The Roaring 20s

THE ROARING 20s: MODERNISM IN THE 1920S

INTRODUCTION TO THE ROARING 20s

  • The 1920s is often referred to as the Roaring Twenties, a decade characterized by significant cultural and social change in America.

  • A central question for study: To what extent was the 1920s a time of modernism?

CULTURE AND SOCIETY

FEAR AND REPRESSION

  • Post-WWI Era Concerns: The Red Scare

    • Rising fear of communism, socialism, and anarchism.

    • A. Mitchell Palmer coordinated raids on suspected radicals following a series of anarchist bombings in 1919.

    • Unions were seen as “leftist” organizations; for example, the IWW (Industrial Workers of the World) was labeled as socialist, while many other unions were not.

    • The American Plan advocated for anti-union “open shops.”

    • Criminal Syndicalism Laws: Made it illegal to promote violence to achieve social change.

    • The Sacco and Vanzetti Trial (1920-1927): Two Italian anarchists were convicted of robbery and murder largely based on their identity rather than evidence.

IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION

  • Immigration Quota Act of 1924:

    • Set quotas for immigrants to the U.S. at 2% of the total of any given nation's residents as per the 1890 census.

    • Aimed to limit “undesirable” immigrants often associated with radical ideas.

RISE OF THE NEW KU KLUX KLAN

  • The KKK expanded its influence, becoming anti-foreign, anti-Catholic, anti-black, anti-Jewish, and anti-communist among other stances.

  • At its peak, it had 5 million members, primarily from the South.

  • The film “The Birth of a Nation” by D.W. Griffith glorified the Klan's actions during the Reconstruction era.

PROHIBITION

  • Enforced by the 18th Amendment and the Volstead Act.

  • Faced challenges in enforcement leading to bootlegging and the rise of speakeasies.

  • Gave way to gang conflicts, notably in 1920s Chicago, exemplified by figures like Al Capone:

    • Gold Age of Gangsterism: Gang wars led to immense violence and corruption.

    • Racketeering flourished, with estimates of underworld profits between $12-18 billion.

CONFLICT BETWEEN SCIENCE AND RELIGION

  • The Scopes Trial (1925):

    • Highlighted the conflict between fundamentalism and modern scientific thought.

    • Fundamentalists believed teaching evolution eroded faith and morality.

    • Clarence Darrow represented the defense, while William Jennings Bryan defended the fundamentalist stance.

    • Scopes was found guilty and fined under the Butler Law banning the teaching of evolution in Tennessee.

ECONOMY OF THE 1920s

POST-WAR RECOVERY

  • After a brief recession in 1921, the U.S. economy boomed due to:

    • Mass production techniques and technological advances.

    • Consumption spurred by advertising and consumer credit, despite real wages stagnating.

    • Bruce Barton, an advertising executive, famously stated Jesus Christ was “the perfect salesman.”

INDUSTRIAL GROWTH

  • Henry Ford: Revolutionized car manufacturing through assembly-line production (one car every 10 seconds).

    • By 1930, nearly 30 million cars were on U.S. roads, leading to the creation of supportive industries and job growth for 6 million Americans.

    • Enhanced transportation network, impacting agriculture and suburban growth.

    • The Wright Brothers launched the aviation age in 1903, culminating in Charles Lindbergh's historic transatlantic solo flight in 1927.

CULTURAL UNIFICATION THROUGH MEDIA

  • Radio Broadcasting: Introduced long-range broadcasts that unified the nation culturally, popularized individuals in entertainment and sports.

  • Hollywood: Emerged as the global cinema capital with productions such as “The Jazz Singer” (1927), the first sound film.

HARLEM RENAISSANCE

  • Marked by a rising expression of African American culture, pride, and political rights:

    • Alain Locke championed the term “New Negro,” emphasizing dignity and equality.

    • Marcus Garvey: Founded the UNIA (United Negro Improvement Association).

    • Notable cultural figures included Duke Ellington (big-band music), Louis Armstrong (innovative jazz trumpet), and Bessie Smith (powerful blues vocals).

LITERARY ACHIEVEMENTS

  • Langston Hughes: Celebrated everyday Black experiences and critiqued societal racism in works like “The Negro Speaks of Rivers.”

  • Zora Neale Hurston: Captured Black folklore through narratives such as “Their Eyes Were Watching God.”

  • Claude McKay: Authored politically charged poems criticizing racial violence, notably “If We Must Die.”

TRANSITION IN GENDER ROLES

  • The emergence of Flappers: Symbolizing the changing roles of women post-19th Amendment depicting freedom with new fashion and social behavior (e.g., short hair, smoking, attending speakeasies).

  • Margaret Sanger advocated for birth control access.

  • Alice Paul founded the National Women’s Party advocating for equal rights.

LITERARY DISILLUSIONMENT

  • The label “Lost Generation,” coined by Gertrude Stein, referred to disillusioned artists like F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway.

  • Sinclair Lewis became the first American Nobel Prize winner in Literature for “Babbitt.”

  • Fitzgerald described the era saying, “The parties were bigger… the pace was faster…” indicating rapid social change and moral shifts.

POLITICS AND ECONOMY OF THE 1920s

POST-WAR POLITICS

  • Isolationist foreign policy emerged following WWI, yet the U.S. maintained participation in the global economy.

  • Republican Presidents reverted to pro-business Gilded Age practices:

    • Decreased government regulation and increased political corruption.

PRESIDENCIES IN THE 1920s

  1. Warren G. Harding: Promoted a return to “Normalcy.”

  2. Calvin Coolidge: Espoused the idea that “The chief business of the American people is business.”

  3. Herbert Hoover: Advocated for “Rugged Individualism.”

ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

  • Bull Market: Characterized by stock market speculation and inflated stock values due to buying on margin.

    • Secretary of the Treasury Andrew Mellon supported tax cuts for the wealthy to spur economic growth, polarizing views on income inequality.

CORRUPTION IN GOVERNMENT

  • Harding's Administration: Filled with scandals like the Teapot Dome Affair, where corruption was prominent, and significant cabinet members resigned due to illegal activities.

  • Coolidge’s Presidency: Continued Harding's policies with little reform regarding corruption.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND ECONOMIC POLICIES

  • The U.S. became a global creditor post-WWI, initiating diverse diplomatic strategies:

    • Five-Power Naval Treaty of 1922: Limited naval ship construction to prevent arms escalation.

    • Dawes Plan of 1924: Provided loans to revive the German economy tied to reparations.

    • The Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928: A diplomatic agreement to outlaw war unless for defensive purposes.

EVENTS LEADING TO THE GREAT DEPRESSION

  • Economic shifts included a boom in mechanized agriculture, leading to overproduction and falling prices.

  • The dramatic market crash on Black Tuesday (1929): Over 16 million stocks sold; $40 billion lost within two months. Major causes included speculation and inflated stock prices resulting from margin buying.

  • In response to the economic crisis, Hoover initiated some policies such as the Hawley Smoot Tariff and Reconstruction Finance Corporation yet his laissez-faire approach led to widespread dissatisfaction among the general population, resulting in the formation of Hoovervilles.

  • Decreased union membership reflected the tough conditions for labor during this era, with militant union activities branded as communist endeavors.

REFLECTION ON MODERNISM IN THE 1920s

  • At the end of the study: To what extent was the 1920s a time of modernism?

  • Students should evaluate the impact of cultural, political, and economic changes on the American social landscape during this transformative decade.