1914-1933: World War I, Great Depression, Suffrage Movement.

Challenges of Teaching History

  • Teaching history requires making choices about what material to include.

  • This is particularly challenging in the 20th century due to the abundance of information.

Overview of World War One

Wilson's 14 Points & Peace Conference

  • President Woodrow Wilson's visit to Paris and the excitement surrounding his 14 Points.
      - 14 Points symbolized Wilson's idealistic vision for international order, advocating for self-determination for colonial peoples.

  • Upon arrival in Versailles, Wilson faced immediate challenges as other victorious allies did not support his principles.
      - French Premier Georges Clemenceau’s dismissive remark about Wilson's 14 Points.

  • Despite limited endorsement, Wilson's points influenced the agenda during the peace conference.

  • Contrary to Wilson's point on ending secret diplomacy, conferences were held behind closed doors.

  • The resulting Treaty of Versailles had several notable effects:
      - Established new free nations in Eastern Europe (e.g., Finland, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, and Yugoslavia) from the remnants of old empires.
      - Created the League of Nations aimed at mediating international disputes and maintaining peace.

  • However, the Treaty created a harsh peace primarily marked by the war guilt clause, blaming Germany for World War One and imposing heavy reparations.
      - These reparations significantly destabilized the German economy leading to future consequences.

  • Great Britain and France maintained their colonial empires, leading to disillusionment among those who supported Wilson's ideals, contributing to increased interest in communism and Leninism.

Consequences of the Treaty

  • The belief that World War One would be the "war to end all wars" proved false, sowing seeds for World War Two.
      - The Treaty of Versailles led to the rise of extremist politics such as fascism and Hitler's influence.
      - The fragmentation of Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia, and other conflicts emerged from the Treaty settlements.

  • Within the US, Wilson's push for the League of Nations faced substantial opposition.

  • Concerns centered on sovereignty and the risk of dragging the US into foreign conflicts, invoking fears rooted in George Washington's farewell address.

  • Wilson's leading political adversary was Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, who argued that the League would constrain American foreign policy.

  • Wilson refused to negotiate with Congress regarding the Treaty.

  • Following a significant stroke in October 1919, Wilson was incapacitated, resulting in a power vacuum within the presidency.
      - His wife Edith took over many administrative duties for a period, effectively running the government.

  • Ultimately, the Senate rejected the Treaty, and the US did not join the League of Nations, leading to independent treaties with Germany and Austria in 1921.

Major Legacies of World War One

Cultural Impact

  • World War One profoundly impacted civilization, challenging contemporary beliefs about the sophistication of societies.
      - Death toll included approximately 25 million people, including 10 million soldiers.

  • The war dismantled significant empires—German, Austrian, Ottoman, and Russian—altering the European landscape dramatically.
      - Created a power vacuum resulting in the rise of fascism and subsequent social unrest.
      - It also contributed to an economic crisis with bankruptcies and infrastructure damage.

  • Events of the 20th century can often trace origins back to World War One, demonstrating its systemic influence.

  • Despite Wilson's efforts, the ideals articulated in his 14 Points failed to manifest, yet they still shaped American identity and foreign policy long-term.

  • Concepts like open markets and the American mission of freedom persist as part of US foreign policy rhetoric.

Transition to the 1920s

  • The progressivism sparked by World War One waned, leading to a more conservative political climate in the ensuing decade.

  • Warren G. Harding’s election in 1920 signified a rejection of Wilsonian ideals and a return to “normalcy.”

Introduction to the 1920s

Theme of Freedom in the 1920s

  • The 1920s presents several cultural themes, often referred to as the Roaring Twenties or Jazz Age, marked by a clash of freedoms across American society.

  • The era saw a significant economic rise alongside a consumer culture marked by flappers and Prohibition, leading to changes in social norms and behaviors.

  • Aspects of freedom during this era included:
      - The desire to enjoy leisure and new consumer goods.
      - The freedom to express one’s identity through new cultural norms and personal autonomy.
      - The right to political participation, particularly for women following suffrage.

