Roaring 20s

Harding and Normalcy

Warren G. Harding's presidency focused on returning to "normalcy" and older values after the disruptions of World War I.

Consumers

The 1920s saw the rise of consumer culture, with Henry Ford making cars more affordable and brands like Kellogg's and Kodak becoming popular.

Ford

Ford revolutionized the automobile industry with the assembly line, increasing efficiency and dropping car prices significantly.

Growing Electricity

The 1920s saw a significant increase in the availability of electricity, with GE creating products like the toaster and Hoover making vacuum cleaners.

Culture

The popularity of motion pictures grew, with Charlie Chaplin becoming a beloved figure. Theaters became more comfortable and affordable for all social classes.

Taking Flight

The Wright brothers' flight in 1903 paved the way for advancements in aviation, and Charles Lindbergh became a celebrity for his transatlantic flight.

Harlem Renaissance

Marcus Garvey's Universal Negro Improvement Association called for the separation of white and black people, while the Harlem Renaissance celebrated African American culture and art.

Tin-Pan Alley

A section of New York City known for the growth of popular American music.

New Woman

Young women in the 1920s challenged traditional norms, embracing smoking, drinking, and wearing makeup and short skirts.

Social Change

The 1920s saw changes in sexual behavior, with higher rates of divorce and premarital sex. Margaret Sanger advocated for birth control and women's rights.

Urbanization and Immigration

More people moved to cities, leading to increased opportunities and excitement. However, post-war immigrants faced restrictions due to fears of labor strikes.

Red Scare and Palmer Raids

The fear of communism led to raids and deportations of suspected radicals, with Attorney General Mitchell Palmer leading the efforts.

Sacco-Vanzetti

Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, Italian immigrants and self-professed anarchists, were convicted of murder amid questions of weak evidence and framing.

Eugenics

The belief in breeding a superior race led to sterilization and the promotion of ideas of "inferior races." Notable figures like W.E.B. DuBois and Margaret Sanger supported eugenics.

Fundamentalism

Fundamentalists sought to uphold the literal truth of the Bible and eliminate modern ideas that contradicted it. The Scopes Monkey Trial challenged this ideology.

Scopes Monkey Trial

John T. Scopes was indicted for teaching evolution in Tennessee, leading to a trial that pitted fundamentalism against the teaching of evolution.

Scandalous Harding

Warren G. Harding's presidency was marred by corruption, with the Teapot Dome scandal being the most notorious.