Social Science Nuber 1

The Roaring Twenties

A significant, almost legendary era between World War I and the Great Depression, known for wealth, extravagance, and vibrant energy.

Global Influence

Hollywood and jazz gained global influence, shaping glamorous and hopeful images of the United States.

Contradictions of the 1920s

A time of glaring contradictions including artistic and cultural creativity alongside the rise of the Ku Klux Klan, anti-immigrant hostility, and scientific racism via the eugenics movement.

Economic Disparities

Extreme wealth for some and rising living standards for many obscured the struggles of millions.

End of Optimism

The optimism of ending poverty and war collapsed with the Great Depression and the world's drift toward World War II.

Key Themes of the 1920s

Speed, efficiency, concerns about technology replacing human connection, and a consumer-driven lifestyle emerged, remaining relevant today.

World War I Casualties

Over 37 million globally.

Spanish Flu Pandemic

Originated in the U.S., afflicted one in five humans, caused ~20 million deaths worldwide, and nearly 700,000 American lives.

Labor Unrest in 1919

3,600 strikes involving 4 million workers, including the Seattle general strike, steelworkers' strike, Boston police strike, and coal miners' strike.

Domestic Terrorism in 1919

Series of dynamite bombings targeting political figures.

Racial Violence in 1919

Exposed shortcomings of American democracy amidst calls for world democracy.

Woodrow Wilson in Paris (December 1918)

Received a grand welcome, reflecting U.S. influence.

Fourteen Points

Wilson's vision for postwar peace, including self-determination, freedom of the seas, free trade, end to secret alliances, and the crucial 'general association of nations'.

Paris Peace Conference / Treaty of Versailles

League of Nations was Wilson's top priority; France and Britain sought harsh punishment for Germany.

Germany's Punishment

Assigned sole blame, lost colonies and industrial territories, drastically cut armed forces, and was ordered to pay $21 billion in war reparations.

Wilson's Health Crisis

Suffered Spanish flu and likely a minor stroke during/after the conference.

Wilson's Cross-Country Tour

Efforts to rally public support for the League; suffered a massive stroke in October 1919, leaving him partially paralyzed and incapacitated.

Rejection of the Treaty

Required two-thirds Senate approval; Senator Henry Cabot Lodge mobilized opposition.

Article X of the League's Charter

Threatened U.S. sovereignty, leading to opposition from Reservationists and Irreconcilables.

Senate Rejection of the Treaty

Senate rejected the Treaty twice (November 1919, March 1920), marking the first time a peace treaty was defeated in U.S. history.

Nationalist Isolationism

A retreat from international engagement following the rejection of the Treaty.

Peace Treaty Defeat

The first time a peace treaty was defeated in U.S. history, marking a retreat to nationalist isolationism.

United Nations Formation

The U.S. played a key role in forming the United Nations.

Labor Conflict Post-War

Servicemen faced high prices and few jobs, leading to demands for higher wages and shorter hours.

American Federation of Labor (AFL)

A labor organization that grew significantly during the post-war period.

International Workers of the World (IWW)

A radical labor organization seen as a threat during the post-war period.

Red Scare

A campaign led by Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer against suspected radicals, fueled by fears of the Bolshevik Revolution.

Espionage Act (1917)

Made it illegal to speak against the government or war effort.

Sedition Act (1918)

Legislation that prohibited speech against the government or war effort.

General Intelligence Division (GID)

Established by Palmer within the Bureau of Investigation to track and prosecute radicals.

Palmer Raids (1919-1920)

Thousands of arrests and deportations of suspected subversives and foreign-born radicals.

Schenck v. United States (1919)

Established the 'clear and present danger' rule regarding speech undermining national defense during wartime.

Debs v. United States (1919)

Upheld the conviction of Socialist presidential candidate Eugene Debs for an anti-war speech.

Abrams v. United States (1919)

Court ruled against Russian immigrants distributing leaflets for a general strike.

