Roaring 20s Notes
THE ROARING 1920S, THE JAZZ AGE, AND THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE
THE RETURN TO NORMALCY AND BACKLASH AGAINST PROGRESS IN AMERICAN HISTORY
The 1920s in America is characterized by social, economic, and cultural shifts.
The era is often referred to as the "Roaring Twenties" and the "Jazz Age," signalizing significant changes in lifestyle and culture.
WARREN G. HARDING & THE RETURN TO “NORMALCY”
THE OHIO GANG IN CONTROL
Post-World War I sentiment: After the Progressive Era, many Americans felt exhausted from rapid changes and the aftermath of World War I.
Warren G. Harding campaigned in the 1920 Presidential Election on a promise of a "Return to Normalcy."
Definition of Normalcy: For Harding, returning to normalcy meant slowing the pace of social change, reverting to isolationism, and adopting exclusionary policies regarding immigration and civil rights.
Legislative impact: Policies were enacted to restrict immigration significantly, and advancements in civil rights faced substantial setbacks.
THE PALMER RAIDS AND FEAR OF RADICALISM
THE RED SCARE OF THE 1920S
The administration of Harding exhibited a heightened fear of foreign ideologies influencing American views.
Anarchists, socialists, and communists were particularly targeted, especially following domestic bombing incidents.
A. Mitchell Palmer, the Attorney General, led aggressive actions against suspected radicals through the Palmer Raids, often violating civil rights.
Concern over Communism: The narrative invoked fear that domestic factions could replicate Bolshevik success in Russia.
Palmer Raids: A series of raids aimed at foreign-born radicals, leading to mass deportations.
NATIVISM AND THE REBIRTH OF THE KKK
The 1920s experienced a significant surge in nativist sentiments, particularly against immigrants and racial minorities.
Legislative Actions: Congress enacted laws to substantially limit immigration.
KKK Resurgence: The Ku Klux Klan saw revitalization due to the release of the film "The Birth of a Nation," advocating for violent racism against various groups, including African Americans, Jews, and Catholics.
Membership growth: By the mid-1920s, membership exceeded 5 million, including members of Congress and the Supreme Court (e.g., Justice Hugo Black).
A notable event was a massive KKK parade in Washington, D.C. in 1926.
THE SACCO & VANZETTI TRIAL
The case of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti epitomizes the era's nativism and fear of foreign radicals.
Accused of murder during a robbery in Braintree, MA, evidence was sparse and mainly circumstantial.
Points of prejudice included their immigrant status, lack of English proficiency, and antiauthoritarian beliefs.
The legal proceedings faced backlash, as global figures (including the Pope) and several Americans protested their executions.
Despite public outcry, both men were executed in the electric chair.
THE TULSA RACE MASSACRE OF 1921
A reflection of racial tensions in the urban landscape of the 1920s, epitomized by the Tulsa Race Massacre.
Trigger: An African-American boy was accused of assault, leading to a white mob's attempt to lynch him.
African Americans in the community defended the boy, resulting in three days of violence.
Casualties: Over 300 African Americans were killed, and the Greenwood District, known as "Black Wall Street," was completely destroyed.
Aftermath: Entire neighborhoods fled, leading to long-term demographic and economic ramifications.
THE MODEL-T FORD AND THE ASSEMBLY LINE
The 1920s also marked significant economic growth, notably through advancements in manufacturing and automobile production.
The Model-T Ford, made feasible by the assembly line method, transformed personal transportation and influenced various industries (i.e., oil, road construction, rubber).
Social Changes: Cars allowed young people new freedoms and the ability to travel, leading to a more mobile and interconnected society.
CHARLES LINDBERGH & THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS
Evolution of aviation during the decade saw memorable milestones, particularly with Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic flight.
Events: Lindbergh’s historic flight from New York City to Paris marked a turning point for aviation and public interest.
Major life events: His transatlantic flight, the trial following his child’s kidnapping and death, and his controversial leadership role in the America First Committee.
PROHIBITION & THE VOLSTEAD ACT OF THE 1920S
Prohibition was a significant socio-legal divide between rural and urban America.
Context: The 18th Amendment, passed in 1918 due to wartime grain conservation efforts, restricted the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcohol.
