Study Notes on the 1920s in America final 6

Overview of the 1920s in America

• Exploration of various socio-political factors affecting American society during the 1920s.

Corruption in Politics

• Mention of corruption associated with a president who did not finish his term.

• Insight into the political climate of the 1920s.

Urban Growth in the 1920s

• The 1920 census report:

  • For the first time, revealed that more Americans were living in cities than in rural areas.

  • Highlights the rapid growth of U.S. cities which began in the late 1800s.

• Factors contributing to urban growth:

  • Massive migration to cities.

  • Immigrants predominantly settled in American cities leading up to the 1920s.

  • African Americans migrated from the South to Northern cities in search of jobs.

• Consequences of urban growth:

  • Emergence of neighborhood segregation:

  • Natural segregation: Residents choosing to live among those of similar ethnic backgrounds (e.g., Irish American, Italian American, Jewish American, African American neighborhoods).

  • Forced segregation:

    • Utilization of neighborhood improvement associations by predominantly white residents to restrict access for minorities.

    • These associations pressured landlords not to lease apartments to certain groups (targeting African Americans and immigrants).

  • Legal context:

  • Such discriminatory practices continued until the 1940s and were deemed legal until Supreme Court rulings in 1948 declared them illegal.

• Implications of these practices:

  • Highlighting systemic racism and barriers to equal access to housing.

Women's Rights Movement

• Historical Context:

  • Women's right to vote established in 1920 with the 19th Amendment.

  • Post-vote activism decreased but did not vanish; new issues arose in women’s rights advocacy.

• Focus shift towards the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA):

  • Purpose: Addition of an amendment to the U.S. Constitution ensuring that men and women are treated equally in all aspects of American society.

  • Context of the ERA:

  • Proposed to Congress but not passed until the 1970s.

  • Ultimately, it was not ratified by the states, indicating ongoing discrimination issues.

• Continued discrimination post-voting rights:

  • Persistent inequity in earnings for similar work between men and women.

  • Difficulty for women, especially unmarried, in obtaining loans from banks.

  • Importance of the ERA in addressing these ongoing issues.

Cultural Changes in the 1920s: Flapper Girls

• Changing Generational Attitudes:

  • Younger generations began rejecting conservative values of their parents.

  • Emergence of more liberated expressions of sexuality and independence, particularly among women.

• The rise of the ‘Flapper Girl’:

  • The term ‘flapper’ described women in the 1920s who embraced new fashions and social freedoms.

  • Description of flapper fashion:

  • Influenced by designer Gabrielle Chanel (Coco Chanel), who created the iconic little black dress.

  • Characteristics of flapper fashion:

    • Sleeveless dresses with scoop necks, often knee-length or shorter.

    • Hair cut into boyish bobs.

    • Use of makeup and accessories, such as fringed dresses that moved while dancing.

  • Contrast with previous generations:

  • Mothers of flappers typically wore long skirts and sleeves, had their hair up, and wore minimal makeup, reflecting their conservative values.

• Societal implications of flapper culture:

  • Widespread popularity of jazz music, with women frequenting jazz clubs to drink (illegally due to Prohibition), smoke cigarettes, and dance, further depicting their rebellion against traditional norms.

Conclusion

• Brief mention of the transition into discussing the Great Depression in future lessons.

• Encouragement for students to stay safe while continuing their studies.