The Roaring ‘20s
AMERICAN STUDIES
Practice Question
 This type of speech is intended to ruin someone’s
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reputation by lying and is not protected by the
United States
A. Libel and Slander
B. Fighting Words
C. Clear and Present Danger
D. 1st Amendment.
Practice Question
 During WWI Charles Schenck was accused of
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discouraging Americans to enter the draft. Under the
new Espionage Act he was found guilty. The
government justified their ruling with which of the
following?
A. Libel and Slander.
B. Fighting Words.
C. Clear and Present Danger.
D. 1st Amendment.
Practice Question
 In the United States, a citizen’s exercise of speech
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and expression may be legally restricted when that
individual
A. threatens public safety.
B. opposes public opinion.
C. criticizes public officials.
D. condemns public institution
After WWI
 Minorities who worked during the war were reluctant to
return to pre-war status of inferiority
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Many blacks and women lost their jobs when soldiers came home
Women gain right to vote in 1920 with the 19th amendment
Increased confrontation between blacks and whites
 1920: Warren G. Harding elected
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Promised to lead the nation back to “Normalcy”
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Conservative idea to return to the “quieter times” before the war and
Progressivism
Did very little to regulate business and followed laissez-faire
Failed to recognize changes necessary for modern life and new
economy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EthSRi-VxaQ&index=6&list=PLOboypeG8Zn8JXTbclCmohqS0smaWgsxt
Teapot Dome Scandal
 Name of federal land in Wyoming with huge oil
reserves
 Members of his cabinet took bribes from oil
companies to lease them govt land
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Secretary of the Interior Albert Fall
 Harding knew nothing, but chose corrupt cabinet
members
 Before investigations were over, he died suddenly in
1923
Calvin Coolidge
 President after Harding’s death, then elected to
remain in office in 1924
 “The business of America is business”: Likes laissezfaire, don’t regulate big business
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Secretary of Treasury Andrew Mellon: Banker and
businessman
High tariffs and low taxes for American businesses
Farmers suffer due to low prices, low demand, and no help
from the government
Called “Silent Cal”
America in the 1920s
 After WWI: Americans are very suspicious of
political radicals
 1917: The Bolshevik Revolution in Russia creates fear
of a similar uprising in the US
 Americans fear:
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Communism: radical system of govt with command
economy, opposite of US system of capitalism and democracy
Radical Political violence: Overthrowing of govt or
violence against govt officials
Labor unrest: Angry workers striking and making demands
The Red Scare
 The Red Scare: Time of widespread fear and dislike
of Communism, radicals, and immigrants
The Palmer Raids
 Wartime factories close: many lose their jobs,
increasing labor union strikes
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International Workers of the World: Socialist labor union that
opposed WWI and the draft
Seen as unpatriotic and a threat to democracy
1919: Strikes break out across the nation, IWW is blamed
 Workers called communists and Attorney General
Palmer arrests union members and deports many
immigrants
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Over 600 deported for being “Red” or radical
Sacco and Vanzetti
 1920: Most controversial Red Scare trial
 Two Italian immigrant anarchists, Nicola Sacco and
Bartolomeo Vanzetti, executed for robbery and
murder
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Little evidence, many believe the jury was prejudice
Many appeals are denied and both are executed in 1927
 Protests around the world because the verdict was
motivated by discrimination against their ethnicity,
class, and political views
Practice Question
 During the Red Scare in the United States after World
War I, all of the following happened to immigrants
except
 A. immigrants were deported without being charged or
convicted of any crimes.
 B. immigration laws were passed allowing a larger
number of immigrants to enter the country.
 C. two immigrants, Sacco and Vanzetti, were put to death
on questionable charges.
 D. immigration laws were passed restricting the number
of immigrants entering the country.
Nativism
 Nativism: Native-born people have fear and hatred
for foreigners (immigrants)
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Causes increasingly restrictive immigration policies
 Before WWI: Immigration was open, businesses
wanted cheap labor, plenty of jobs
 After WWI: Many factories close, troops want jobs
and see immigrants as a threat
 AFL Union and Business owners support the troops
and fear immigrants will cause more political unrest
Immigration
 1920s Quota Acts: Limits # of immigrants from each
country
 National Origins Act limits it further to only 2% of
immigrants from each country that were here in
1890
 These laws decrease immigration, especially for
Southern and Eastern Europe
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Russia and Italy seen as breeding ground for radicals
 Asian immigration is eliminated completely
1920’s Popular Culture
 Time of rebellion against traditional style and values
 Older population was worried about the break down of
traditional values and morals
 Manners were more relaxed and less formal
 Fashion became more revealing
 Pastimes were silly and flamboyant
 Artists, writers, and musicians experimented with
new ideas
 The Roaring ‘20s were a time of prosperity and
outrageous behavior
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Both good and bad
Before the 1920s
After
Bathing Suits
The Flapper
 1920: 19th Amendment gives women suffrage
 Time-saving appliances allow women to spend less
time on chores, and work part-time
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Having income allowed them to leave home before marriage
and be more independent
 The Flapper: a modern woman who rejected strict
values of the past and advocated open attitudes
toward lifestyle, fashion, and sex
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Symbol of change in society and gender roles
Only a small % of women during 1920s, but image was
reinforced by movies, books, and the press
Example in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
Practice Question
 During the 1920’s the group known as Flappers
became popular for their rebellious nature. Explain
who the flappers were and what they represented.
