Chapter 31 American Life in the "Roaring Twenties" 1919-1929

What was America like in the 1920s?

Americans turned inward and avoided international commitments. They rejected “radical” foreign ideas, criticized “unAmerican” ways of living, and closed immigration to foreigners. They partly cut off the American economy from the world and dove into a decade of homegrown prosperity. The boom of the 1920s brought real benefits to Americans, as incomes and living standards rose for many. New technologies, consumer products, and entertainment made the twenties exciting. Yet underneath lurked widespread worries about the future and fears that America was losing its traditional ways.

What was the reaction to Communist Russia by America?

They were fearful after the communists took over in the Russian REvolution of 1917, which created a small Communist party in America.

What did Aermcians believe the cause of the labor troubles to be?

the radical Bolsheviks. (many were caused by high prices and failed union-organizing efforts_

What is the Red Scare?

periods of intense fear of communism and radical leftist ideologies in the United States, particularly after World War I and during the Cold War, marked by government crackdowns and persecution of suspected communists. Cause of Red Scare after WWI: The Red Scare after WWI was caused by fear of communism spreading after the Russian Revolution, post-war labor strikes being linked to radicalism, anarchist bombings, and nativist distrust of immigrants.

What were the effects of the big red scare of 1919-1920?

It resulted in a nationwide campaign against left-wingers whose loyalty was suspect.

What was Mitchell Palmer?

Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer, who too easily saw Communist threats, earned the nickname "Fighting Quaker" by his excessive efforts in arresting suspects, who eventually totaled about six thousand

What other events added to the red scare?

In December 1919, a ship carrying 249 supposed foreign radicals was deported on the Buford (the "Soviet Ark") to Russia. Fear briefly returned in September 1920, when an unexplained bomb on Wall Street killed thirty-eight people and injured more than a hundred others.

How did states join the outcry against radicals and how did it affect free speech?

In 1919-1920 many legislatures, reflecting the anxiety of "solid" citizens, passed criminal syndicalism laws. These anti-red laws, some created during the war, made it illegal to merely advocate violence to achieve social change. Traditional American concepts of free speech were harmed as IWW members and other radicals were vigorously prosecuted.

Which group benefitted from the red scare?

The red scare helped conservative business people, who used it to break the power of new unions.

HOw did a “judicial lynching” reflect anti-red and anti-foreigner feelings?

In 1921, Nicola Sacco, a shoe-factory worker, and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, a fish seller, were convicted of murdering a paymaster and his guard in Massachusetts. The trial was unfair because the jury and judge were biased against them for being Italian immigrants, atheists, anarchists, and draft dodgers. Over the next six years, liberals and radicals around the world protested, arguing the men were innocent and being punished for their beliefs, not the crime. Despite weak evidence, Sacco and Vanzetti were executed in 1927. Many saw them as martyrs for the "class struggle," while others felt the trial reflected the anti-immigrant and anti-radical hysteria of the Red Scare. In a less tense atmosphere, they might have only received prison time.

What was the new Ku Klux klan of the 1920s like?

In the early 1920s, a new Ku Klux Klan emerged, fueled by postwar fears and resistance to change. It more closely resembled the anti-foreign movements of the 1850s than the original Klan of the 1860s, which focused on targeting Black Americans. It was anti-foreign, anti-Catholic, anti-Black, anti-Jewish, anti-Communist, and against many modern ideas like evolution, birth control, and internationalism. At the same time, it promoted white, Protestant, and "native" American values. The Klan represented an extreme, conservative backlash against the growing diversity and modernization of American society, using fear and prejudice to resist these changes.

How did the new KKK spread?

It spread quickly, especially in teh Midwest and Bible Belt South wehre PRotestant Fundamentalism was strong.

What power did the new KKK hold?

It wielded strong political influence.

What was the “Knights of the Invisible Empire”?

It was the hierarchy of the KKK>

What did the KK do?

The new Ku Klux Klan of the 1920s held large, dramatic gatherings called "konclaves" and organized massive parades where members waved flags and displayed their power. A key symbol of their intimidation was the burning cross, used to spread fear. They often used violence, such as whippings, tarring and feathering, and other brutal tactics to enforce their hateful agenda.

What ended the period of hooded terror in the late 1920s?

