The New Era Notes

Warren G. Harding

Twenty-ninth president of the United States, promised a 'return to normalcy'.

Return to normalcy

Harding's campaign slogan aimed at healing after World War I.

Teapot Dome Scandal

Involved the leasing of government land to oil companies for cash; led to corruption issues in Harding's administration.

Jazz Age

Refers to the cultural period of the 1920s characterized by jazz music and a loosening of social norms.

Nineteenth Amendment

Granted women the right to vote in the United States in 1920.

Harlem Renaissance

Cultural movement in the 1920s that celebrated African American cultural contributions.

New Woman

A term reflecting women's greater independence and activism in the 1920s.

Prohibition

The nationwide ban on alcohol in the U.S., enforced by the Eighteenth Amendment.

Sacco and Vanzetti

Italian anarchists tried for robbery and murder in the 1920s, executed amidst controversy over their trial.

Fundamentalism

A religious movement emphasizing the literal interpretation of scriptures, clashing with modernist views.

Scopes Trial

1925 legal case debating the teaching of evolution in schools, highlighting conflicts between science and religion.

Ku Klux Klan (KKK)

A white supremacist group that gained popularity in the 1920s, targeting minorities and promoting nativism.

Marcus Garvey

African American leader who advocated for Black nationalism and economic independence through the UNIA.

The Great Migration

Mass movement of African Americans from the rural South to northern cities between 1910 and 1930.

Harlem

A major cultural center for African Americans, significantly growing in population during the 1920s.

Flapper

Symbol of the new woman in the 1920s, embodying modern values of freedom and independence.

The Birth of a Nation

A controversial film that contributed to the resurgence of the KKK in the early 20th century.

Consumer Culture

An economic and social order that encourages the acquisition of goods and services in increasingly large amounts.

Installment Buying

A purchasing method that allowed consumers to buy goods by paying in increments over time.

Calvin Coolidge

Thirty-first president of the United States who continued Harding's economic policies and promoted business interests.

Harlem Renaissance Writers

A group of literary figures, including Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston, who shaped African American literature.

Dixie to Broadway

The first all-Black show with mainstream performances, highlighting Black contributions to theater.

Cultural Independence

The notion of African Americans creating and celebrating their own cultural identities and expressions.

Women's Activism in the 1920s

Efforts by women to gain rights, improve social conditions, and achieve equality during this transformative decade.

Economic Prosperity of the 1920s

An era characterized by industrial growth, rising consumerism, and increasing wealth for many Americans.

Great Depression

Severe worldwide economic downturn that began in 1929, following the period of prosperity in the 1920s.