5.2 Roaring 20s (Jazz Age) 1920-1929

Ms. G's Class

What led to the creation of mass culture in the 1920s?

The rise of radio, movies, and advertising

What did installment buying and the stock market’s popularity indicate about consumer culture?

They showed the shift towards a credit-based economy and increased investment ins personal and business ventures.

How did Henry Ford revolutionize manufacturing?

By using the assembly line to produce cars efficiently and affordably

What industries were boosted by the rise of the automobile?

Steel, rubber, glass, and oil industries

What was the focus of Andrew Mellon’s economic policies?

Balancing the budget, reducing government debt, and cutting taxes (supply-side economics)

What scandal tainted Harding’s administration?

The Teapot Dome scandal, where oil reserves were leased in exchange for bribes.

What was Calvin Coolidge’s approach to government?

Minimal interference with business and promoting prosperity through industry.

What problems persisted under Coolidge’s presidency?

Farmers’ struggles, labor unrest, and racial discrimination.

What was a cultural divide in the 1920s, between urban and rural Americans?

Urban Americans embraced modernism and secular values, while rural American clung to traditional beliefs.

What was the Scopes Trial about?

A clash between modernism and fundamentalism over teaching evolution in schools.

What triggered the Red Scare?

Fear of communism after revolutions abroad, labor strikes, and anarchist attacks.

What were the Palmer Raids?

Government actions to arrest and deport suspected radicals during the Red Scare.

How did the National Origins Act of 1924 affect immigration?

It limited immigration based on quotas favoring Northern and Western Europeans.

What advances occurred in entertainment during the 1920s?

Silent films, the first “talkie” (The Jazz Singer), radio, and phonographs became widespread.

How did flappers challenge societal norms?

They rejected traditional roles by adopting modern fashion, behaviors, and lifestyles.

What was the “Lost Generation”?

Writers disillusioned with postwar society, including F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway

What role did sports heroes play in the 1920s?

Figures like Babe Ruth and Jack Dempsey became symbols of national pride.

What was the Harlem Renaissance?

A cultural, artistic, and political movement showcasing African American achievements.

Who were some key figures in the Harlem Renaissance?

Langston Hughes, Claude McKay, Zora Neale Hurston, and Louis Armstrong

What did Marcus Garvey advocate for?

Black nationalism, self-reliance, and a return to Africa.

How did jazz influence American culture?

It highlighted African American creativity and became a defining genre of the era.

What did Langston Hughes’s poems focus on?

African American identity, pride, and the struggle for equality.

Who did the Klu Klux Klan target (KKK)?

They targeted African Americans, Jews, Catholics, and immigrants

What did the Emergency Quota Act do during 1921?

It limited immigration to 3% of a nationality’s U.S. population in 1910