A Return to
Normalcy:
American Life in the 1920s
LESSON 34
American Life in the Roaring Twenties (1919-1929)
POLITICAL PHILOSOPHIES OF THE
1920s
Socialis
ts
Anarchi
sts
Commu
nists
Progressi
ves
seeking
societal
reform
People
stuck in
the middle
of
Progressi
ve agenda
and
Republica
n and
Probusiness
forces in
America
(typically
Republica
n)
Idealists
that
sought
some
nativist
aims
(KKK,
Mugwum
How did economic boom color
the view of American society?
A “MASS
CONSUMPTION”
ECONOMY
I.
“Golden ’20s” 
BOOMING BUSINESS
A.
•
•
•
Era of prosperity
New inventions
Widespread confidence
in business and
economy
How did economic boom color
the view of American society?
B.
Symbols of prosperity
1.
2.
3.
Automobile production
perfected through
assembly line (1929: 1
car per 4.9 Americans)
Boom in gasoline
industry fed off of
automobiles  spurred
migration to cities and
new jobs
Advertising targeted
consumers  seduction
and sex appeal!
How was society affected by
the Roaring ’20s?
II. SOCIAL ASPECTS OF
THE ROARING ’20s
A.
PROHIBITION ERA:
Alcohol use blamed for many
urban problems
1.
2.
The original
“Scarface”…
18th Amendment (1919):
Prohibited manufacture, sale, and
distribution of alcohol in U.S.
Bootlegging and organized crime
were on the rise  rise of Al
Capone and organized crime
How was society affected by
the Roaring ’20s?
3.
4.
1930: Organized crime taking in
$12-18 billion in profit  helped
by new lines of business
(prostitution, gambling, narcotics)
Did prohibition help?




The original
“Scarface”…
Absenteeism at work down
Personal savings increased
among lower classes
SPEAKEASIES: Middle-class
havens for drinking
Enforcement difficult and casual
How was society affected in
the Roaring ’20s?
B.
NATIVISM
1.
2.
3.
4.
Increased as nation became
increasingly isolationist
Denouncement of “radical”
and “un-American” ideas 
paranoia over Bolshevism
Period of increased labor
strikes  20% of workforce
walked out (1920) over
inflation
Sacco & Vanzetti Trial
(1921): Italians convicted of
murder although presence at
crime could not be confirmed
How was society affected in
the Roaring ’20s?
5.
Ku Klux Klan (KKK)
revival


6.
5 million strong (greater
spread in Midwest)
Racist and isolationist 
more nativist than later
years
“Red Scare” – Palmer
Raids (1919-1920)


Series of arrests to
eliminate suspected
communists
Caused cutbacks on free
speech and deportation to
Europe  emphasis on
“Americanism”
A. Mitchell Palmer
How was society affected in
the Roaring ’20s?
7. Immigration laws



EMERGENCY QUOTA
ACT (1921): 3% limit on
certain nationalities in U.S.
 focused on Poles,
Italians, Russians
NATIONAL ORIGINS
ACT (IMMIGRATION
ACT OF 1924): Cut limit
to 2% and shut door on
Japanese
Led to more foreigners
leaving by 1931 than
coming in
Why did religion factor in a
society driven by consumerism?
C. THE EMERGENCE OF THE CHRISTIAN
RIGHT
1.
FUNDAMENTALISTS: Christian reformers who aimed at
Darwinism
 Darwinian belief destroyed faith in God and society
 Led to growth in Baptist church and Church of Christ
2.
3.
BUTLER LAW (1924): Tennessee law banning teaching of
evolution  against creationism (Christian belief)
SCOPES TRIAL (1925): Biology teacher indicted for
teaching Darwinian theory in class  case fought by ACLU
a. Placed fundamentalism on trial
b. Scopes found guilty, but fine waived
c. Both Darwinism and fundamentalism strengthened
What signaled the development
of the “Lost Generation”?
D.
YOUNG &
RESTLESS:


E.
Rebellion against
conformity
Further liberation of
women
BULL MARKET:
Overspeculation led to
ever-growing stock
market  crippled by
credit concerns and tax
cuts for rich
How did the Great Depression
begin worldwide economic collapse?
III. CAUSES OF THE
GREAT DEPRESSION
A.
1920s: Underlying problems
with U.S. economy
•
•
Investment on credit: High
level of debt to investment
banks and creditors  debt
caused by buying on margin
and speculation
Overproduction: production of
more goods than could be sold
to the public
How did the Great Depression
begin worldwide economic collapse?
•
•
•
Uneven distribution of
income: Half of
population lived at or
below the poverty level
Shrinking international
trade: Tariffs made it
hard to sell products
abroad
Shaky banking and
credit: Banking was still
unregulated by the
federal government
How did the Great Depression
begin worldwide economic collapse?
B.
October 29, 1929:
STOCK MARKET CRASH
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Signaled beginning of Great
Depression
Failure of overvalued businesses
Shaky banking system crumbled
Bankruptcy hit farmers struggling
due to severe droughts
Very high unemployment  by
1933, over 25% of American
workers unemployed
How did the Great Depression
begin worldwide economic collapse?
C. Dust Bowl:
Overproduction of
’20s countered with
severe droughts 
over 1 million
farmers driven from
land