The Roaring 20's

The Roaring 20's Study Notes

Essential Questions

What difficulties did Americans have in adjusting to peace after the war?
What factors sparked the prosperity of the 1920s?
How did the policies of Republican Presidents differ from those of the Progressive Presidents?
In what ways did the 1920s witness a conflict in values?
What impact did the “Harlem Renaissance” have on the African-American community in America?

Attempts to Preserve Traditional Values

Temperance Movement → Prohibition

Background: Prohibition reformers blamed liquor as the cause of poverty and crime.
Supporting Groups: Many women’s groups supported the movement as they believed it would protect families, women, and children from the adverse effects of alcohol abuse.

The 18th Amendment

Passed by Congress in 1919.
Known as the Prohibition Amendment.
Content: Banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages.
Formal Citation: 18th Amendment.

Video Questions

What problems in society did supporters of Prohibition hope to solve by banning alcohol?
What did the 18th Amendment to the Constitution make illegal?
Why did some Americans continue to drink despite the law, and what methods did they use to get around it?
What were the unintended consequences of Prohibition?
What ultimately led to the end of Prohibition?
Which amendment officially repealed the 18th Amendment, and in what year?

Consequences of Prohibition

Many Americans believed Prohibition wrongly forced one’s beliefs on others and resulted in the unemployment of thousands.
Led to a rise in lawlessness and the growth of organized crime.
Many individuals simply refused to comply with the ban on alcohol.

Political Cartoon Analysis: Trash Talk -

Analytical Framework:

Time (T): When was the cartoon created?
Action (A): What is happening in the cartoon?
Caption (C): What words/text do you see and what do they mean?
Objects (O): What important objects, colors, or people can you identify in the cartoon?
Summary (S): What is the overall message of the cartoon? What is the artist trying to convey?

The Scopes “Monkey Trial”

The trial drew nationwide attention.
Key Figures:
- William Jennings Bryan represented the State.
- Clarence Darrow defended Scopes.
Historical Significance: It was the first trial in American history to be broadcast over national radio.
Outcome: Ended with Scopes being convicted of teaching evolution, with his $100 fine later repealed.

Immigration Restrictions

Historical Context

1910: 70% of all immigrants were from Southern Europe.
WW1 led to a reduction in immigration due to global conflict.
Post-war period saw growing nativist sentiments leading Congress to restrict immigration from Europe for the first time.

Immigration Acts of 1921, 1924, and 1929

Established quotas to limit immigration from certain nationalities:
- Great Britain, Ireland, and Germany were allowed the greatest number of immigrants.
- Immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe was severely limited.
Note: Asian immigration continued to be prohibited.

Eugenics

Overview

Definition: Eugenics was the scientific belief that the human race could be improved through controlled breeding.
Racial Superiority: It involved the belief in the superiority of the Anglo-Saxon 'race.'
There was a public perspective that light-skinned, blond-haired, blue-eyed individuals were superior to others.

Key Proponents

Charles Davenport advocated for preventing the mentally ill from having children as a means to reduce mental illness in the U.S.
Consequences: This led to forced sterilizations, segregation laws, and marriage restrictions.
Funding for these initiatives came from significant organizations such as the Carnegie Institution and Rockefeller Foundation.

Women of the 20's

Social Norm Changes:

Changes in social norms for women during the 1920s include the following:
- Acquiring the right to vote in 1920.
- Increased workforce participation.
- Economic independence and assertiveness.
- Higher education enrollment.
- Public smoking and drinking.
- Rejection of traditional clothing styles.
Cultural Icon: Flappers symbolized this new freedom.

The Great Migration

Timeframe: 1910 to 1930 saw 2 million African Americans migrate from the South to the Northeast and Midwest.
Purpose: They were in search of jobs, to escape sharecropping and tenant farming, and flee deep-rooted racism.
Northern jobs offered better wages, encouraging migration through inspiring stories from those who traveled North.

The Harlem Renaissance

Known as the Jazz Age, it celebrated new forms of African-American music and art.
Initiated by a burgeoning middle class of African Americans.
Goals: To gain recognition for the African American community, foster pride in heritage, and instill confidence in their future, reaching beyond Harlem.
Cultural Expressions: Encompassed music, dance, and visual art.

Literature

Notable authors like Langston Hughes and Alain Locke expressed pride in their heritage and critiqued racism.
Their literary contributions showcased their value as individuals within a society that marginalized them.
Hughes gained recognition as one of America’s revered poets.

Marcus Garvey

Biographical Context: 1887-1940, a controversial political activist.
Emphasis: Garvey stressed racial pride among African Americans.
UNIA: Founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association and arrived in the U.S. two years later to organize its efforts with the main goal of worldwide liberation for African peoples.
Impact of WWI: African-American soldiers sent to fight in France encountered a more tolerant society, which exacerbated their disappointment with the racism in America upon return.

Popular New Heroes

Cultural Shift: Increased leisure time led to growth in entertainment, including spectator sports, radio, movies, and magazines.
Prominent Figures: Babe Ruth and Jack Dempsey emerged as defining sports heroes of the era.
Aviation Hero: Charles Lindbergh achieved fame as the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927, becoming a national hero and worldwide celebrity.
Visual representation: Lindbergh stands next to the plane he flew on this historic journey.

