Untitled Flashcards Set

John D. Rockefeller Jr. – Labor and Consumerism. Emphasised that workers are important and should not be overlooked. Intended to add value to workers so they did not join unions. “You are appreciated”. He introduced a plan to improve worker conditions, like better pay and representation, but still avoided supporting outside labor unions. His approach aimed to keep peace between workers and owners while protecting business interests. 

Walter White (multiple sources) – Civil Rights leader and worked for the NAACP. Light-skinned/black. 

• With labor and capital he spoke about how even within labor unions there were still disadvantages for negros. “The negro is between ‘the devil and the deep blue sea.’ He feels that if he goes into unions, he will lose the friendship of the employers. He knows that if he does not, he is going to be met with the bitter antagonism of the unions..”

New Negro: Walter White argues that the South keeps African Americans in ignorance for economic gain. He explains that the fear of "social equality" is really about avoiding intermarriage and maintaining white control over land and property. Laws against intermarriage, he says, were not to protect white women but to allow white men to exploit both white and black women without consequence. 

Samuel Gompers – Labor leader. Fought for workers rights for better pay, shorter working hours, and safer working conditions. He was president of the AFL. Believed workers and employed workers could work together if workers were treated fairly. Spoke upon how the American Federation of Labor was composed of ¼ of the country which should give them importance to be heard. 

Robert and Helen Lynd (multiple sources) – Middletown: studies in American culture. Socialist that studied how life was changing in small American towns especially in regards to industrialization and modernism. 

• Modern women: Talked about how married women began to work often because of financial necessity. Give two examples. The first woman worked in factories to help pay medical bills and support her family when her husband was unemployed. However, her job hurt her health, and it caused problems at home, like her daughter having to leave school to care for the younger children. The second woman worked to improve her family's life, allowing her children to do activities and aiming to send them to college. She felt empowered by earning her own money, which let her buy household items and help her family financially.

• Consumerism: Robert and Helen Lynd explain that in Middletown, credit has become widely available, allowing people to buy expensive items like homes, cars, and appliances. They highlight how consumerism now defines people's roles, with citizens seen as consumers whose spending drives the economy. They list how new goods and services, such as modern home appliances, entertainment, and education, have become everyday necessities, showing how consumer spending is central to life in the community.

• The New Negro: highlight the racial segregation and discrimination that exists even in simple community activities. 

Religion: industrial culture and secular values dominate. Church attendance is less regular, and social activities are less church-centered. A Rotary member points out the disconnect between religious beliefs and actions, as people show more enthusiasm for secular pursuits than for church. Despite this, civic clubs and women's groups have become new centers of "spiritual" engagement, with members finding purpose and loyalty in civic pride rather than traditional religion.

Samuel Strauss – Consumerism. Talks about how while the Founding Fathers hoped for prosperity and material wealth for citizens, they never imagined the rapid pace of production and how essential constant consumption would become to the economy. Today, American citizens are no longer just political participants; their primary role is as consumers who must keep buying to maintain national prosperity. Strauss believes that consumerism—the constant need to consume more and more—is now the driving force of American democracy, and without it, society and its institutions would collapse. 

Christine Frederick – Expresses that women in America had a special and privileged position compared to women in other countries. American women have more economic power, freedom, and influence especially in their household where men worked to provide for them. To other countries this showed off how American women “ruled the house”. 

Elyse Johnson McDougald –  African American writer and activist. Involved in the Harlem renaissance and focused on issues with racial injustice, women’s rights, and empowerment of black women. “The Double Task.” → Women faced double oppression (for being women and black); Unfair Encomic and labor conditions; Believed education  to be a tool for empowerment; sexism within black community; “the new negro woman” was educated, self-sufficent, and contributing to racial uplift.  

Rosewood Florida Race Riot editorials – Reflect two contrasting perspectives on the 1923 Rosewood, Florida, race riot. White Perspective: Some white people thought lynching was needed to protect white women and keep order. They believed Black people should know their place and that any challenges to this were unacceptable. They felt justified in taking violent action if the law didn’t act fast enough. Black Perspective: Black people saw lynching as unjust and felt abandoned by the government. Many believed in standing up for themselves and defending their rights. They wanted stronger protection from racial violence and unity within their own community to fight back.