Sacco and Vanzetti Trial (1920-1927)

Trial of Italian immigrants Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, highlighting the Red Scare and xenophobia.

The Great Migration (1915-1970s)

Over a million African Americans moved from the rural South to Northern and Western cities seeking jobs and escaping Jim Crow segregation.

Harlem

A vibrant Black neighborhood known as the 'Black Mecca' that emerged during the Great Migration.

Jazz

Originated in New Orleans, blending blues, ragtime, and classical music, becoming the 'soundtrack of the era'.

The Red Summer (April-November 1919)

A period of intense racial violence with 76 lynchings and 18 major race riots.

Marcus Garvey

Jamaican-born founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) advocating Black nationalism and self-reliance.

The Eighteenth Amendment

Ratified January 16, 1919, and enforced by the Volstead Act on January 17, 1920, prohibiting alcohol.

The Nineteenth Amendment

Ratified August 18, 1920, enfranchising women nationwide.

Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)

A proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution aimed at guaranteeing equal rights under the law, particularly regarding gender.

Warren G. Harding

Republican Senator from Ohio who won the 1920 election with the slogan 'Return to Normalcy,' promising healing and restoration.

Washington Naval Conference (1921)

A disarmament conference hosted by Harding that resulted in treaties establishing naval vessel ratios and respecting Pacific claims.

Five-Power Treaty

Treaty establishing a 5:5:3 ratio for naval vessels for the U.S., Britain, and Japan.

Four-Power Treaty

Treaty that involved the U.S., Britain, Japan, and France, respecting Pacific claims.

Nine-Power Treaty

Treaty recognizing the U.S. Open Door Policy in China.

Ponzi's Scheme (1920)

A pyramid scheme run by Charles Ponzi using International Reply Coupons, promising high returns and leading to bank failures.

Teapot Dome Scandal

A major corruption scandal involving Secretary of the Interior Albert Fall, who accepted bribes for exclusive drilling rights.

Ohio Gang

A group of politicians surrounding Harding, engaged in influence peddling and graft.

Calvin Coolidge

Became president after Harding's death in 1923, known for promoting pro-business policies and limited government.

Silent Cal

Nickname for Calvin Coolidge, reflecting his reserved demeanor.

The Gospel of Business

A cultural enthusiasm for business during the Coolidge administration, exemplified by Bruce Barton's bestseller.

The Man Nobody Knows

A bestseller by Bruce Barton that reframed Jesus Christ as a savvy businessman.

Economic Boom (1920s)

A period of rising incomes and falling unemployment, though farmers and agricultural workers struggled.

Dawes Plan (1924)

A plan created by Charles Dawes to stabilize the global economy by restructuring Germany's war reparations.

Mass Production of the Automobile

The process of manufacturing automobiles at scale, significantly reducing costs and increasing availability.

Henry Ford

Industrialist who revolutionized automobile production with the assembly line system.

Fordism

The system of mass production pioneered by Henry Ford, emphasizing efficiency and standardized production.

Model T

An affordable, utilitarian vehicle introduced by Ford in 1908, with prices dropping from $825 in 1909 to $290 by 1925.

Vertical Integration

A business model where a company controls all aspects of production, from raw materials to transport.

Five-Dollar Daily Wage

A revolutionary wage introduced by Ford in 1914 that allowed workers to participate in the consumer economy.

Welfare Capitalism

Corporate practices that included increased benefits and recreational activities to foster worker loyalty.

Sociological Department

Ford's department that enforced moral standards and Americanization among workers.

Transformation of American Life

The impact of the automobile on society, leading to new infrastructure and lifestyle changes.

Increased Mobility

The ability to commute from suburbs and engage in leisure activities, popularized by the automobile.

Auto Camping

A leisure activity popularized by Henry Ford, involving camping trips with friends.