Decent people finally rejected the violence and terrorism, while scandalous stealing by Klan officials prompted a congressional investigation. The movement was exposed as a vicious scheme based on a $10 initiation fee, $4 of which went to local organizers as payment to recruit.

What was teh KKK a sign of?

The KKK was a sign of the intolerance and prejudice affecting people worried about the fast pace of social change in the 1920s.

What was America’s view on immigration in the 1920s?

In the 1920s, America turned inward and became more isolationist, with little tolerance for the new wave of immigrants arriving after World War I. Around 800,000 immigrants came between 1920 and 1921, mostly from southern and eastern Europe. Many "one-hundred-percent Americans" opposed this "New Immigration.” They believed Europe was sending its discarded trash to America.

What was the Emergency Quota Act of 1921?

Congress passed the Emergency Quota Act of 1921, limiting European immigrants to 3% of their nationality's U.S. population in 1910. This system still allowed some southern and eastern Europeans to enter, as many had already arrived by 1910.

What was the Immigration Act of 1924 and what did it reflect?

It tightened restrictions further (more than the Emergency Quota Act), reducing quotas to 2% and basing them on the 1890 census, when fewer southern Europeans had immigrated. This favored northern Europeans, like the British, who could send 65,721 immigrants annually, compared to only 5,802 for Italians. It reflected the nativist belief that northern Europeans were superior.

What groups did the Immigration Act ban?

The 1924 Act also banned Japanese immigrants entirely, sparking outrage in Japan,.

Who were exmpet form teh quotas and why?

Canadians and Latin Americans were exempt from quotas, as their proximity made it easy to bring them in for jobs during good times and send them home during bad times.

What was the point of the Immigration Act and Emergencu Quota Act?

These laws aimed to preserve America's predominantly northern European racial makeup, showcasing the era's narrow-minded and exclusionary attitudes.

What did the quota system mark?

The quota system introduced in the 1920s marked a major shift in U.S. immigration policy. It claimed that the country was "full" and needed to restrict further arrivals. As a result, immigration dropped sharply, and by 1931, for the first time in U.S. history, more people left the country than arrived. This system ended America's long tradition of open immigration (most were from from Europe), in the previous century. The Immigration Act of 1924 symbolized this change, cutting off the flow of newcomers and prioritizing northern Europeans over others.

What made it hard for workers to unite in the 1920s?

Ethnic communiites were isolated by language, religion, and culture. Recent immigrants also lived in tight-knight neighborhoods. These divisions made it hard for workers to unite, as they often lacked a common language or shared identity. Employers sometimes exploited these ethnic differences to keep workers divided and prevent them from organizing unions.

What were the engative effects of America’s cultural diversity?

It weakened class and political unity

What did cultural pluralists argue?

Cultural pluralists, like philosopher Horace Kallen and critic Randolph Bourne, argued against the idea of a "melting pot" that erased ethnic differences. Kallen believed immigrants should keep their cultural traditions (maintain cultural identity while harmonizing with others). Bourne, on the other hand, envisioned a more mixed, cosmopolitan America (cultures blend together).

What laid the groundwork for multiculturalism in the late 20th century?

The groundwork for multiculturalism was laid by cultural pluralists like Horace Kallen and Randolph Bourne, who argued against a "melting pot" that erased ethnic differences and supported preserving ethnic identities.

What was one of the last major efforts of the progressive reform movement?

It was prohibition—the banning of alcohol.

Who supported prohibition?

churches and women

How did prohibition become a law?

it became law in 1919 with the Eighteenth Amendment and the Volstead Act.

Which parts of America liked prohibition and which didn’t?

While popular in the South and West—where Southern whites wanted to restrict alcohol from Black Americans and Westerners aimed to clean up saloon-related vices like crime and corruption—it faced strong opposition in Eastern cities. Many immigrants saw drinking as part of their culture and resisted the ban.

Why did prohibition fail?

Prohibitionists ignored America's long history of drinking and the difficulty of enforcing laws when many people opposed them. They also failed to realize that making alcohol illegal overnight wouldn't stop people from wanting to drink. Despite their hopes, prohibition couldn't eliminate thirst or change deep-rooted habits, leading to widespread resistance and failure.

Why was enforcing prohibition difficult?