Mordecai Johnson – African American Pastor. Advocated for racial equality, civil rights, and social justice.  Mordecai Wyatt Johnson explains that during World War I, African Americans felt a sense of hope and freedom as they were able to find better jobs in the North and were part of a shared effort in the war. They believed this would bring them better lives and opportunities, as they could earn a living wage and be part of a greater cause. However, after the war, their hopes were crushed when Southern leaders pushed them back into their old roles, telling them to stay in their “place” and not seek equality. This led to violence and discrimination, and the rise of groups like the Ku Klux Klan. Johnson notes that, since then, African Americans have lost faith in the government, believing that something is deeply wrong at the core of the nation’s leadership.

Langston Hughes – Prominent African American poet. “Question” → questions whether, in death, society will still value a wealthy white person more than a black laborer, highlighting the racial inequality in how lives are valued. Often wrote about racial discrimination, the realities of black life, and the importance of embracing one's heritage. “South” → Langston Hughes describes the South as both alluring and cruel, personifying it as a beautiful but unkind woman who rejects Black people. Despite his love for it, he feels mistreated and seeks the North, hoping for a better life and safety for his children.

Marcus Garvey – Jamaican activist and leader of the Pan-African movement. Founded Universal Negro Improvement Associatio (UNIA) promoting Black nationalism and self-reliance. Garvey advocated for African Americans to return to Africa and establish their own nation. “The true solution” → Marcus Garvey argues that Black people worldwide face racial oppression, from lynching in America to slavery in Africa. He believes the only solution is for Black people to establish a strong, independent African nation that can protect them, as other nations do for their citizens. Without national unity and power, Garvey warns that Black people will continue to suffer, no matter their economic progress or voting rights.

A. Phillip Randolph – Opposed Garvey. Created the Messenger. Harlem renaissance movement activist and union leader. A. Philip Randolph criticizes Marcus Garvey for telling Black people not to vote for a Black candidate, calling his reasons foolish. He also stresses the need for Black workers to join unions and fight for equal treatment, even if they face resistance. Randolph questions whether the Republican Party, under President Coolidge, will take action on issues like segregation, lynching, and appointing Black people to important government positions.

It movie – It (1927) is significant because it cemented Clara Bow as the "It Girl" and became a symbol of the Roaring Twenties. The film introduced a new type of female character: confident, independent, and sexually liberated. Bow's performance, filled with charm and allure, reflected the era's changing attitudes toward women’s roles in society. It was a breakthrough in showcasing women's empowerment on screen, and Bow’s character became an icon of modern femininity.

Marjorie Wells – “Are Ten Too Many” → Has a more transitional view of Birth Control. She was ‘old fashioned’ and had a large family. Believed that birth control expressed that large family itself is dangerous, undeniable, and even reprehensible performance. She believed that it implied that a small family is the right family and the large one is wrong. Expressed that if families had the economy to supply a big family it is their own business if they decide to do so. 

Margaret Sanger – Opposed view from Wells. Was a nurse and came from a big family. key figure in the birth control movement in the U.S. She founded what became Planned Parenthood and advocated for women’s access to contraception and reproductive rights. Sanger's efforts helped change laws restricting birth control, and she played a pivotal role in advancing women's autonomy over their bodies. Expressed how mothers of large families express her gratitude for the benefits of birth control. It enables them to give their children a good start in life as well as a more enjoyable martial communion. 

William Shepherd – Argues that while America is not experiencing a religious revival, there is a widespread spiritual curiosity. People are exploring new beliefs and practices, seeking something solid to anchor their faith, much like earlier generations sought in the church. However, Shepard questions why people are not turning to the church, suggesting that church leaders are confused by the masses' disinterest. He implies that the church has failed to meet the spiritual needs of modern society, leading people to seek answers elsewhere.

