combined

3.1 Consumerism, Women & the Rise of Mass Culture

Economic Context

  • Urban middle class prospered while farmers suffered post-WWI.

  • Economic growth driven by commercial agriculture and large-scale industrial production.

Key Figures

  • Warren G. Harding elected president in 1920; promised return to "normalcy."

American Demographics in 1920 (page 943)

  • Population: 106 million (90% white, 9% African American).

  • Over 50% lived in urban areas (cities with over 2,500 residents).

  • Southern poverty: Only half of farmers owned land; others were poor sharecroppers or tenants.

Shift to Consumer Culture

  • Post-WWI, consumer culture replaced wartime thrift; reactions against conservation.

  • Women significantly influenced consumer culture, purchasing 2/3 of consumer goods.

  • Retailers increased advertising to target women.

Cinema in the 1920s

  • Average of 80 million moviegoers weekly.

  • Introduction of sound films in 1927 increased attendance.

  • Movies influenced fashion, music, and cultural trends; became part of social life.

Radio's Impact

  • Radio rose in popularity (from 15,000 families in 1920 to 14 million by 1930).

  • Provided music, news, and entertainment; boosted jazz and country genres.

Aviation Advances

  • Wright brothers to Kelley Act (1925) expansion; government embraced aviation.

  • Notable figures: Charles A. Lindbergh (first solo NY to Paris flight), Amelia Earhart (first woman to cross the Atlantic).

Automotive Revolution

  • Car ownership soared from 5,000 to 8.1 million cars from 1900 to 1920 due to Henry Ford.

  • Ford's mass production made cars affordable, economically transforming lifestyles.

  • This boom increased demand for oil, steel, and construction while reshaping urban landscapes.

Rise of Spectator Sports

  • Baseball, football, and boxing emerged as major spectator sports.

  • Athletes: Babe Ruth (baseball icon), Red Grange (football star), Jack Dempsey (boxing champion).

Jazz Music

  • Originated in New Orleans, popularized by Louis Armstrong; spread to major cities.

  • While popular among most, it faced criticism from some Americans as disrespectful.

Influence of Sigmund Freud

  • Founder of psychoanalysis; published The Interpretation of Dreams emphasizing subconscious influences on behavior.

  • Shifted approaches to mental health; increased popularity of "talk therapy."

Margaret Sanger and Birth Control

  • Nurse who promoted birth control, founded the American Birth Control League (Planned Parenthood).

  • Focused on reproductive rights, particularly for lower-income women; significant long-term impact.

Flappers Defined

  • Young women defied traditional norms: short hair, daring fashion, and pursuit of pleasure.

  • Not representative of all women; many adhered to traditional roles despite social changes.

3.2 Black Experience & Modernist Revolt

Great Migration

  • Movement of African Americans from South to North; increased political leverage in cities.

  • Faced challenges: competition with immigrants for jobs and housing discrimination.

NAACP's Role

  • Focused on civil rights, particularly enforcing the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments.

Harlem Renaissance Goals

  • Aimed to celebrate black identity and culture through literature and art; defied societal expectations.

Marcus Garvey's Nationalism

  • Advocated for black self-sufficiency and segregation; faced criticism from other leaders.

Modernist Movement

  • Intellectuals seeking new philosophies, challenging traditional values; key figures included James Joyce and T.S. Eliot.

  • Albert Einstein revolutionized scientific thought with theories challenging existing paradigms.

3.3 Nativism, 100% Americanism, Fundamentalism & Prohibition

Nativism Defined

  • Opposition to immigration; emphasis on Anglo-Saxon, Protestant values.

  • Key immigration acts: Emergency Immigration Act (1921), Immigration Act (1924).

Sacco and Vanzetti Case

  • Italian immigrants accused of robbery; trial highlighted anti-immigrant sentiment.

Ku Klux Klan Resurgence

  • Advocated for white supremacy under guise of "100% Americanism."

  • Associated with militant patriotism and growing geographic reach (Midwest expansion).

Fundamentalism and Scopes Trials

  • Supported traditional biblical views vs. evolution; trial revealed cultural conflicts in America.

18th Amendment and Prohibition

  • Outlawed alcohol; fueled by anti-German sentiment post-WWI.

  • Significant division between support from women and opposition from immigrants and urban workers.

3.4 Presidency of Warren G. Harding & Calvin Coolidge

Progressivism Decline

  • Loss of momentum due to leadership changes, national discontent post-WWI, and rise of conservative movements.

Warren G. Harding

  • Presented image of a leader, pressed for a "return to normalcy."

  • Policies reflected a mix of capable and corrupt cabinet members.

Calvin Coolidge

  • Known for limited engagement in governance; emphasis on reducing taxes and federal spending; won 1924 election.

Harding’s Scandals

  • Teapot Dome Affair exposed corruption; scandals marred Harding's presidency and tainted his legacy.

3.6 New Deal and FDR

FDR's Approach

  • Pragmatic, flexible in policies; key to countering Great Depression.

  • Shifted focus to alleviate human suffering and stabilize economy.

FDR's Challenges in 1933

  • Faced banking crisis, unemployment, and farming sector issues.

The Brain Trust

  • A diverse group of experts advising FDR on economic recovery strategies.

Banking Reforms

  • Introduced Emergency Banking Relief Act; established FDIC to protect bank customers.

Stock Market Regulation

  • Securities Act (1933) required transparency in stock offerings to combat fraud.

Social Impact of New Deal

  • New Deal programs often discriminatory toward minorities.

Eleanor Roosevelt’s Influence

  • Advocated for social justice and labor rights; redefined role of First Lady through activism.