Then briefly describe the changes they made to the
1920’s social behavior and or norms. (2 points)
The Economy
 Time of Economic Prosperity: Fueled by growth of
car industry
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Henry Ford invents the assembly line to quickly and cheaply
mass produce cars like his Model-T
 By end of the decade the # of cars on the road had
tripled and other US industries enjoyed higher
productivity and profits
-Price in 1916:
$400
(about $6000
today)
-1.5 million sold
in 1920
-4.7 million a
year in 1929
-Model-T
produced every
24 seconds
-Public
Transportation
also increased
Creation of the Suburbs
 Americans had a nostalgia for the small-town or
rural homes of their childhood
 Desire for an escape from the traffic, noise, and air
pollution of the urban life
 Middle Class was able to commute to jobs in the city
because of newly affordable automobiles
 The 1920s saw a boom in the housing industry:
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Over 1 million homes built in 1925
Practice Question
 Which advance was largely responsible for the
growth of suburbs in the United States in the mid20th century?
 A. emigration from the United States.
 B. improvements in passenger airplanes
 C. widespread availability of automobiles
 D. economic opportunities in rural towns.
Mass Consumption
 Quick, cheap production leads to lots of new goods
 New business practices: marketing and advertising
 Installment Buying: “Charge” goods on store credit
and make payments over time
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Honor system: Trusted to pay it back
Allows average man to afford cars, telephones, radios,
refrigerators, toasters, phonographs, etc.
Changes the way we think about money:
Encourages spending of money people don’t have
 Many accumulate a lot of debt
 Nation appears wealthier than it really is
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Practice Question
 Which of the following was NOT an element of the
economic changes of the 1920’s?
 A. Recession
 B. Big Business gains power through Laissez-Faire
re-emerging
 C. Moving Assembly Line
 D. Mass Production
Entertainment: The Radio
 Mass communication changes US pop culture
 Commercial radio originated in the 1920s with
networks like CBS and NBC
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Radio advertising funded shows and increased demand for
consumer goods
 1922: Only about 60,000 homes had radios, by 1930
they were in more than 10 million homes
-1st time people across the nation
shared a common culture
-Anyone could listen to sporting
events
-Everyone could hear the news
and stay informed
-Major News Event: Aviator
Charles Lindbergh made the first
solo flight from the US to Europe
Moving Pictures
 Movies became popular: Films were silent
with subtitles performed by actors like Charlie Chaplin
 Theaters appear in cities across US creating a mass
entertainment sensation, Hollywood is born
 1927: First “talkie” The Jazz Singer had synchronized
soundtrack and made movies even more popular
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_1apYo6-Ow
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BSIe1BAp3Y&sa
fe=active
Fads of the 1920s
 Betty Boop, Winnie the Pooh, Mickey Mouse
 Slinky, Swallowing Goldfish, Stamp Collecting
 Mini Golf, Dance Marathons, Magic 8 ball, pea
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shooters, rouge knees, “23 skidoo”
Flag Pole Sitting, Bubble Gum Blowing Contests
Hokey Pokey, Jitterbug and the Charleston
Pez, Reese’s, Penicillin, Kool Aid, Bright Red Lipstick
Zoot Suits, Hair dryers, SATs, Crossword Puzzles
Jazz, hats, 1st Miss America Pageant, smoking
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJC21zzkwoE
Prohibition
 1919: 18th Amendment or Volstead Act prohibits sale and
manufacture of alcohol
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Why: Alcohol causes crime, poverty, spousal abuse, and lower
productivity at work
 Millions made their own liquor or smuggled it into the US over
boarders
 Bootleggers were people who made a living selling illegal
alcohol
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiYqFXmVAFg
Many were gang/mob members
Al Capone ran a crime syndicate in Chicago
 Organized crime increases with opening of speak-easies
 Secret night clubs that sold homemade alcohol like moonshine
 Law intended to improve society actually increased crime
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWGP-lYSSgU
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvR1i1oP4wI
Scopes Monkey Trial
 In many states, the law said only Creationism could
be taught in school
 Tennessee 1925: Biology Teacher John Scopes taught
Darwin’s Theory of Evolution
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Lawyer Clarence Darrow defended him against vs. William
Jennings Bryan (former Secretary of State)
 Battle between traditional religious values and new
scientific teachings
 Scopes was convicted but only fined $100, trial was
highly publicized
History of Racism in the America
 Emancipation Proclamation:
 End of the Civil War:
 Civil Rights Amendments:
 Jim Crow Laws:
 Plessy vs. Ferguson:
 Lynching:
Ku Klux Klan
 KKK: Racist organization that dislikes change and
anyone different from themselves
 1920s Revival: Reemerged in great strength in both
the South and North
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States like Indiana and Oklahoma and cities like Detroit,
Atlanta and Chicago
 Height of power: Had over 5 million members
nationally
 Included Senators, Representatives, and state/local
govt officials, as well as regular citizens
Ku Klux Klan
 Klansmen claimed they stood for Christian values and
true Americanism, but in reality they fed upon hate
and fear
 Hated all who were not white and Protestant
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Including African Americans, immigrants, Catholics, Jews,
homosexuals, women, etc.
