8. American Culture during the Early 1900s
7.2 TEACHER NOTES
New forms of mass media, such as radio and cinema, contributed to the spread of
national culture as well as greater awareness of regional cultures. Migration gave rise
to new forms of art and literature that expressed ethnic and regional identities, such
the Harlem Renaissance movement.
a. *Harlem Renaissance (CUL) Literary and artistic movement of the 1920s
located in Harlem, New York in which black writers and artists described Black
American life.
b. Jazz (CUL) Uniquely American style of music developed in the early 1900s. It is
a product primarily of Black American communities. Jazz is characterized by
improvisation and syncopation.
c. Jelly Roll Morton (CUL) Jazz piano player from New Orleans referred ta as the
‘father of jazz.’
d. Louis Armstrong (CUL) Jazz trumpet player from New Orleans that helped
popularize Jazz music created and played by black Americans.
e. Ashcan School (CUL) New York popular artists that focused on urban scenes,
displayed and sold in New York City.
f. Edward Hopper (CUL) U.S. painter that depicted modern urban scenes 1920s
The U.S. city as an artistic subject was very new.
g. Yiddish Theater (CUL) a 1920s New York theater group that performed artistic
and political plays all actors were Yiddish
h. KDKA in Pittsburgh, 1920 (WXT) (CUL) the world’s first commercial radio
station, broadcast election returns in 1920. By 1933, two thirds of American
homes had a radio; also telephones were even more popular.
i.
The Jazz Singer, 1927 (WXT) (CUL) the first motion picture with sound.
American consumers were eager for movie entertainment.
9. Political and Cultural Conflict during the 1920s
7.2 TEACHER NOTES
In the 1920s, cultural and political controversies emerged as Americans debated gender
roles, modernism, science, religion, and issues related to race and immigration. a. Ku Klan Klan March on Washington, 1925 (POL) (CUL) Represents the second
rise of the KKK, (Reconstruction had limited it’s impact on life in the South)
they claimed to have over 5 million members. The Klan led a march of 50,000 in
Washington, D.C. demanding laws to limit immigration. The Klan claimed its
members held governmental positions in the South. They opposed Catholics
(Irish), Blacks, and Jewish persons.
b. Fundamentalism vs. Modernism (CUL) Fundamentalists advocated the literal
truth of the Bible and opposed the modernists who merged the Bible and
scientific knowledge. The Scopes Monkey trial exemplifies this debate. Scopes
a teacher taught evolution in his science class, his school district had
forbidden the teaching of evolution. Scopes was found guilty of breaking the
district rule and fined $100.00. BUT more importantly the country intensely
debated creationism vs. the theory of evolution. Fundamentalist religious
leaders were worried about the modern behaviors of the roaring twenties
(partying-drinking= breaking the law-smoking,) they preached that citizens had
lost their morality.
c. Prohibition (POL) nationwide ban on the sale, production, transport, and
importation of alcohol in place from 1920 (18th amendment) till 1933 when it was
repealed by the (23rd amendment). A huge division in the U.S. developed
between those who favored temperance and those who did not. However both
groups grew anxious regarding the criminal element of gangsters (Al Capone)
who violently controlled all the illegal activities of the prohibition era. Crime
ultimately brought argreement from all sides to repeal prohibition.