Negative Impacts

Rise in car accident deaths, traffic problems, and changes in dating customs (e.g., 'houses of prostitution on wheels').

Model A (1927)

Ford introduced a faster, more stylish, and colorful car with 'the latest gadgets fitted to an illuminated dashboard,' adapting to consumer demand and signaling a move towards planned obsolescence.

Mass Consumption

The widespread purchasing of goods and services, particularly during the 1920s.

Electrification and Home Appliances

Rapid spread in urban areas led to mass production of appliances like dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, mixers, sewing machines, and refrigerators (e.g., GE's 'Monitor Top').

Improved living standards

The rise in the quality of life due to advancements in technology and availability of home appliances.

Reduced skilled labor

The shift towards mass production and automation decreased the need for skilled workers.

Advertising

Industry boomed (nearly $3 billion by 1929), using psychology to target consumers' hopes and fears (e.g., creating 'halitosis' and 'b.o.').

Strong brand identities

Created through mascots and celebrity endorsements (e.g., Lucky Strike cigarettes).

Planned Obsolescence

Strategy to stimulate demand (e.g., annual automobile model changes, lightbulb consortium).

Easy Credit

Installment buying (buying on credit with monthly payments) became widespread, especially for cars and appliances, allowing more Americans to purchase goods but leading to increased consumer debt.

Mass Communication

The use of various media to reach large audiences, particularly through radio.

The Broadcasting Revolution

Wireless radio transformed from niche to billion-dollar industry.

David Sarnoff

Envisioned the 'Radio Music Box' and played a key role in the development of radio broadcasting.

KDKA

Pittsburgh station that broadcast 1920 election results, marking a significant milestone in radio history.

Radio Corporation of America (RCA)

Formed from GE, AT&T, and American Marconi, dominated the industry, manufacturing sets, establishing international circuits, and founding NBC.

Unifying Force

Radio united Americans through shared entertainment (sports, music, news, serials), transcending social divisions and fostering a common national culture.

The Constitution of the Air

Refers to the crowded airwaves leading to government regulation, culminating in the Federal Radio Act of 1927.

Federal Radio Commission (FRC)

Created to manage licenses, frequencies, and content in radio broadcasting.

Political Impact

Gave politicians a powerful new way to communicate (e.g., Father Charles Coughlin, FDR's fireside chats).

Movies: Hollywood

American film industry boomed, with grand 'movie palaces' attracting millions of weekly moviegoers (50 million by 1923, 100 million by 1930).

Celebrity Culture

Promoted glamor, romance, and affluence, creating stars like Douglas Fairbanks, Rudolph Valentino, Mary Pickford, and Clara Bow.

The Jazz Singer (1927)

Introduced 'talkies' (films with synchronized sound), revolutionizing the industry and leading to studio consolidation.

Cultural Export

American films dominated global markets.

Sports and Leisure

Grew significantly in popularity during the 1920s.

Icons

Athletes like golfer Bobby Jones, tennis player William Tilden, and Babe Ruth became national icons.

Fads

Popular trends included miniature golf, Mah Jong, crossword puzzles, and flagpole sitting.

Gertrude Ederle

First woman to swim the English Channel, challenging gender norms in sports.

Middletown: A Study in Modern American Culture (1929)

Sociologists Robert and Helen Lynd's study of Muncie, Indiana, as a 'typical' American town.

Key Findings

Examined class divisions, religious shifts (fewer churchgoers), and changing gender roles (more women in school/work, more freedom for teenagers).

Limitations

Muncie's population was primarily white, native-born, and Protestant, not fully reflecting the nation's growing racial, ethnic, and religious diversity.

New Ku Klux Klan (KKK)

Revived in 1915 after Birth of a Nation, grew rapidly to ~5 million members by 1925. Promoted '100 percent Americanism' and white, Protestant supremacy.

Birthright citizenship

Affirmed by Fourteenth Amendment (e.g., Wong Kim Ark case).