After World War I, many people were tired of sacrifice and saw drinking as a personal freedom. Some even broke the law on purpose, hoping to force the repeal of prohibition. Hypocrisy was widespread—politicians often voted to keep prohibition while secretly drinking. Enforcement was also weak. There weren’t enough officials, and many were underpaid and open to bribes.

What is the Jazz AGe?

The Jazz Age refers to the vibrant cultural period in the 1920s characterized by the explosion of jazz music, dance, and a general sense of liberation and change in American society. This era marked a significant shift in social norms, fashion, and entertainment, influenced by the aftermath of World War I and a growing urban culture that embraced modernity and self-expression.

What wree the actual results of prohibition?

Prohibition didn’t stop people from drinking—it just drove alcohol underground. Traditional saloons were replaced by speakeasies, secret bars where people whispered passwords to enter. Hard liquor, like cocktails, became popular because it was easier to hide and transport. Smugglers brought in alcohol from places like the West Indies and Canada, sometimes causing diplomatic tensions. At home, people made their own "bathtub gin" or "home brew.” Bootleggers thrived, often working hand-in-hand with those who profited from the consequences of bad alcohol.

In what aspects did prohibition actually succeed?

Bank savings increased, and fewer workers missed work, likely because some heavy drinkers cut back. While alcohol was still available, overall consumption likely decreased.

How did prhibition affect crime?

Prohibition led to a surge in shocking crimes. The massive profits from illegal alcohol fueled widespread police corruption, as officers were bribed to look the other way. Violent gang wars erupted in big cities, particularly in immigrant neighborhoods, as rival groups fought to control the lucrative bootlegging trade. Few were arrested or convicted, as gangsters followed a strict code of silence.

What was the most infamous city during prohibition?

It was Chicago. Al Capone, nicknamed "Scarface," dominated the city's bootlegging scene, earning millions through violence and intimidation.

What was the 1929 St. Valentine’s Day Massacre?

It was an execution of 7 rival gang members orchestrated by Al Capone.

How was Capone taught?

He wasn’t convicted for his crimes as a mobster, but rather for tax evasion.

What other crimes did gangsters involve themselves in?

Gangsters expanded into other illegal activities like prostitution, gambling, and drugs as prohibition continued. Honest businesses were forced to pay "protection money" to avoid violence. racketeers even infiltrated labor unions, taking control as organizers and promoters. By 1930, organized crime had grown into one of the nation's largest industries

What caused the passing of the Lindbergh Law?

Charles Lindbergh’s infant son was kidnapped and murdered. he crime shocked the nation, leading Congress to pass the Lindbergh Law, which made interstate kidnapping a federal offense punishable by death. This marked a dark chapter in American history, showing the devastating consequences of organized crime's rise during the prohibition era.

What was education in the 1920s like?

It continued to make great progress. More states required students to stay in school until age 16 or 18, or until they graduated from high school.

Who created the most groundbreaking educational idea of the time?

It came from John Dewey, who promoted “learning by doing'“ as the foundation of progressive educaiton. He believed hands-on experience was as important as traditional classroom learning and emphasized that schools should focus on "education for life" to prepare students for real-world challenges. His ideas shaped modern teaching methods and encouraged a more flexible, student-centered approach to education.

How did science progress in the1920s?

In the 1920s, science made remarkable progress. The Rockefeller Foundation's public-health campaign, starting in 1909, nearly eliminated hookworm in the South by the 1920s. Improved nutrition and healthcare also increased life expectancy for newborns.

Which groups criticized the advancements in science?

these advancements faced criticism from Fundamentalists, who believed that teaching Darwinian evolution undermined faith in God and the Bible, contributing to the moral decline of youth during the Jazz Age. Fundamentalists pushed for laws banning the teaching of evolution in public schools.Three Southern states, including Tennessee in the Bible Belt, passed such laws, reflecting the strong influence of evangelical religion and setting the stage for (aka causing) the famous Scopes Trial of 1925. This clash between science and religion highlighted the cultural tensions of the era.

What was the Scopes “Monkey Trial” of 1925 like?

The Scopes "Monkey Trial" of 1925 in Dayton, Tennessee, became a national spectacle. High school teacher John T. Scopes was charged with violating state law by teaching evolution. The trial attracted widespread attention, with famous defense attorney Clarence Darrow representing Scopes and former presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan, a Fundamentalist, joining the prosecution.

