Unit 8A: The Roaring 20's

Notes

• Participation in WWI transformed the United States in the 1920’s

• The USA was the richest and most developed country in the world

• Mass production, high wages, new consumer goods, and new forms of entertainment were made

• in 1920, Americans elected republican Warren Harding who promised a “return to normalcy”

• in the 1920’s, american foreign policy “returned to normal” by embracing isolationism

• Many citizens felt the U.S. was “duped” into joining WWI and became committed to neutrality

• The U.S hosted a naval conference aimed to reduce the military strength of all nations

• The USA loaned European nations billions of dollars to help rebuild after WWI

• The USA joined other world powers in a commitment to world peace by signing the Kellogg-Briand Pact

• in the 1920’s Republican presidents were elected (Harding, Coolidge, Hoover) who helped America “return to normalcy” by using pro-business policies

• Republicans kept taxes low so Americans could spend their wages

• Republican presidents kept government interference in business to a minimum to allow private enterprise to flourish

• Pro-business policies meant no new progressive reforms

• Pro-business policies and mass production techniques developed during WWI led to an industrial revolution in consumer goods

• By 1920, more people lived in cities than in rural areas due to the industrial revolution, mass immigration, and jobs during world war 1

• Urban society was characterized by diversity, consumerism, freedom, entertainment

• Rural society was characterized by religious fundamentalism, nativism, and tradition

• Americans experience increased wealth, consumerism, leisure time, and new forms of entertainment including jazz

• Rural Americans reacted to these changes attacking behaviors they viewed as “un-American”

• in 1920, the 18th Amendment was ratified and the prohibition era began

• Rural Americans supported the “noble experiment” because they believed drinking led to crime and other social problems

• the Volstead Act outlawed the sale and manufacture of alcohol

• Many urban Americans resisted prohibition

• Drinking was a cultural norm for many immigrants

• Demand for illegal alcohol led to a rise in smuggling (bootlegging), moonshine, crime

• Organized crime emerged in America as the mafia took control of the illegal alcohol trade

• the most notorious mobster was Al Capone who controlled the alcohol trade in Chicago

• in 1933, the 21st Amendment was ratified to repeal prohibition

Dates

• 1920 - 18th Amendment was ratified

• 1933 - 21st Amendment was ratified