American
Culture and
Society 19101919
I. Background Information
A.
B.
C.
The 1910s was a decade of great change for
America.
It was during this decade that the United States
was first considered a world leader.
Many of the issues of 1910 are ones we face
today
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
D.
The escalation of immigration
Poverty
Labor Monopoly battles
Work safety
Child labor problems
World War I - the first 'war to end all wars' raged.
The 1910s were the decade America came of
age.
II. HISTORIC EVENTS AND
TECHNOLOGY
A.
B.
The Progressive Era lasted from 1895 until World War I.
This was a period of unrest and reform.
1.
Monopolies continued in spite of the Sherman Antitrust
Act of 1890.
2.
Social problems flourished in the U.S. During the 1910s
a.
Labor unions continued to grow as the middle classes
became more and more unhappy.
b.
Unsafe working conditions were underscored by the
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in which 145 female
workers were killed.
c.
Children were hired to work in factories, mills, and mines
for long hours in unsafe and unhealthy conditions.
d.
Though efforts to pass a federal law proved
unsuccessful, by the middle of this decade every state
had passed a minimum age law.
A commission found that up to 20% of
the children living in cities were
undernourished
4. Education took second place to hunger
a. Only one-third enrolled in elementary
school
b. Less than 10% graduated from high
school
5. Women were also striving for equality.
a. The first suffrage parade was held in
1910
b. The 19th amendment finally ratified in
1919
3.
C.
D.
E.
The Over There decade meant
more than just sending our 'boys'
over to fight during WWI.
America became the most highly
industrialized country during this
time.
Mass production of cars created a
nationwide prosperity and resulted
in one of the most profound social
changes in America's history.
F.
Popular culture became a lucrative
national product for the United States
1.
2.
3.
4.
G.
All over the world people were dancing
our dance crazes
Listening to our jazz tunes
Wearing our fashions
Falling for our pop fads, and buying our
products.
Tobacco was a big business,
with immigrants to New York City
accounting for 25% of the tobacco
purchasing.
H.
I.
The sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912
when more than 1500 people lost their
lives.
The first moving assembly line
1.
2.
J.
K.
L.
Began in 1914
In 1915, the one millionth Model T ($345)
rolled off the assembly line.
Initiation of the National Park Service
and Prohibition (1919).
Jim Thorpe, an American Indian, won
gold medals at the Olympics
The Girl Scouts of America were
formed.
III. FADS & FASHION
A.
The Gibson Girl was at the last year of its
popularity.
1.
2.
B.
Women were beginning to want to think
more of comfort during the 1910s
Although many quickly fell for the hobble
skirt.
Fabrics became lighter, colors are
brighter, and styles are looser.
1.
2.
Lowered necklines became popular
Sales of cold cream and lemon extract
escalate.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
The Tea Gown was worn 'at home.'
The sack, the sheath, oriental costumes,
harem trousers, and the Hellenic tunic
were all introduced.
When the war began, fashion design
and export came to a standstill.
"Made in America" fad began.
New materials and technologies made
more colors available.
The suffragettes started a more
comfortable fashion
1.
2.
3.
No more hobble skirt
Lots of pockets.
Hemlines inched up (to show ankles).
IV. Presidents
A.
B.
William Howard Taft
Woodrow Wilson
1.
2.
the 28th President of the United States,
from 1913 to 1921.
A leader of the Progressive Movement,
a.
b.
3.
4.
he served as President of Princeton
University from 1902 to 1910
the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to
1913
With Progressive ("Bull Moose") Party
candidate Theodore Roosevelt and
Republican nominee William Howard Taft
dividing the Republican Party vote
Wilson was elected President as a
Democrat in 1912.
V. Arts and Literature
A.
Three fundamental concepts
concerning art in America were seriously
reconsidered between 1910 and 1920.
1.
2.
3.
B.
What 'art' is
Who makes decisions about standards
How art is shared with the viewing public.
The City became a subject for the realist
movement
1.
2.
Artists painted scenes of the less
glamorous aspects of modern life
They depicted gritty New York scenery
and lower class residents
C.
The intellectual revolt against materialism
spawned several books
1.
2.
D.
The Education of Henry Adams assailed
the nation's failure to live up to its
founders' ideals
The Economic Consequences of the
Peace by J.M. Keyes
A single copy sold for $1.90 - industry
insiders felt the public would never pay
$2 for a book