What was the result of the Scopes Trial?

AThe trial ended with Scopes being found guilty and fined $100 (though the Tennessee Supreme Court later overturned the fine on a technicality). While the Fundamentalists technically won, the trial exposed their cause to ridicule. Despite this, Fundamentalism, with its literal interpretation of the Bible, remained a powerful force in American religious life, particularly in the Baptist Church and the Churches of Christ. The trial highlighted the ongoing tension between science and religion in American culture.

What made the Roaring Twentiies “roar’? What even is the roaring 20s??

Prosperity—real, lasting, and widely shared—was a big part of what made the twenties "roar." The economy got rid of its war equipment in 1919, stumbled a bit in the recession of 1920-1921, and then raced forward for nearly seven years.

Roaring Twenties: a period in US history from 1920-1929, is characterized by economic prosperity, technological advancements, and significant cultural shifts, including the rise of consumerism, jazz music, and changing social norms, while also witnessing struggles for certain groups.

What helped capital investment grow quickly?

Both the recent war and Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon's tax policies helped capital investment grow quickly.

What increased worker productivity?

Smart machines, powered by relatively cheap energy from newly found oil fields, greatly increased worker productivity.

What was the atumobile like by the 1920s?

Once only for the rich, the automobile now became available to ordinary citizens.

How did American manufacturers find enough buyers for all the goods they made?

To address this need, a new part of American business emerged: advertising. Using persuasion and tricks, seduction and sexual hints, advertisers tried to make Americans always unhappy with what they had and want more and more.

Who was Bruce Barton and what did he do?

HE was a founder of advertisment and a prominent New York partner in a Madison Avenue firm. In 1925 Barton published a bestseller, The Man Nobody Knows, arguing that Jesus Christ was the greatest adman ever.

What was sports like in the Roaring Twenties?

Sports became big business in the consumer economy of the 1920s. Promoted by "image makers," home-run heroes like George H. ("Babe") Ruth were much better known than most politicians.

In 1921 the hard-hitting heavyweight champion, Jack Dempsey, knocked out the stylish French light heavyweight Georges Carpentier.

What is buying on credit and what were the effects?

Buying on credit was another new feature of the postwar economy. It refers to purchasing goods or services with the promise of paying for them later, often through installment plans or loans. It encouraged people to purchase new inventions like refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, cars, and radios. This shift led many Americans, even those with traditionally frugal values, to take on debt, making the economy more dependent on credit and vulnerable to future problems.

What was the new industrial revoluiton (of the roaring 20s) like?

a new industrial revolution transformed daily life, with machinery and mass production at its core. The automobile became the most impactful invention, revolutionizing industry through assembly lines and mass production.

What did Henry Ford and Ransom E. Olds do?

Americans like Henry Ford and Ransom E. Olds (of Oldsmobile) advanced the car industry. (the 20s marked the start of America’s love affair with the automobile and its profound impact on society and the economy.)

What was the heart of America’s automobile industry?

In the 1920s, Detroit became the heart of America's booming automobile industry, largely thanks to Henry Ford and his revolutionary methods.

What was Ford’s automobile industry like?

Ford's Model T, though plain and noisy, was affordable, sturdy, and reliable, making cars accessible to average Americans. Using standardized parts and the moving assembly line (known as Fordism), Ford drastically reduced costs. . His methods spread globally, inspiring industries worldwide, though some workers, like those in Germany, resisted the efficiency-driven "American methods."

What were the effects of the automobile industry?

It created millions of jobs and boosed related industries like rubber, glass, and oil, as well as road construction and service stations. This transformation raised America's standard of living and solidified the car's role as a cornerstone of modern life.

Which industries grw and which grew weaker?

new industries boomed while older oens weakened. The petroleum business grew and the railroad industry was hurt by competition from passenger cars, buses, and trucks.

What social changes did cars bring?

At first, they were a luxury, but they quickly became a necessity. Though basically for needed transportation, they soon became a symbol of freedom and equality. To some, showing off seemed more important than transportation. Leisure hours could now be spent more enjoyably. Women were further freed from depending on men. Buses made possible the combining of schools and to some extent churches.

