Jazz Age

Prosperity

A period of economic growth and success following World War I in the United States.

Jazz Age

A culturally rich era in the 1920s characterized by the rise of jazz music, social change, and a break from traditional norms.

Emergency Immigration Act of 1921

Legislation that established numerical limits on European immigration to the United States for the first time.

National Origins Act of 1924

Legislation that reduced immigration quotas further by limiting the number of immigrants from Europe based on the 1890 census.

Nativism

A political stance favoring the interests of native-born inhabitants over those of immigrants, often characterized by fear of outsiders.

Ku Klux Klan (KKK)

A white supremacist group that promoted hatred against African Americans, Jews, Catholics, and immigrants, gaining popularity in the early 20th century.

Tennessee Butler Act

A law prohibiting the teaching of evolution in public schools, reflecting the conflict between religious beliefs and scientific understanding.

ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union)

An organization focused on defending and preserving individual rights and liberties guaranteed to all people under the Constitution.

Harlem Renaissance

A cultural, social, and artistic explosion centered in Harlem, New York, during the 1920s, celebrating African American culture.

Prohibition

The nationwide ban on the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages in the United States, established by the 18th Amendment.

Lost Generation

A term referring to a group of American writers who were disillusioned by the devastation of World War I and the changes in society.

Emergency Tariff of 1921

A protective tariff aimed at increasing American purchasing power while raising the prices of imported goods.

Installment Plans

Credit plans that allow consumers to pay for goods in installments over time, significantly influencing buying habits in the 1920s.

Fundamentalism, Fundamentalists

A religious movement in the 1920s characterized by a strict adherence to traditional religious beliefs and a rejection of modernism.

'America must be kept American'

A phrase reflecting the nativist view that American identity should be preserved and protected from foreign influence.

Gertrude Ederle

The first woman to swim across the English Channel, an achievement widely broadcasted via radio. Emphasizing women’s power

Women’s Suffrage

The movement for women's right to vote, culminating in the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920.

Christian Fundamentalism

A movement within Christianity that promotes a literal interpretation of the Bible and opposes secularism.

Back to Africa movement

A campaign in the early 20th century that encouraged people of African descent to return to Africa.

Scarface

A term that refers to organized crime figures during Prohibition who engaged in illegal activities like bootlegging.

Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)

A labor union known for its radicalism and efforts to organize workers across various industries.

The Birth of a Nation

A controversial film that portrayed the Ku Klux Klan in a positive light and contributed to the revival of the KKK.

Civil Liberties

Rights guaranteed to individuals, often seen as protections from government interference or oppression.