Post-War American Life. The Roaring Twenties

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1 Post-War American Life The Roaring Twenties

Radical Influences Radical foreign ideas were denounced, especially after the 1917 Bolshevik revolution in Russia Led to the Red Scare - Attorney General A.

2 Radical Influences Radical foreign ideas were denounced, especially after the 1917 Bolshevik revolution in Russia Led to the Red Scare - Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer led a crusade against those whose Americanism was suspect Labor unions were targeted as communism in disguise Palmer Raids suspected radicals and communists were deported in raiding homes and offices. Nearly all ended up being released

Radical Influences Sacco-Vanzetti Case in 1920 two Italian immigrants Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were arrested on a murder charge near Boston.

3 Radical Influences Sacco-Vanzetti Case in 1920 two Italian immigrants Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were arrested on a murder charge near Boston. Evidence was contradictory but they were sentenced to hang when the trial revealed they were anarchists and atheists. They were executed in Suppressing the Socialists various laws passed to make it illegal to be a socialist party member. In 1919, Schenck v. United States upheld the conviction of a man who had criticized conscription and Abrams v. United States (1919) which upheld the conviction (20 years) of Jacob Abrams for distributing a pamphlet asking workers to rise against military intervention in Russia

A Ku Klux Klan renewal Modern Klan originated in Georgia in 1915 but did not gain strength until the 1920s Attacked Immigrants, Jews, blacks, Catholics, aliens, religious modernists, pacifists and

4 A Ku Klux Klan renewal Modern Klan originated in Georgia in 1915 but did not gain strength until the 1920s Attacked Immigrants, Jews, blacks, Catholics, aliens, religious modernists, pacifists and internationalists By 1924, had 5 million members Plan of terrorism spread fear among minorities and led to the Klan to gain political control in several states Internal corruption led to its decline after 1925

5 Immigration

6 Immigration Fear of a flood of aliens from war-devastated Europe led to the Immigration Act of 1921 which limited immigration from any country to 3% of that nation s nationals residing in the US in 1910 This quota system reduced immigration to a trickle and specifically targeted those from eastern and southern Europe (next slide) In 1924, the Johnson-Reed Act lowered the quota to 2% of a nations nationals in It also allowed unlimited immigration of native-born Canadians and Latin Americans and barred Oriental immigration all together

Immigration 14 million immigrants had arrived in the United States between 1900 and 1920 it dropped to just over 4 million in the 1920s Quotas favored people of Anglo- Saxon descent 51,227 from

7 Immigration 14 million immigrants had arrived in the United States between 1900 and 1920 it dropped to just over 4 million in the 1920s Quotas favored people of Anglo- Saxon descent 51,227 from Germany 34,007 could come from England or Northern Ireland 28,567 from Ireland 3845 from Italy 2248 from Russia 124 from Lithuania No African country could send more than 100 people a year China, Bulgaria, and Palestine could send 100 each

8 Prohibition World War I allowed prohibitionists to argue that cereal products should be used to feed the soldiers and not make alcohol. During the war, most Americans willingly accepted this belief and stopped or restricted the consumption of alcohol In December 1917, the 18 th amendment was passed and went in to effect by January Forbade the manufacture and sale of all intoxicating beverages Intoxicating beverages (as defined by the Volstead Act-1919) were those containing more than one-half of one percent of alcohol.

Federal agents seize an illegal still in 1922.

9 Federal agents seize an illegal still in The north and west generally tried to find ways around the law. Prohibition

10 Despite the law, drinking not only increased in some areas but became more fashionable in the next decade Prohibition

Chicago gang wars (over control of the industry) resulted in over 500 murders in the

11 Gangsters Prohibition led to crime because of the profits that could be made from illegal alcohol. Chicago gang wars (over control of the industry) resulted in over 500 murders in the 1920s Al Capone, dubbed Public Enemy Number One for ordering the massacre of 7 rivals, could not be convicted of murder - only tax evasion - and served 8 years

12 Gangsters Scarface Al Capone Organized crime was one of the biggest businesses in the U.S. generating $12-$18 billion in John Dillinger in his FBI mugshot

13 Evolution and Education John T. Scopes, a Tennessee high school science teacher was arrested for teaching evolution, in violation of state law Prosecuted by William Jennings Bryan and defended by Clarence Darrow, the case was a media spectacle Scopes was convicted (later overturned) but 5 days after the trial, Bryan died of a stroke

14 John T. Scopes was convicted of teaching evolution (which officially remained illegal in TN until 1967). Evolution and Education

15 The trial was a media spectacle in the summer of 1925, and was followed nationwide. Evolution and Education

16 Mass Production and Consumption After the rationing of the war years, Americans wanted to have all the latest modern conveniences Electric power had increased from 20% of American homes before WWI to 70% by 1930 Refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, electric stoves, radios, etc. Construction of skyscrapers had changed modern cities Empire State Building was constructed towering 102 stories Chain stores made goods available across the nation Macy s, A& P, Woolworth, Sears (324 stores by 1929), Kroger, JC Penny, Walgreen Drug, etc.

car to roll off the production line every 10 seconds by the mid-1920s Before the assembly line it took almost 13 hours to

