The New Era Study Notes

Time Period: 1920s, referred to by various names including the New Era, the Jazz Age, the Age of the Flapper, and the Prosperity Decade.
Significant Events: The aftermath of World War I, racial violence, political repression, and the Red Scare heavily influenced the socio-political climate.
Themes: With a titular acknowledgment to Harding, the decade was marked not by 'normalcy' but by vast cultural changes, consumerism, and significant social movements.

Warren G. Harding
- Took office on March 4, 1921, promising 'return to normalcy.'
- Inaugural Speech Quotes:
- "Our supreme task is the resumption of our onward, normal way."
- "America’s present need is not heroics, but healing."
- Context: The nation was facing post-war instability, racial violence, and a lingering Red Scare.
Challenges Faced:
- Over 115,000 American soldiers died in WWI; a flu epidemic between 1918-1920 resulted in 700,000 deaths.
- A post-war economic decline led to an unemployment rate of 20% and rampant labor strikes.
Harding's Administration Focus:
- Economic restoration through protective tariff and dismantling wartime controls.
- Legislative efforts targeted immigration and foreign populations, reflecting fear and nativism prevalent post-war.
- Appointment of key figures:
- Wallace’s Farmer as Secretary of Agriculture.
- Herbert Hoover as Secretary of Commerce.
- Andrew Mellon as Secretary of the Treasury.
- Teapot Dome Scandal:
- Involvement of high officials including Albert Fall and Edwin Denby, leading to resignation and jail time.
Calvin Coolidge's Presidency:
- Ascended to office in August 1923 after Harding's death.
- Continued economic policies but focused on business prosperity: "The chief business of the American people is business."
- Supported substantial tax cuts for the wealthy (from 66% to 20%).

Consumerism's Rise:
- Christine Frederick's Selling Mrs. Consumer (1929) describes women's role in household spending.
- Expansion driven by industrial revolution leading to high output of household goods.
- Department Stores:
- Emergence as central retail locations; innovate customer service and atmosphere.
- Example: Marshall Field & Co. in Chicago pioneered luxurious shopping environments.
Automobile Industry:
- Changed social dynamics; 60% of cars sold on credit by 1927.
- Major growth in registered vehicles (from 9 million in 1920 to 27 million by 1930).
- Henry Ford's production innovations enabled widespread car ownership.

The Automobile's Influence:
- Increased mobility allowed people to travel; associated with freedom and sexual exploration.
- Infrastructure developed to support drivers (gas stations, diners).
Film Industry:
- By 1930, major film studios dominated; Jewish immigrants often foundational to Hollywood
- Rise of palatial movie theaters increases accessibility and appeal.
- Movie attendance rose to 40 million weekly by early 1920s.
Music and Radio:
- Radio emerged post-1920, bringing music and entertainment directly to households.
- Jazz became a major cultural force; black musicians popularized the genre nationally.

Flapper Culture: Represented a challenge to Victorian norms; embraced freedom and fashionable lifestyles.
Women’s Rights Movements: Post-suffrage activism expanded to include various social reforms, despite backlash against their public roles.
- Notable activists: Alice Paul and the National Woman's Party proposing the Equal Rights Amendment.
Economic Participation:
- More women in the workforce, especially unmarried, yet many continued in traditional roles, facing significant barriers.

Harlem Renaissance: Marked by artistic, literary, and cultural expression post-Great Migration; defined by figures like Langston Hughes.
Significant Axis: Racial pride, counteracting stereotypes through art and literature fostering a new identity.
- Notable Works: Claude McKay and Zora Neale Hurston contributed to the richness of published Black experience.

Social Tensions: Fear of immigration, rising racial tensions, and fundamentalist reactions against modernist ideas emerged.
Sacco and Vanzetti Trial: Illustrative of nativist sentiments and fears of foreign radicals.

Emergence of Fundamentalism: Response to perceived moral decline; emphasized biblical literalism vs. modernist views.
Scopes Trial: Highlighted educational vs. religious dichotomies; resulted in nationwide attention concerning evolution.

Klan’s Expansion: Shift from anti-Black to broader opposition of immigrants, Communists, and perceived societal crises.
- Saw a massive membership rise during the 1920s due to socio-political discontent.
State Power and Violence: Local politicians often aligned with Klan ideologies; its reach grew beyond the South.

Economic Concerns: Despite Hoover's reassurances of prosperity, underlying structural issues foreshadowed the impending Great Depression.
Contrasts in Experiences: Recognition that much of the progress in the '20s wasn't uniform—most at the bottom remained marginalized in prosperity discussions.

Key documents illustrating the political and social movements such as Harding's speeches and writings of Black nationalists are highlighted.

Extensive bibliography for further readings on the discussed themes and figures, including works on feminism, the Harlem Renaissance, and the KKK's sociopolitical dynamics.