Rural Response to the
New Urban Culture of
the 1920s
Cultural Conflict
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1. With Farmers going to cities, Blacks leaving the South,
and immigrants coming to America, more people begin to
live in cities than in the country by the 1920s.
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2. Cultural changes—hedonism, flappers, etc.
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1 & 2 cause a backlash from rural (small-town) white
Protestants who prefer conservative “traditional” values.
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They feel anxiety (their way of life/values are under
attack).
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North East vs. The South & West.
The Rise of the “New” KKK
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A 2nd version of the KKK emerges.
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New version is not just in South and
aimed at keeping blacks down.
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“New” KKK seeks to preserve traditional
White Protestant Values.
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Besides blacks, now against Catholics,
Jews, immigrants, modernism, and
people deemed immoral.
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Spreads outside the South to all states.
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Elects politicians.
Prohibition
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Progressive were for it because of
the negative effects on families.
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Many rural Americans for it
because they associate drinking
with immigrants (Irish and
German), the rich & city people.
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18th Amendment (1919)
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Volstead Act (1920)—Calls for
enforcement of prohibition.
Impact of Prohibition
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Impossible to enforce--People still wanted to drink.
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Bootleggers—people who made sold and/or transported
illegal liquor.
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Speakeasies—Clubs where liquor was sold.
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Some illegal alcohol is harmful.
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Rise of organized crime.
Gangs
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Gangsters existed before
prohibition, but selling illegal
booze is what made them
rich and powerful.
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Violence—gang wars.
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Also involved in drugs and
prostitution.
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Most famous is “Scarface” Al
Capone of Chicago.
Restrictions on Immigration
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New Immigration Law is passed in 1921.
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Aimed at keeping out “New “ immigrants from Eastern and
Southern Europe.
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Quota system based on 3% of those already in US.
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1924 National Origins Act—Reduced the number of
immigrants again and excluded Asians altogether.
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By the end of the decade, there were fewer immigrants
coming to the US then ever before.
Rural Religion
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Fundamentalism—belief in the literal
truth of the Bible was popular in small
town America.
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They felt that their beliefs were under
attack by the new urban culture.
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They denounce Darwin’s Theory and
Modernism
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Modern evangelists begin using show
business techniques & radio to reach
large audiences.
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Aimee Semple McPherson raised over
$1.5 million in just 2-years.
The Scopes Trial
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1925—Tennessee state law prohibits teaching anything other than creationism
(i.e.- no evolution).
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ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union—an organization created to defend
people’s constitutional rights in response to the red scare) gets John Scopes to
challenge law by teaching evolution.
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Sets up a court showdown.
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Clarence Darrow, one of the most famous lawyers of the time, is the lawyer for
Scopes.
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Former Populist William Jennings Bryan testifies for the prosecution as an
expert on the Bible.
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Trial is broadcast on Radio.
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Trial shows the cultural tension that existed in the 1920s between modernism
and traditional values.
Clarence Darrow & William Jennings
Bryan
Review
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What were the author’s of the 20’s known a and what were the
characteristics of their work?
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What accounted for the cultural tension that existed in the 1920s?
Who didn’t like the modern culture that was emerging and why? How
was this tension reflected geographically?
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What accounted for the rise of the “new” KKK and how were they
different than the “old” KKK?
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What was the impact of prohibition on America?
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What was the Scopes Trial and how was it emblematic of the cultural
tension that existed in the 1920s?
Aimee Semple McPherson