APUSH 7B

Welfare Capitalism

  • Definition: A socioeconomic system aimed at increasing worker well-being while simultaneously reducing the influence of labor unions.

  • The American Plan: A strategy employed to undermine union influence by portraying unions as un-American. This led companies to establish open shops, allowing non-union members to be hired, which consequently reduced union memberships.

Key Figures and Legislation

  • Henry Ford: Revolutionized assembly line production, resulting in remarkable productivity increases.

  • McNary-Haugen Bills: Legislative proposals intended to assist farmers by mandating the federal government purchase surplus crops to store and sell in international markets.

The Roaring 20s: Cultural and Political Context

Election of 1920

  • Outcome: Warren Harding won the presidency, promising a "Return to Normalcy."

Post-War Economic Environment

  • Technological Advancements: New technologies contributed to a significant boost in industrial output.

  • Factory Electrification: By 1929, 70% of factories operated on electricity.

  • Labor Dynamics: Machinery reduced the need for skilled labor.

  • Ownership Models: Transitioned to more scientific models with management focusing more on efficiency than ownership.

  • Impact of Labor Unions: Following WWI, corporate leaders sought to diminish the influence of labor unions and the National War Labor Board (NWLB), instead aiming to provide incentives for workers to purchase stocks and participate in insurance and recreational activities. Government support for unions waned post-WWI.

The Automobile's Impact

  • Production Timeline: 1913: Approximately 13 hours were required to build one car; by 1914, Ford had reduced this to 90 minutes per vehicle.

  • Business Strategy: Offered employees $5 per day (double the average wage) and shorter workdays, enhancing workers' ability to purchase products via installment plans.

  • Industry Ramifications: The automobile industry stimulated growth in steel, rubber, oil, and glass, along with an increase in roadside diners, hotels, and advertising, fostering suburban development.

Urban Growth

  • Industrialization Effects: The surge in industrialization led to increased city populations, despite reduced immigration due to regulatory measures.

  • Causes of Urban Migration: Factors included the continuous flow of immigrants forming ethnic communities, as well as the Great Migration, where white workers moved from rural areas to urban centers for wealth and freedom.

Suburban Development

  • Larger residential lots provided increased privacy and were less reliant on mass transit systems.

Agriculture in the 1920s

  • Post-WWI Agricultural Prosperity: Initially, WWI resulted in heightened demand and prosperity for farmers; however, post-war, there was a decline in crop prices and property values due to surpluses of crops and livestock.

  • Farmers sought government relief, but President Coolidge vetoed their requests.

Mass Culture

  • Movies: The film industry transitioned production to California, reflecting cultural shifts.

Social Changes and Foundations of Modern Morality

The Flapper

  • Symbol of Women's Liberation: Epitomized the modern woman of the 1920s.

Prohibition Era

  • Legislation: The 18th Amendment (1919) and the Volstead Act established Prohibition, which led to significant crime networks, with figures like Al Capone profiting from bootlegging.

Immigration Legislations

  • 1921 Immigration Act: Established a quota limiting immigration to 357,000 individuals per year. The Johnson-Reed Act of 1924 further reduced this to 2% of the 1890 census figures, highlighting nativism.

The Scopes Trial

  • Case Overview: Teacher John T. Scopes was prosecuted in Tennessee for teaching evolution, reflecting the tension between modern science and traditional religious beliefs.

Development of the Radio and Advertising

  • Post-WWI Boom: Radio became a prominent medium for news and entertainment as retailers sold surplus radios. Major networks CBS and NBC emerged, reaching over 12 million homes.

  • Advertising Evolution: Became more scientific, focusing on consumer emotions rather than just products.

  • Cultural Impact of Music: The era saw a continued influence of ragtime and improvements in phonograph technology, boosting record sales.

Resistance to Change

Prohibition Challenges

  • Supported by women's temperance and progressive movements but ultimately increased organized crime syndicates.

Immigration Restrictions

  • Significant limits placed on European immigration (down to 3% and later 2%) and outright bans on Asian immigrants. Important court cases included Ozawa vs. US (1922) and US vs. Thind (1923), which clarified Asian ineligibility for naturalization.

Rise of the KKK

  • Nativism fueled the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan amid societal changes, linking their activities to the Great Migration, Red Scare, and Prohibition.

Religious Fundamentalism

  • High-profile courtroom battles highlighted the tensions between scientific understanding and Biblical interpretations, notably during the Scopes Trial.

Politics of the 1920s

Harding's Presidency

  • Elected in 1920, characterized as passive and tainted by scandals (e.g., Teapot Dome).

  • Teapot Dome Scandal: Secretary of the Interior, Albert Fall, accepted bribes related to oil reserve management for private companies.

Dawes Plan

  • Formulated by Herbert Hoover and Charles Dawes to manage German reparations post-WWI.

  • Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928): A treaty signed by the US and 62 other nations, renouncing war as a national policy.

  • Equal Rights Amendment (ERA): Proposed but not enacted during this period.

Political Parties

  • Dominance of the Republican Party in national elections continued through Harding and Coolidge's presidencies.

Economic Conditions Post-WWI

  • European nations faced crippling war debts, fostering anti-American sentiments.

  • US managed to ease some debts through forgiven loans and restructuring, particularly for Germany's obligations.

  • Attempted isolationist policies while still aiming to engage in profitable international markets, particularly in Latin America.

Women in the Workforce

  • Post-WWI, women began to flock to pink-collar jobs, signaling increased participation in the workforce.

Growth of the Harlem Renaissance

  • Cultural Explosion: The Great Migration expanded Harlem's population, leading to a flourishing of African-American arts and culture. Significant contributors included Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston.

  • New Negro Movement: Advocated for equal rights and social progress, led by figures like A. Philip Randolph and Marcus Garvey.