What did the Wright brothers (Orville and Wilbur) do?

On December 17, 1903, Orville Wright flew a weakly powered plane that stayed in the air for 12 seconds and 120 feet. Thus the air age was started by two unknown Ohio bicycle repairmen.

What did Charles A. Lindbergh do in 1927 and what were the effects?

He made the first solo west-to-east crossing of the Atlantic. He piloted his single-engine plane, the Spirit of St. Louis, from New York to Paris. Lindbergh's feat swept Americans off their feet. Tired of the cynicism and mockery of the jazz age, they found in this wholesome and handsome youth a real hero. HIs achievement publicized and popularized flying, while giving a strong boostto the new aviation industry.

What were radios like?

Guglielmo Marconi, an Italian, invented wireless telegraphy in the 1890s, and his invention was used for long-range communication during World War I. Next came the voice-carrying radio. Later wonders were achieved in transatlantic wireless phonographs, radiotelephones, and television.

How did radio programs change by the late 1920s?

The earliest radio programs reached only local audiences. But by the late 1920s, technological improvements made long-distance broadcasting possible, and national commercial networks overwhelmed much local programming. Meanwhile, advertising "commercials" made radio another vehicle for American free enterprise, unlike the government-owned systems of Europe.

What united the nation?

The radio

WHat was the movie like?

The flickering movie was the creation of many geniuses, including Thomas A. Edison. As early as the 1890s, this novel device, though still crude, had gained some popularity. The real birth of the movie came in 1903, when the first story sequence reached the screen. This melodrama, The Great Train Robbery, was featured in the five-cent theaters, popularly called "nickelodeons." Spectacular among the first full-length classics was D. W. Griffith's Birth of a Nation (1915), which glorified the Ku Klux Klan of Reconstruction days and insulted both blacks and Northern carpetbaggers.

What became the movie cpaital of the world?

Hollywood

HOw was motion picture like during WWI?

The motion picture really arrived during World War I, when it was used as a tool of anti-German propaganda. Specially prepared "hang the kaiser" films helped powerfully in selling war bonds and in boosting morale.

What was the first “talkie”?

It was The Jazz Singer, which was createdin 1927. The age of the "silents" was ended as theaters everywhere were "wired for sound."

What surpassed all other new forms of entertainment?

the movies

What were the popular effects of new mass media (the rise of radio and motion pictures) in the 1920s?

They helped break down the isolation of ethnic communities, as immigrant children moved away from traditional forms of entertainment to embrace movies and radio shows. While some cultural diversity was lost, this shift helped standardize language and tastes, speeding up assimilation into American society and paving the way for a unified working-class political movement that could overcome ethnic divisions.

What did the1920 census reveal?

The 1920 census showed that, for the first time, most Americans lived in urban areas rather than the countryside.

What was working like for women in the 1920s?

Women found new job opportunities in cities, though they were often limited to low-paying roles like retail clerks or typists, which became labeled as "women's work."

What was the birth-control movement like?

The birth-control movement, led by Margaret Sanger, gained momentum, advocating for the use of contraceptives. Meanwhile

What did the National Women’s Party do in 1923?

Meanwhile, Alice Paul's National Woman's Party began pushing for an Equal Rights Amendment in 1923, though it would remain unresolved for decades.

How did religion change in the 1920s?

Fundamentalists, who upheld traditional religious beliefs, lost ground to Modernists, who viewed God and the universe in a more optimistic light. Churches adapted to compete with modern entertainment.

How did social attitudes toward sexuality change in the 1920s?

dvertisers used sexual appeal to sell products, while young women embraced the flapper lifestyle, symbolizing newfound freedom. These changes reflected a broader cultural shift toward greater independence and openness, challenging traditional values and reshaping American society.

Who were the flappers like?

Flappers wore short dresses, rolled stockings, and cut their hair short, often accessorizing with cigarettes and bold makeup. Some even shocked older generations by wearing one-piece bathing suits.

What influenced the shift in attitudes toward sexuality?

It was influenced by the writings of Sigmund Freud, who argued that sexual repression caused emotional and nervous problems. This idea led many Americans to embrace sexual freedom, believing it was essential for both pleasure and health.