17 Mass Production and Consumption Assembly-line production allowed more goods to be produced cheaper than ever before (with the result that workers were forced into monotonous, unskilled, and dehumanizing jobs) Henry Ford s production line allowed a new car to roll off the production line every 10 seconds by the mid-1920s Before the assembly line it took almost 13 hours to build a car start to finish After the assembly line, just 1.5 hours Ford made a profit of $25,000 per day due to the assembly line

Evolution of the Automobile Detroit emerged as the automobile capital of the world 69 car companies by 1910, mostly in Detroit Henry Ford s first automobile, the Model T, was introduced in 1909 and

18 Evolution of the Automobile Detroit emerged as the automobile capital of the world 69 car companies by 1910, mostly in Detroit Henry Ford s first automobile, the Model T, was introduced in 1909 and cost $950 (11,000 were sold that first year) He introduced the assembly line in 1913 and turned out 248,000 in 1914 The cost lowered to just over $300 He paid his workers $5 a day (twice the going rate) so they could afford to buy the cars too - and fired anyone caught driving another brand

19 On Ford s assembly line, workers repeated the same task for each car - very little skill was needed. Evolution of the Automobile

Impact of the Automobile By 1914, Ford had turned out his 500,000th

was a car for every 5 Americans Ford, GM & Chrysler made 83% of all

stations, destinations, and tourist services This desire to travel

20 Impact of the Automobile By 1914, Ford had turned out his 500,000th car By 1930, he had turned out more than 20 million By 1929, there was a car for every 5 Americans Ford, GM & Chrysler made 83% of all cars by 1929 Travel was now possible, leading to the need for gas stations, destinations, and tourist services This desire to travel led to the federal government setting aside money for road construction

21 Impact of the Automobile Despite highway funds being available as early as 1916, roads saw little improvement Here is U.S. Route 1 in VA in 1916.

22 Improving Roads The Federal Highway Act of 1916 did start to improve roads (albeit very slowly) leading to the massive paving of American highways during the 1920s.

23 Flight The first powered flight of a heavier than air machine took place at Kitty Hawk, NC on Dec 17th, It lasted just 120 feet. Later in the day, the Wright brothers were able to stay aloft for almost an entire minute but the uses for this new form of transportation were limited.

24 Flight The first powered airplane flight, piloted first by Orville then his brother Wilber Wright, generated little attention at first. By 1909, the airplane had been demonstrated as being useful to the military for reconnaissance and attack purposes.

25 Air Mail Service Charles Lindbergh was the first to contract his service for the delivery of Air Mail (from Chicago to St. Louis) in 1925.

26 Charles Lindbergh flies to Paris

27 Flight During the 1920s, America and the world became fascinated with daredevil pilots such as Charles Lindbergh. He attracted celebrity status when he flew non-stop from New York to Paris in 1927 in a record 33 hours. He was welcomed by huge crowds. Here he speaks to America upon his return.

28 Radio The first commercial radio station went on the air in Within 9 years, 10 million families owned radios and became the instrument for spreading mass national culture. Some of the most popular radio programs were sports broadcasts and comedy routines.

29 Operating the transmitter of one of the first broadcast stations in the U.S. - in Detroit. Radio

30 The 1924 Freed- Eisemann radio receiver with a separate loudspeaker, illustrates the way most Americans heard the radio programs of the day. Radio

31 The very first motion picture was exhibited in the United States in 1896 using a projector designed by Thomas Edison. Movies and Hollywood

32 In 1903, the first film to tell a story was produced - The Great Train Robbery. It, like many short films of the day, was accompanied by a live musician playing a piano score. Movies and Hollywood

33 Movies and Hollywood By 1910, there were more than 10,000 movie houses in the United States. Silent films were so popular that it is estimated that more silent films were made between 1903 and 1927 than the number of talking films made since! Because of the high cost of making studiobased films (sound stages), the industry was dominated by just 5 studios in the late 1920s - Fox, Paramount, MGM, Warner Brothers, and RKO.

34 Movies and Hollywood In 1927, the first major advance in movie technology debuted in The Jazz Singer starring Al Jolson -- sound! It was the first talking picture. The talkie spelled the end for the silent film era - and the careers of many actors whose voices did not fit with the image they had created.

Movies and Hollywood In addition, the motion picture industry led to a tremendous growth in the Southern California economy, which attracted movie

35 Movies and Hollywood In addition, the motion picture industry led to a tremendous growth in the Southern California economy, which attracted movie production because of its near yearround sunshine - necessary for early cameras. Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford (above) were two of the early stars.

36 Movies and Hollywood By the mid-20s, stars such as Rudolph Valentino and Clara Bow were the envy of the American public. Other leading stars of the 20s included Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo, among others.

37 Dramatic Culture Changes The Harlem Renaissance The great migration from the South The urban ghetto Rediscovery of black folk culture primarily a literary movement but to some extent it included music, theatre, art, politics Negro nationalism: Marcus Garvey

The Harlem Renaissance James Weldon Johnson was one of the founders of the Harlem Renaissance. He founded and was secretary of the NAACP from 1916 to 1930 and was also a gifted poet.