Legal paradox: While production and sale of alcohol were illegal, personal consumption was not, leading to widespread non-compliance.
Implementation: The Volstead Act, enforcing Prohibition laws, restricted liberties, being the only amendment to ever be repealed by the 21st Amendment in 1933.
Notable figures: Al Capone exemplified the underground economy of bootlegging, using violence for control.
WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE
The passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920 marked a monumental achievement for women’s rights, granting women the right to vote.
Political strategies: Suffrage leaders negotiated with political leaders in exchange for women entering the workforce during WWI.
Despite the historic change, political engagement remained limited, as many women continued to vote along party lines corresponding to their husbands' choices.
FLAPPERS
Flappers symbolized a shift in women’s social behaviors and defiance of traditional gender roles.
Characteristics: Flappers were independent, often living alone or with other women, engaging in smoking and drinking, and violating social norms in dress and behavior.
Fashion: They popularized the miniskirt, bobbed hairstyles and adopted clothing styles traditionally associated with men, like leather jackets and scarves.
KDKA RADIO PITTSBURGH, PA
The advent of radio revolutionized communication during the 1920s.
Pioneer: Guglielmo Marconi was the initial inventor, with KDKA in Pittsburgh broadcasting the first radio show in 1920.
KDKA's inaugural broadcast conveyed Electoral College results of the 1920 Presidential Election.
Impact: Radio facilitated advertising revenue and transformed the entertainment landscape both at home and in vehicles.
THE GREAT MIGRATION BEGINS, CONTINUES
Major demographic shift involving the movement of African Americans from the South to urban Northern areas for job opportunities.
Background: The migration began due to oppressive economic and social conditions in the segregated South.
Advantages: African Americans sought to escape Jim Crow laws and find better economic prospects.
Ongoing issues: Migration continued to face challenges, including urban segregation and violent backlash against new arrivals.
Timeline: Historians extend the Great Migration's timeline into the early 1970s, marking a prolonged process.
MARCUS GARVEY’S BACK TO AFRICA MOVEMENT
Jamaican-born Marcus Garvey spearheaded a substantial movement advocating for black nationalism.
Ideology: He promoted the idea of economic self-reliance and the need for African Americans to support black-owned businesses.
Back to Africa Movement: Involved organizing emigration initiatives to Africa via the establishment of the Black Star Line ship.
Conclusion: U.S. government intervention led to Garvey's arrest for mail fraud, subsequently deporting him, and preventing his return.
THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE
A cultural movement where African American literature and art flourished in Harlem, New York during the 1920s.
Key figures: Writers such as Countee Cullen, Zora Neale Hurston, and Langston Hughes were prominent contributors.
Contributions: Their works often celebrated the African American experience, reflecting both joy and adversity, sometimes utilizing dialect to authentically portray characters.
Public reception: Achievements led to national recognition and financial success for many black authors.
THE JAZZ AGE: SATCHMO, ELLINGTON, AND THE BLUES
Jazz emerged as the defining musical genre of the 1920s, blending cultures and evolving through radio broadcasts.
Popular artists: Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington gained fame, attracting both white and African American audiences, though venues remained segregated.
Example: The Cotton Club in Harlem was famous for performances but refused entry to black patrons despite featuring black entertainers.
THE LOST GENERATION OF AMERICAN WRITERS: EXPATRIATES
This term refers to disillusioned American authors who migrated overseas following WWI, questioning American values.
Notable authors: Ernest Hemingway and John Dos Passos critiqued capitalist excess and war, with works reflecting their experiences and ideals.
Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms illustrates the psychological aftermath of war, while Dos Passos’s works push for social reforms through literary mixtures of news and fiction.
THE SCOPES MONKEY TRIAL OF 1925
A pivotal legal case showcasing the clash between scientific thought and religious doctrine.
Background: John Scopes, a teacher, was prosecuted for teaching evolution, contravening the Butler Act in Tennessee.
The trial's significance: High-profile figures such as William Jennings Bryan (prosecution) and Clarence Darrow (defense) emphasized the cultural divide in America.
Public engagement: The trial drew immense media attention and captivated audiences nationwide, eventually resulting in Scopes' conviction, but raising doubts about religious interpretations of natural phenomena.