Lecture Guide: The 1920s
Behind the Fringe…
Innovation, Materialism, Fear, & Scandal
Most of all an Era of Experimentation
Election of 1920
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First Presidential Election where _____________ could vote (increased votes
cast by 8.2 million)
Warren G. _____________ was elected on ___________________ campaign
“Return to Normalcy” is challenged by the legacy of the _____________________
and ______________ of the _________ world!
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Most famous for three scandals:
Political Challenges
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Fear motivated many political actions
Fear of another World War
o Led to __________________
Fear of Change
o Rise of ______________ (leads to immigration reforms)
o ____________________ (leads to Palmer Raids & Sedition Laws)
o Rise in popularity of ________ (leads to increase in religious and racial
persecution)
o Debate over ___________________ in politics (leads to Scopes Trial &
Prohibition)
Anti-Immigration Movement:
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Mitchell Palmer (U.S. Attorney General) started the _____________________
Laws passed ______________________________
He deported immigrants during the ________________
In 1921 & 1924 ____________________________________________ from
Italy, Russia, and Slavic nations
_________ and ________________ against immigrants & minority ethnic
groups _________ throughout the U.S.
Ex: __________________
Question: Why would Americans dislike immigrants?
Experimenting with Moral Regulations
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_______________________ prohibited the manufacturing, sale, and
transportation of ___________
It was hard to enforce & unpopular
Led to the rise of ____________________________________________
The 21st Amendment ended Prohibition in 1933
Calvin Coolidge:
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Harding’s Vice President
Became president in __________ (after Harding’s death)
Elected in 1924 with slogan ________________
Herbert Hoover:
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Believed in the individual and a __________ federal government
Both Coolidge and Hoover focused on the _______________
1920s Economy
________________ led to _______ production and the _______ of American
___________________.
Rise of Materialism:
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Examples: (radios, automobiles, icebox, washing machine, vacuum cleaner)
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Mass production of goods = ____________________
Increased use of ___________________ to _______ products
_________ ownership grew _______________ from 1920 to 1930
1920s Society & Culture
Experiments in new _________, ___________, __________________, and
societal __________
Societal Norms
 Increase in popularity of ____________________________ (NAACP, ACLU,
Anti-Defamation League)
 Women begin to challenge _________________ roles & _________________
Questions:
1. Why do you think Civil Rights Organizations would be increasing their
popularity in the 1920s?
2. What do you think empowered women to challenge their traditional roles as
wives/mothers?
Entertainment
 ______________ - provides instantaneous access to news, entertainment, &
sports
 ___________ - increase in popularity and athletes become heroes in society
 ___________ - first talking movies debut “talkies”
 _______ - increase in availability and affordability of cars creates access to new
entertainment opportunities
Question: How might the sense of prosperity impact the changes with
entertainment?
Style & Culture
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“_________________________”
The new music of the era set the stage for a unique era of cultural history
___________________ - some of the most famous authors/books/poems
written in the 1920s
_________________________ - African American artistic movement that
influenced American culture
____________ - new style of fashion that represented the “new woman”
___________ - new trends & styles of dance challenged tradition