Study Guide on Culture and Society in Early 20th Century America final 5

Meeting with Instructor

Students can meet with the instructor in groups of two or alone.
Discussions should not be secretive; openness is encouraged.
Instructor's office hours:
- After class on Tuesday and Thursday.
Appointment not required, simply show up during office hours.
Required: Bring the form available at the end of Brightspace.
- Complete the form in advance to facilitate a quick meeting.
- The instructor will sign and review the form quickly since it details the paper writing plan.

Continuing from previous classes, focus on organized sports' rise in popularity.

Jack Johnson:
- First African American heavyweight boxing champion.
- Significant barrier-breaking figure in the boxing world reserved mainly for white athletes.

Emergence of private sports clubs in America:
- Include golf clubs and tennis clubs.
- Functions include playing sports and social activities (restaurants, events).
Socioeconomic factors:
- Membership typically restricted to wealthier individuals due to high costs.
- Exclusivity, often based on race and gender.
- Many clubs were white-only or male-only.

Before 1947, African American athletes were largely barred from competing in organized sports, notably baseball:
- Existence of separate leagues, notably the Negro League for black athletes.
- Jackie Robinson's integration of Major League Baseball marked significant progress against racial barriers.

Limited opportunities for women in sports during this period:
- Many sports clubs barred female members.
- Women largely participated alone in sports like golf or tennis.
Women first allowed to compete in the modern Olympics starting in 1900, only in tennis and golf:
- Originally, they were not included in the first Olympics in 1896.
- By the Olympics of 1912, there were limitations on events women could participate in, often based on societal views on femininity and athletics.

Olympic Moment Video Summary:
- Pierre de Coubertin excluded women from the first modern Olympic Games in Athens, stating their inclusion was impractical.
- 1900: First inclusion of women in the Olympics; 22 women participated out of 1,000 total athletes, competing in tennis and golf.
- 1912: Added events like archery, swimming where notable restrictions on women's participation persisted.
- By 1928, women were permitted in track and field, but they were restricted to certain distances.

Athleticism was viewed as unladylike; appropriate sports for women included tennis and golf, whereas others were considered inappropriate.
Women's fashion of the time reflected societal views on modesty, included heavy, cumbersome dresses that restricted physical activity.
Cycling became popular among women, sometimes leading them to exercise despite dress limitations.

Thomas Edison's contributions to early film:
- Developed early projectors and short films from photographs creating moving images.
- Innovations in film began in the 1800s, leading to a fascination with the technology.

Early form of film viewing, often termed "peep shows."
- Users could crank the machine to see a moving series of photographs, engaging the audience with flickering motion.
Nickelodeons became early theaters where people could view short films for a nickel.
- These featured silent films showing various short movements or actions rather than narrative stories.

Introduction of chain stores in the late 1800s:
- Pioneered by businesses like the A&P grocery store.
Marshall Field's:
- Opened in 1852 in Chicago, regarded as the first modern department store.
- Concept: A multi-floor store where various goods were available in one location, thus altering shopping patterns.
- Introduced the idea of bridal registries, allowing brides to register for specific gifts.

Triggered by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in Serbia, highlighting rising nationalistic tensions.
Complex alliances pulled multiple countries into conflict, forming two primary sides: the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary) and the Allied Powers (Serbia, Russia, France, eventually the US).

Soldiers faced extreme and miserable conditions in trenches located at the Western Front, which became a notable aspect of World War 1.
Issues faced by soldiers:
- Lice infestations, constant danger, poor living conditions, and the prevalence of diseases due to unsanitary conditions.
Mental health struggles and lack of understanding/management of PTSD among returning soldiers.

Notable battle illustrating the stalemate of WWI:
- Lasted several months with massive casualties on both sides (approx. 700,000 total) without significant territorial change.

Initial neutrality due to lack of formal alliances:
- Economic interests gradually influenced the U.S. stance.
- Growing resentment against both England and Germany due to interception of U.S. supplies and aggressive submarine warfare by Germany.
Shift in the U.S. position owing to financial stakes in the war, particularly favoring the Allies for loan repayment purposes.

Continued examination of trench warfare and America's role in World War I.
Discussion on the psychological impacts of trenches and military life, including the case of trench foot, will occur in future classes.