The Roaring Twenties

Unit Overview

Title: The Roaring 20s

I. Political Ideology

  1. Political Philosophies

    • Radical: Communists, anarchists.

    • Liberal/Progressive: Support change and reform.

    • Conservative: Prefers traditional values and societal norms.

    • Reactionary: Seeks to return to previous state/policies.

  2. Americanism and the Red Scare

    • Red Scare (1919-1920)

      • Triggered by the Bolshevik Revolution in October 1917.

      • Fear of communism spreading in the U.S. due to post-WWI strikes seen as radical:

        • Seattle General Strike (Jan 1919): Largest strike in U.S. history, peaceful yet feared as a Bolshevik uprising.

        • Boston Police Strike: Over 70% of policemen struck down by Governor Calvin Coolidge, indicating strong opposition to labor unrest.

        • Steel Strike (1919): AFL organized steel industry strike, viewed as a communist threat, ended with violence and intervention.

        • United Mine Workers Strike (Nov 1919): Led by John L. Lewis, called off due to legal injunctions.

    • Palmer Raids (1919-1920)

      • Response to anarchist bombings.

      • Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer's crackdown on radicals:

        • Millions spent for operations, resulting in arrests and deportations of suspected radicals.

        • Most Americans supported Palmer’s actions, which ended in summer 1920 and damaged union movements.

    • The Sacco and Vanzetti Case

      • Two Italian anarchists convicted of murder in 1921 amidst nativist tensions.

      • Faced prejudiced jury leading to execution in 1927, attracting global attention.

    • The Ku Klux Klan

      • Resurgence in the 1920s, spreading from the South into Midwest and Southwest, reaching 5 million members.

      • Strongly nativist, opposing immigration and various social groups.

      • Declined after leader arrested for murder (1925) and due to government investigations.

    • Nativism in the 1920s

      • Historical context of American nativist sentiments:

        • Know-Nothings active in the 1850s, Chinese Exclusion Act (1882), various immigration regulations.

        • Immigration Act (1921) and National Origins Act (1924) severely restricted immigration, targeting eastern and southern Europeans, and banned Asians.

    • The Scopes Trial (1925)

      • Fundamentalists clashed with modernists over evolution teaching.

      • John Scopes challenged anti-evolution law, prosecuted by William Jennings Bryan. This trial highlighted internal religious and scientific conflicts in America.

  3. Prohibition

    • 18th Amendment led to the prohibition of alcohol, enforced by the Volstead Act (1920).

    • Public opposition and rise of organized crime, speakeasies, and casual law-breaking.

    • Prohibition repealed in 1933 with the 21st Amendment.

II. America’s Mass-Consumption Economy

  1. Economic Boom of the 1920s

    • U.S. became the world's largest creditor following WWI; significant industrial growth.

    • 70% increase in productivity, rise in wages, and expansion of electricity and new technologies.

  2. New Work Dynamics

    • Increase in white-collar jobs and advertising industries; emergence of the consumer economy.

    • Women entered the workforce, contributing to changing social dynamics.

  3. Impact of Technology

    • Henry Ford: Revolutionized the auto industry; popularized the assembly line, drastically reducing car production time.

    • Automobile's Role: Changed economic and social landscapes; created new industries and improved living standards.

III. Cultural Changes in the 1920s

  1. Social and Cultural Changes

    • Urbanization: Majority of Americans lived in cities.

    • The Jazz Age: Jazz emerged as a prominent musical form, with important figures like Louis Armstrong.

    • Harlem Renaissance fostered African American literature and culture, featuring poets like Langston Hughes.

  2. Rise of New Forms of Entertainment

    • Radio: Became a significant source of news and entertainment, linking the nation culturally.

    • Movies: Hollywood became a cultural touchstone; the first talking film, The Jazz Singer (1927), heralded a new era in film.

  3. Issues Facing Women

    • The ‘Flapper’ symbolizes a new societal role for women, embracing more freedoms and independence.

    • Legal changes like the establishment of more family planning clinics by leaders like Margaret Sanger.

IV. 1920s Politics: Prosperity and Depression

  • Republican Administration Policies

    • Conservative, pro-business policies domestically and economic unilateralism abroad.

  • Cycles in American History and Voter Demographics

    • Democratic and Republican voter demographics between 1900-1932 versus present.

  • Election of 1920: Key Facts

    • Republican Nomination: Warren G. Harding (President) and Calvin Coolidge (Vice President).

    • Democratic Nomination: James Cox supporting League of Nations; Franklin D. Roosevelt as VP.

    • Outcome: Harding defeated Cox 404-127.

    • First election with women voting; Eugene Debs received 6% while in prison.

  • President Warren G. Harding (1921-1923)

    • Economic and domestic agenda, including key scandals.

  • Coolidge Presidency (1923-1929)

    • Continued conservative policies.

  • Election of 1928

    • Candidates: Herbert Hoover vs. Al Smith.

The Great Depression

  • Hoover's response, causes, and effects of the Depression, including major reforms and challenges.

  • Hoover's response: Initially focused on voluntary cooperation with businesses, but later implemented relief programs like the Reconstruction Finance Corporation to provide loans.