Wha tbecame the soundtrack of the 1920s?

It was Jazz. It emerged from New Orleans and spread north during WWI. Black musicians like W.C. Handy, "Jelly Roll" Morton, Louis Armstrong, and Joe "King" Oliver pioneered the genre

What happened to nrothern cities like Harlem in the 1920s?

In northern cities like Harlem, a new sense of racial pride flourished among African Americans. Harlem became a cultural hub, nurturing poets like Langston Hughes and leaders like Marcus Garvey.

What did Garvey do?

Garvey founded the United Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), advocating for Black self-reliance and a return to Africa. Though his ventures, like the Black Star Line Steamship Company, often failed, Garvey's message of racial pride inspired millions and laid the groundwork for future movements like the Nation of Islam.

What did the 1920s mark for civil rights (in the future)?

This era marked a turning point in Black cultural and political identity, setting the stage for the civil rights struggles to come.

What is modernism?

Modernism refers to a broad cultural and artistic movement, primarily in the early 20th century, characterized by a rejection of traditional forms and a focus on experimentation, abstraction, and subjective experience in art, literature, music, and other fields.

What was the new group of wrtiers and artists that appeared in the ten years after WWI like?

Many came from ethnic and regional backgrounds different from the Protestant New Englanders who had traditionally controlled American cultural life. These newcomers, often from diverse ethnic and regional backgrounds brought a sense of disillusionment from the aftermath of World War I. Inspired by modernism, they questioned outdated social rules and authority, injecting American culture with fresh imagination.

What was H.L. Menchen like?

Through his writings, he mocked middle-class values, democracy, prohibition, and criticizing Puritanism. His critiques captured the spirit of modernist skepticism.

What is the Lost Generation?

the "Lost Generation" refers to a group of American writers and intellectuals who came of age during World War I and the Roaring Twenties, feeling disillusioned and alienated from both the war and the values of mainstream American society.

What other authors did WWI’s trauma also influence/

The war's trauma also deeply influenced writers like F. Scott Fitzgerald, whose This Side of Paradise (1920) became a defining work for the Lost Generation, exploring themes of disillusionment and moral uncertainty. His The Great Gatsby (1925) critiqued the American Dream through the tragic story of Jay Gatsby, a self-made man destroyed by the elite.

What did Ernest Hemingway do?

Ernest Hemingway, shaped by his war experiences, developed a minimalist, realistic style that captured the emotional numbness of the postwar generation. Works like The Sun Also Rises (1926) and A Farewell to Arms (1929) reflected the disillusionment and trauma of the era.

What did members of the Lost Generation do?

In the 1920s, many American writers and artists, disillusioned by World War I and the materialism of the U.S., became part of the "Lost Generation" and moved to Europe, particularly Paris. There, they found inspiration in the salon of Gertrude Stein, a pioneering modernist writer who experimented with stream-of-consciousness techniques .

Which authors led the modernist movemeent (which which rejected traditional literary forms and explored the fragmentation and emptiness of modern life).

Stein, Ezra Pount, and T.S. Elliot.

Waht was E.E Cummings like?

He used unconventional wordplay and typography to create striking poetic effects.

Which writers of the 20s didn’t embrace radical styles?

Robert Frost wrote accessible, nature-focused poems about New England, while Carl Sandburg celebrated the working class of Chicago.

What did writer William Faulker do?

William Faulkner, a Mississippi native, focused on the changing American South, using complex narratives and stream-of-consciousness techniques.

What was music and theater like in teh 20s?

Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein's Show Boat (1927) revolutionized Broadway as the first true American musical play, blending music with serious themes. This creative energy extended to New York's Greenwich Village, a hub for writers, artists, and musicians, and to Harlem, where the Harlem Renaissance celebrated Black culture and identity

What were the signs that the economic boom might not last?

Hundreds of banks failed each year, even during good times. Speculation—gambling on quick profits—became a craze. For example, the Florida real estate boom of 1925 saw people buying underwater lots for huge sums, but it collapsed when a hurricane hit.

The stock market was even wilder. People bought stocks "on margin," meaning they only paid a small part of the price upfront, hoping to sell later at a profit. ! The market became like a casino, with people ignoring warnings that this false prosperity couldn’t last. The government did little to stop the reckless speculation.