The Roaring 20's Graphic Organizer

Essential Questions (Respond Below)

What difficulties did Americans have in adjusting to peace after the war?
- Your Answer:
What factors sparked the prosperity of the 1920s?
- Your Answer:
How did the policies of Republican Presidents differ from those of the Progressive Presidents?
- Your Answer:
In what ways did the 1920s witness a conflict in values?
- Your Answer:
What impact did the “Harlem Renaissance” have on the African-American community in America?
- Your Answer:

Attempts to Preserve Traditional Values

Temperance Movement → Prohibition

Background:
- Reformers blamed liquor as the cause of: _______________________ and _______________________.
Supporting Groups:
- Many women’s groups supported the movement because they believed it would protect: _______________________, _______________________, and _______________________ from alcohol abuse.

The 18th Amendment

Passed by Congress in: _______________________.
Known as the: _______________________ Amendment.
Content: Banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of _______________________.

Video Questions (Your Responses)

What problems in society did supporters of Prohibition hope to solve by banning alcohol?
- Your Answer:
What did the 18th Amendment to the Constitution make illegal?
- Your Answer:
Why did some Americans continue to drink despite the law, and what methods did they use to get around it?
- Your Answer:
What were the unintended consequences of Prohibition?
- Your Answer:
What ultimately led to the end of Prohibition?
- Your Answer:
Which amendment officially repealed the 18th Amendment, and in what year?
- Your Answer:

Consequences of Prohibition

Many Americans believed Prohibition wrongly: _______________________ and resulted in: _______________________.
Led to a rise in: _______________________ and the growth of: _______________________.
Many individuals simply refused to: _______________________.

Political Cartoon Analysis: Trash Talk

Analytical Framework: (Apply to a political cartoon)

Time (T): When was the cartoon created?
- Your Answer:
Action (A): What is happening in the cartoon?
- Your Answer:
Caption (C): What words/text do you see and what do they mean?
- Your Answer:
Objects (O): What important objects, colors, or people can you identify in the cartoon?
- Your Answer:
Summary (S): What is the overall message of the cartoon? What is the artist trying to convey?
- Your Answer:

The Scopes “Monkey Trial”

The trial drew: _______________________ attention.
Key Figures:
- William Jennings Bryan represented: _______________________.
- Clarence Darrow defended: _______________________.
Historical Significance: It was the first trial in American history to be broadcast over _______________________.
Outcome: Ended with Scopes being convicted of teaching _______________________, with his _______________________ fine later repealed.

Immigration Restrictions

Historical Context

1910: _______________________ of all immigrants were from Southern Europe.
WW1 led to a _______________________ in immigration.
Post-war period saw growing _______________________ sentiments leading Congress to restrict immigration from Europe for the first time.

Immigration Acts of 1921, 1924, and 1929

Established _______________________ to limit immigration from certain nationalities:
- _______________________, _______________________, and _______________________ were allowed the greatest number of immigrants.
- Immigration from _______________________ and _______________________ Europe was severely limited.
Note: _______________________ immigration continued to be prohibited.

Eugenics

Overview

Definition: Eugenics was the scientific belief that the human race could be improved through _______________________.
Racial Superiority: It involved the belief in the superiority of the _______________________ 'race.'
Public perspective: _______________________, _______________________, _______________________ individuals were superior to others.

Key Proponents

Charles Davenport advocated for preventing _______________________ from having children to reduce mental illness.
Consequences: This led to _______________________, _______________________, and _______________________.
Funding for these initiatives came from _______________________ and _______________________.

Women of the 20's

Social Norm Changes:

Acquiring: _______________________ in 1920.
Increased: _______________________ participation.
Economic: _______________________ and assertiveness.
Higher: _______________________ enrollment.
Public: _______________________ and _______________________.
Rejection of: _______________________ clothing styles.
Cultural Icon: _______________________ symbolized this new freedom.

The Great Migration

Timeframe: 1910 to 1930 saw _______________________ million African Americans migrate from the South to the Northeast and Midwest.
Purpose: They were in search of _______________________, to escape _______________________ and _______________________, and flee _______________________.
Impact: Northern jobs offered _______________________, encouraging migration.

The Harlem Renaissance

Known as: The _______________________ Age, it celebrated new forms of African-American _______________________ and _______________________.
Initiated by: A burgeoning _______________________ class of African Americans.
Goals: To gain _______________________, foster _______________________, and instill _______________________ in their future.
Cultural Expressions: Encompassed _______________________, _______________________, and _______________________.

Literature

Notable authors: _______________________ and _______________________ expressed pride in their heritage and critiqued racism.
Contributions: Showcased their value as individuals.
Hughes gained recognition as: One of America’s revered _______________________.

Marcus Garvey

Biographical Context: _______________________ - _______________________, a controversial political activist.
Emphasis: Garvey stressed _______________________ among African Americans.
UNIA: Founded the _______________________ with the goal of worldwide _______________________ for African peoples.
Impact of WWI: African-American soldiers encountered a more _______________________ society in France, which exacerbated their disappointment with _______________________ in America upon return.