Chapter 22 Notes

The "New Era"

The New Economy

• Technology and Economic Growth

  • Post-war economic boom driven by industrial expansion and technological innovations (radio, aviation, early computers).

  • Key genetic discoveries occurred during this period.

• Economic Organization

  • Industries aimed for consolidation to eliminate competition, stemming from fears of overproduction and previous economic recessions.

  • Some industries turned towards trade organizations as an alternative.

• Labor in the New Era

  • Workers experienced some benefits from Welfare Capitalism but remained powerless and exploited.

  • Many laborers believed in independent unions as a hopeful solution; however, labor organizations were often weak and ineffective.

• Women and Minorities in the Workforce

  • Women primarily in "pink-collar" jobs; excluded from most unions except A. Philip Randolph's Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters.

  • Large numbers of Asians and Hispanics (including Mexicans) in unskilled labor roles, facing hostility from White workers.

• The "American Plan"

  • Corporations linked unionism to subversiveness, promoting the "Open Shop" idea.

  • Government suppression of unions resulted in decreased membership levels.

• Agricultural Technology and the Plight of the Farmer

  • New technologies increased agricultural productivity, leading many to leave the sector as supply outpaced demand.

  • Farmers sought government relief via parity measures, like the McNary-Haugen Bill, which faced repeated vetoes.

The New Culture

• Consumerism

  • Development of a mass consumer culture; automobiles transformed transportation for leisure and convenience, promoting vacations.

  • Advertising adopted techniques from war propaganda to market products across demographics, boosting public acceptance of salesmanship.

  • Mass-circulation magazines published realities of modern urban life.

• The Movies and Broadcasting

  • Film industry introduced content standards, filtering harmful material; radio became a central communications medium, though less centralized than filmmaking.

• Modernist Religion

  • Consumer culture's influence noted in liberal Protestantism; many Americans began to devalue traditional religious views, emphasizing personal fulfillment.

• Professional Women

  • Limited job market opportunities outside traditionally female roles; many faced the dilemma of balancing work and family obligations.

• Changing Ideas of Motherhood

  • Behaviorists suggested mothers should rely on expert advice over instinct; in response, women pursued "companionate marriages" and adopted birth control.

• The "Flapper"

  • Rise of women rejecting Victorian norms and embodying the "Flapper" image, though still reliant on men socially and economically.

• Pressing for Women's Rights

  • Women’s groups advanced political reforms; the Sheppard-Towner Act marked a feminist victory but faced fierce opposition, resulting in termination.

• The Disenchanted

  • Post-World War I generation felt disillusioned with the war and its aftermath, isolating themselves from society and critiquing middle-class values.

• Education and Youth

  • Secularism and professionalism increased the importance of education, leading to a distinct youth culture intertwined with social life.

• The Harlem Renaissance

  • Emergence of a new generation of African Americans in arts and culture, aiming to earn respect from White audiences through their creative works.

A Conflict of Cultures

• Prohibition

  • Loss of support for Prohibition as illegal drinking persisted, giving rise to organized crime.

• Nativism and the Klan

  • Immigration increasingly associated with radicalism, leading to calls for restrictions, exemplified by the National Origins Act of 1924 targeting Asians.

  • The KKK experienced a resurgence, targeting Blacks, Jews, Catholics, and foreigners under the guise of protecting traditional values; internal scandals later weakened the Klan.

• Religious Fundamentalism

  • Protestant divisions between modernists and fundamentalists, highlighted by the "Monkey Trial" in Tennessee, showcasing the challenges faced by fundamentalists in the face of modern interpretations.

• The Democrats' Ordeal

  • Division within the Democratic Party between rural and urban factions, weakening their ability to unite and leading to Republican victories in 1924 and 1928 presidential elections.

Republican Government

• Harding and Coolidge

  • Harding's administration marred by scandals and inconsistencies; unremarkable end to his presidency.

  • Coolidge adopted a passive governance style, favoring non-interference in business and not seeking re-election.

• Government and Business

  • New Era administrations were generally passive but effectively supported business operations, with Commerce Secretary Herbert Hoover advocating for "associationalism" and winning the 1928 presidential election.