Reinhold Neibuhr – Reflects on the challenges facing religion and society in the 1920s. 1922: He notes the difficulty for liberal pastors to lead congregations into modern thought, contrasting this with his own experience in a conservative church. 1924: Niebuhr critiques modern people’s lack of moral loyalty, highlighting a disconnect between modernity and religious discipline. 1925: He questions why the church doesn't offer specific ethical guidance for contemporary issues, suggesting its hesitation perpetuates irrelevant debates. 1926: He critiques the church's focus on trivial issues like women smoking, while neglecting larger ethical matters like industrial justice. 1927: He criticizes both fundamentalists and modern skeptics, noting the challenge of fostering religious culture in an age lacking imagination. 1928: Niebuhr warns against a purely rational faith, advocating for a balance between faith and reason, and criticizing both fanatical rationalism and dogmatism.

Harry Emerson Fosdick – prominent American pastor, theologian, and author, best known for his liberal/modernist views on Christianity. advocated for a reinterpretation of traditional Christian beliefs to align with contemporary science, culture, and social issues. In “Shall the Fundamentalists Win?” (1922), he advocates for a tolerant, intellectually open church that engages young people in thoughtful exploration of faith. He criticizes intolerant, fundamentalist churches for stifling critical thinking, making them less appealing compared to science, which encourages discovery.

Clarence MacCartney – Counterpointed Fosdick. Conservative/fundamentalist. Argues that the Church needs strong defenders of traditional Christian beliefs, even if they are labeled "bigots." He rejects attempts to reconcile modernist and orthodox views, stating that they are irreconcilable. He criticizes the rejection of core Christian doctrines, like the divinity of Christ and atonement, warning that modernism is secularizing the Church and could lead to a Christianity without worship, God, or Christ.

Walter Lipman – liberal influential commentators on American political and intellectual life. Explores the emptiness felt by those who have lost their religious faith. He describes their struggle with the lack of purpose, moral foundation, and certainty in life. While some rebel against traditional beliefs, many find their new freedom unsatisfying and disorienting. Lippmann argued that without a guiding belief system, modern life becomes restless and lacks meaning, prompting people to seek new forms of religion or ideology to fill the void. argues that the constant flood of disconnected information from the media creates confusion and uncertainty, leaving people struggling to find meaning and order in their lives. Modern life has fragmented institutions and areas of life (church, state, science, etc.), leading to a separation of roles and a loss of a unified sense of self.

Editors of The Forum – Magazine of social and political commentary. Religion and Science: argue that science and religion are fundamentally at odds due to their differing assumptions about life. Religion views the universe as created and controlled by a superior being, with humans dependent on this being's will. Religious control over life involves rituals designed to gain favor with this higher power, such as prayers and sacrifices. Science, on the other hand, sees the universe as a self-sustaining system governed by natural laws that operate consistently, without supernatural intervention. Control over life in this context comes from understanding and applying these laws. They also present several philosophical definitions of religion, highlighting a range of perspectives. 

H.L. Menken – Reporter from the Scopes Trial. Supported Darrow more. He viewed the trial as a symbolic battle between reason and ignorance, highlighting the conflict between the scientific community and religious fundamentalists. Portrayed it as a spectacle of ignorance and injustice, dominated by religious fanaticism and political manipulation. Saw bryan as uneducated while Darrow as noble. 

William Jennings Bryan – Central figure in the scopes trial. Represented the religion side. a strong advocate of Christian fundamentalism, served as the prosecutor, arguing that evolution contradicted the Bible. Bryan's public image suffered after the trial, especially after Darrow's cross-examination. In his summation argued that while science advances technology, it lacks moral direction, especially in areas like warfare. He framed the trial as a battle between Christian faith and evolution, calling evolution a "bloody, brutal doctrine" that undermines morality. Bryan urged the jury to protect Christian values in education, portraying the case as a choice between God and unbelief. He emphasized that the verdict would have global significance, with millions of Christians awaiting the jury's decision.

Clarence Darrow – Central figure in scopes trial. Science side. Teacher that was charged for teaching evolution in violation of Tennessee's Butler Act, which banned the teaching of evolution in public schools. Scopes was found guilty and fined $100. Conducted a great cross examination with Bryan where he placed him in very awkward positions to trip over his own point.