Autos, Radio, Movies

The mass production and consumption of goods like automobiles, radios, and movies in the 1920s. These products became symbols of modern American life and economic prosperity."

Charles Lindbergh

An American aviator who made the first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927. His achievement made him an international hero and symbol of American ingenuity."

Sigmund Freud

An Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis. His theories on the unconscious mind and human behavior influenced 20th-century psychology and culture."

Margaret Sanger

An American birth control activist and founder of the organization that would become Planned Parenthood. She played a key role in the fight for women's reproductive rights."

Modernism

An artistic and cultural movement that sought to break away from traditional forms and conventions. It emphasized new techniques, abstraction, and a focus on the inner self and consciousness."

Fundamentalism

A religious movement characterized by a strict adherence to traditional beliefs and a literal interpretation of religious texts. It emerged as a reaction to modernism and secularism."

Revivalists: Billy Sunday; Aimee Semple McPherson

Evangelists who led religious revivals and used modern media to spread their messages. Billy Sunday was known for his fiery sermons, and Aimee Semple McPherson for her theatrical preaching style."

Gertrude Stein

An American writer and art collector known for her role in the modernist movement and her salon in Paris. She coined the term 'Lost Generation' to describe disillusioned American expatriates."

Lost Generation

A group of American writers who came of age during World War I and felt disconnected from traditional values. Their works often reflect themes of disillusionment and a search for meaning."

F. Scott Fitzgerald

An American novelist and short-story writer, famous for his depiction of the Jazz Age. His most famous work, 'The Great Gatsby,' explores themes of wealth, love, and the American Dream."

Ernest Hemingway

An American writer known for his concise and understated writing style. He was part of the Lost Generation and authored classics like 'The Old Man and the Sea' and 'A Farewell to Arms.'"

Sinclair Lewis

An American novelist who was the first writer from the United States to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. His works, such as 'Main Street' and 'Babbitt,' criticize American society and culture."

Ezra Pound

An American poet and critic who was a major figure in the modernist movement. He promoted the works of other poets and his own poetry is known for its innovation and complexity."

T. S. Eliot

An American-British poet and playwright, a leading figure in modernist literature. His works, including 'The Waste Land,' explore themes of disillusionment and cultural decay."

Frank Lloyd Wright

An American architect known for his innovative designs and organic architecture. His works include the Fallingwater house and the Guggenheim Museum in New York."

Functionalism

An architectural principle that emphasizes the practical use of buildings and structures. It advocates for design based on purpose and utility rather than aesthetic considerations."

Edward Hopper

An American realist painter known for his depictions of everyday urban scenes and rural landscapes. His work captures the isolation and loneliness of modern life."

Georgia O'Keeffe

An American artist known for her paintings of enlarged flowers, New York skyscrapers, and New Mexico landscapes. She is often called the 'Mother of American modernism.'"

Harlem Renaissance

A cultural, social, and artistic movement in the 1920s centered in Harlem, New York. It was a celebration of African American culture and contributions to art, literature, and music."

Countee Cullen

An African American poet and leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance. His work often addresses themes of race, identity, and social justice."

Langston Hughes

An African American poet, novelist, and playwright who was a key figure in the Harlem Renaissance. His works celebrate black culture and explore social and racial issues."

James Weldon Johnson

An African American writer, civil rights activist, and leader in the NAACP. He wrote the anthem 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' and contributed to the Harlem Renaissance."

Claude McKay

A Jamaican-American writer and poet who was a seminal figure in the Harlem Renaissance. His work, including 'If We Must Die,' addresses racial and social issues."

Duke Ellington

An American composer, pianist, and bandleader who was a major figure in jazz. He led his orchestra for more than 50 years and composed thousands of pieces."

Louis Armstrong

An American trumpeter, composer, and singer who was one of the most influential figures in jazz. Known for his charismatic stage presence and innovative playing."

Bessie Smith

An American blues singer who was one of the most popular female artists of the 1920s and 1930s. She was known as the 'Empress of the Blues.'"

Paul Robeson

An African American singer, actor, and civil rights activist. He gained fame for his deep baritone voice and stage presence, and was also known for his political activism."

Marcus Garvey

A Jamaican political leader and activist who founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association. He advocated for black nationalism and Pan-Africanism."

Scopes Trial

A 1925 trial in Tennessee that challenged the law against teaching evolution in public schools. It highlighted the conflict between science and religious fundamentalism."

Clarence Darrow

An American lawyer known for defending John Scopes in the Scopes Trial and for his role in high-profile cases such as the Leopold and Loeb trial. He was a champion of civil liberties."

Prohibition; Volstead Act (1919)

The nationwide ban on the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages from 1920 to 1933. The Volstead Act provided for the enforcement of Prohibition."

Organized Crime

Criminal organizations that engage in illegal activities, often with a hierarchical structure. During Prohibition, organized crime syndicates profited from bootlegging and other illicit businesses."

Immigration Quota Laws (1921, 1924)

Laws that established numerical limits on immigration based on nationality. These quotas aimed to restrict the influx of immigrants, particularly from Southern and Eastern Europe."

Sacco and Vanzetti

Italian immigrants and anarchists who were controversially convicted of murder and executed in 1927. Their trial sparked international protests and debates over justice and nativism."

Ku Klux Klan

A white supremacist organization that re-emerged in the 1920s. The Klan promoted racism, anti-Semitism, and nativism, and used terror tactics against minority groups."

Disarmament

The reduction or withdrawal of military forces and weapons. It was a significant issue in international relations following World War I."

Washington Conference (1921)

An international conference held in Washington, D.C., to discuss naval disarmament and security in the Pacific region. It resulted in several treaties aimed at reducing naval armaments."

Kellogg-Briand Treaty (1928)

An international agreement in which signatory states promised not to use war to resolve disputes or conflicts. It was signed by most of the world's nations but lacked enforcement mechanisms."

War Debts

Financial obligations incurred by countries during wartime, often owed to other nations. After World War I, many European countries owed significant sums to the United States."

Reparations

Compensation imposed on a defeated country by the victors for the damage caused during a war. After World War I, Germany was required to pay large reparations to the Allied powers."

Dawes Plan (1924)

A plan to stabilize the German economy and make reparations payments more manageable after World War I. It involved loans from the United States and a reorganization of German finances."

Young Plan

A 1929 program that further reduced Germany's reparations payments and extended the payment period. It aimed to ease the financial burden on Germany and promote economic recovery."