38 The Harlem Renaissance James Weldon Johnson was one of the founders of the Harlem Renaissance. He founded and was secretary of the NAACP from 1916 to 1930 and was also a gifted poet. He published Fifty Years and other Poems as an ironic commentary on the 50 th anniversary of emancipation. He teamed with W.E.B. DuBois to form an intellectual center around which other literary and artistic talent developed.

39 Dramatic Culture Changes Claude McKay signaled the beginning of the Harlem Renaissance in 1922 when he published Harlem Shadows, an eloquent book of poetry.

40 Dramatic Culture Changes Langston Hughes became known as the poet laureate of Harlem during the 1920s. His poetry described the urban life of the African- American ghettoes of the 1920s.

41 Dramatic Culture Changes The Brown Madonna published by Alain Locke in The New Negro: An Interpretation. The poetry, prose and art of the Harlem Renaissance sought to bring a new dignity to African- American women in an age where the predominant stereotype was of an Aunt Jemimah mammy image.

42 Marcus Garvey the other side Marcus Garvey represented another side of the Harlem intellectual movement. He rejected all compromise and integration with whites, and founded the United Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) to promote African identity and unity. He established the Black Star Line (a steamship company) the became a key element in the Back to Africa movement. Poor management led to its near financial collapse. In 1923 he was convicted for mail fraud as a result of stock sales in the company and was deported in 1927.

43 Dramatic Culture Changes The New Morality Revolution in manners and morals F. Scott Fitzgerald led revolution Sigmund Freud's theories promoted discussion of sex Sex in books, magazines, and movies. New views of marriage Roles within the family change Rise in divorce rate

44 Dramatic Culture Changes Women's Movement Alice Paul and the militant movement Carrie Chapman Catt and the National Suffrage Association Nineteenth Amendment ratified Equal Rights Amendment proposed 1923 Working women Increased in number Most still traditional occupations

League of Women Voters Maud May Wood Park was one of the leaders of the Women s Suffrage Association (along with Carrie Chapman Catt) which reorganized after

45 League of Women Voters Maud May Wood Park was one of the leaders of the Women s Suffrage Association (along with Carrie Chapman Catt) which reorganized after the 19 th Amendment went into effect. The goal of the new organization was to education newly enfranchised women to cast their votes effectively and intelligently.

46 Dramatic Culture Changes Creation of American music Classical music: Interest in it grew because of immigrants Led to the Metropolitan Opera "Golden Era Light Classical Music: Irving Berlin & Jerome Kern Ragtime band George Gershwin Jazz - distinctly American music** Fletcher Henderson, King Oliver, Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton Big Band/ Jazz musicians

Louis Armstrong was considered one of the founders of Jazz.

47 Jazz Music Edward Kennedy Duke Ellington formed a band in 1918 and by the 1920s had received local Harlem notice for his jazz piano arrangements. He later achieved international acclaim through radio broadcasts. Louis Armstrong was considered one of the founders of Jazz. He was renowned for his stage presence as well as for his voice and trumpet playing. He was one of the first truly popular African American performers and his skin color was seen as secondary to his music.

48 Literary Revolution The Modernist movement in literature included works by: Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot, Gertrude Stein, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, John Dos Passos, John Steinbeck, Richard Wright, Eugene O'Neill, Robert Frost, Carl Sandburg, and Maxwell Anderson A parallel movement - the Southern Renaissance - included: Thomas Wolfe and William Faulkner

49 Modernism in Art and Landscape artists: Grant Wood painter of American Gothic Impressionism Claude Monet, Degas, Renoir Metropolitan Museum of Art expanded Museum of Modern Art established in 1929 Architecture

50 Modernism in Art and Louis Sullivan (teacher and mentor to ) & Frank Lloyd Wright simplicity, space flowed from interior to exterior Gutzon Borglum- Mt. Rushmore begun in 1927 cost $1 million. Died in 1941 (only ¾ completed only Roosevelt s head undone. Finished by his son in 1941) Architecture

The New Pastime - Sports Development of Baseball radio broadcasts became common

George Herman Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs Football College football especially

1 st professional league created American Professional Football Association and

51 The New Pastime - Sports Development of Baseball radio broadcasts became common and more than 20 million fans paid to see games in 1927 alone - the year that George Herman Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs Football College football especially popular. 1 st professional league created American Professional Football Association and the National Football League was created in Tennis American Bill Tilden won Wimbledon in 1920, 21, and 30 (3x). He was also US champion and 29 (7x)

52 Booming Economy Unemployment was down from 4.27 million in 1921 to just over 2 million in 1927 General level of wages rose - 40% of all families earned more than $2000 a year But, prosperity was concentrated at the top! From 1922 to 1929, real wages in manufacturing rose 1.4% a year per capita, but stockholders gained 16.4% a year 42% of families made less than $1000 a year 0.1% of the top earners received as much as the bottom 42%

Name Date After WW I ended, life improved. Factories started producing more products at a faster pace. Many

Name Date After WW I ended, life improved. Factories started producing more products at a faster pace. Many Americans worked in factories and this allowed them to buy things. The American economy was booming.