The 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic

  • Coinciding with World War One, the Spanish Flu pandemic raised issues regarding the balance of health and individual freedoms.
      - Infected up to 500 million worldwide (a third of the global population).
      - Mask mandates in cities, raising debates on personal freedoms vs. public health.

Labor Unrest

  • The post-war period witnessed significant labor unrest and strikes, a reaction to the dissolution of wartime agreements between labor and employers.
      - 4,000,000 workers participated in roughly 2,500 strikes in 1919, affecting 20% of the industrial workforce.

Major Strikes

  • Seattle General Strike: Originated from a shipyard workers' walkout, ultimately leading to a general strike that united competing labor organizations.

  • Boston Police Strike: The Massachusetts governor declared police lack the right to strike against public safety, leading to the firing of the entire police force.

  • Steel Strike of 1919: Involved approximately 365,000 steelworkers seeking better conditions, but met with backlash from employers who appealed to nativist sentiments.

The Red Scare

  • A period of political intolerance denying labor movements and leftist politics post-World War One fueled by fears of international communism.

  • The 1919 Palmer Raids, conducted against presumed radicals, resulted in thousands being arrested without charges, instigated by Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer.

Civil Liberties and Freedom of Speech

Growth of Civil Liberties

  • The Red Scare eventually led to a deeper appreciation for civil liberties, culminating in the formation of the Civil Liberties Bureau, later the ACLU.

  • Supreme Court case Schenck v. United States (1919) discussed limitations of free speech under the Espionage Act, using examples of harmful speech, cementing a precedent for civil rights discussion.

Artistic Freedom & Cultural Expression

  • Concerns arose regarding censorship in literature and art, reflecting fears about the new cultural dynamics.

  • Enforcement of the Hays Code stifled artistic expression in film.

African American Experiences

W.E.B. Du Bois and the Talented Tenth

  • A prominent African American intellect, advocating for civil rights and social justice through education and activism.

  • Called for the empowerment of the educated African American elite to combat racial inequality.

The Great Migration

  • From 1915 to 1930, over 2 million African Americans migrated north seeking better opportunities, escaping systemic violence in the Jim Crow South.

  • Northern cities faced both growth in black populations and disparities in job opportunities, leading to overcrowding and racial tensions.

Race Riots

  • Escalating tensions resulted in various race riots, notably in Chicago (1919) and Tulsa (1921), reflecting the intersection of veterans' activism with aggressive responses from white communities.

  • The Black population's rise in numbers fueled white fears and hosting significant conflicts.

Marcus Garvey & Garveyism

  • Garvey promoted African independence and self-reliance with the UNIA; his views created a division among civil rights leaders regarding paths forward.

Women’s Rights and Experiences

Feminism in the 1920s

  • The division between political feminism (women’s rights activism) and personal feminism (individual autonomy) became more pronounced following suffrage.

The Equal Rights Amendment

  • Sponsored by Alice Paul, aimed at eliminating legal distinctions based on sex, creating contention among women activists regarding gender roles.

Cultural Changes and the Flapper Phenomenon

  • The emergence of flappers symbolized social change, embracing new norms of behavior and consumerism, while underlying disparities persisted.

Birth Control Movement

  • Margaret Sanger’s advocacy for birth control represented changing views around women’s bodily autonomy and sexuality.

Consumerism and Leisure

Emergence of a Consumer Culture

  • Americans shifted focus towards consumerism and leisure post-war, facilitated by technological advances and easy credit access.

Mass Culture

  • Mass consumption and mass entertainment shaped the American experience, with personalities like Charles Lindbergh rising as heroes in popular culture.

Prohibition

  • The Eighteenth Amendment enacted nationwide prohibition in 1920, reflecting societal views on morality, public health, and the political climate.

  • It was met with significant resistance, leading to deep societal divisions and was repealed with the Twenty-First Amendment in 1933.