 Sponsored elaborate cross-burning rallies and
parades dressed in their white hoods/robes
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Resorted to violence to intimidate enemies
 Membership declines by 1930 after immigration
decreases and many members are arrested for crimes
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Down to 30,000
Racial Awareness
 When did you realize that skin color can make a
difference in the way people are treated?
(age/situation)
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Feel free to describe more than one event.
 What causes racism or other types of discrimination?
Where does it come from?
 Think of an incident where you witnessed some form
of discrimination; how did you react?
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This could be any form of bullying in regards to someone’s
race, gender, socioeconomic class, disability, etc.
Lynch Mob
 Bystander: a person who is present at an event or
incident but does not take part
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Samaritan: a charitable or helpful person
http://source.southuniversity.edu/examining-the-mob-mentality-31395.aspx
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqTdXOQmXrc
Agree or Disagree Discussion
 I pose a question or statement that is opinion-based,
then you quietly walk to one corner of the room that
reflects your opinion on that statement
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Agree, Strongly Agree, Disagree or Strongly Disagree
 Once in your corners, we will begin the discussion in the
Strongly Agree corner and move around the room
 Be respectful and open-minded, no interrupting!
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One person from the group will volunteer to explain their viewpoint
in one minute, and you may only speak once for your group
The next group will then be able to respond
At the end of each statement, you will have the option of switching
groups if your opinion is changing
Practice Question
 During the 1920’s KKK re-emerged with great
numbers and had a huge influence on the average
American. What ideas were they influencing
people to believe in?
A. Women’s equality and voting rights.
 B. Youth’s rebellion against society and rules.
 C. Fear of rapid change with new cultures and
immigration.
 D. African American voting rights and freedoms.
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The Great Migration
 Migration of African Americans from rural south to
cities of the north
 Before WWI: Majority lived on farms in the south
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Sharecroppers: Farmers who gave their landlords a share of
crops in exchange for use of the land
Too poor to own their own land, system kept them poor
 During and After WWI:
 Many move north to escape racism and poverty
 Get jobs in factories in the north
Racial Tension
 Many whites saw them as rivals for jobs and housing
 Some cities restricted where blacks could live
 1917: Supreme Court found residential segregation laws
unconstitutional
 Deeds restricted the sale of property to African Americans
 They were forced to live in ghettos or segregated
neighborhoods, like Harlem in New York
Race Riots
 Race riots: White mobs attack blacks in their
neighborhoods, happened in several US cities
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Homes were destroyed, businesses burned, African Americans
were beaten and killed
 1920-30: hundreds of blacks were lynched in US
 Many never reported/recorded
 Eventually public opposition leads to anti-lynching
laws in 1920s
 Numbers decreased in following decades (last: 1964)
The Harlem Renaissance
 African Americans contributed to rich cultural and artistic
life that marked the 1920s
 Harlem was the neighborhood that had an explosion of
talent with black intellectuals, writers, musicians, artists,
and scholars
 Movement was an expression of African American
cultural identity and pride
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How is this related to racism and segregation?
 Writers like Langston Hughes put their mark on
American cultural and literary history
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http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/harlem-renaissance
 Invention of Jazz music
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDQpZT3GhDg&list=PLC6ECC10E393A6F45
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IJzYAda1wA&list=PL8622884B913ED4B5
Practice Question
 In the late 1800s, a population shift among African Americans
began in the United States. Known as the “Great Migration,”
this pattern of shifting population accelerated as a result of
World War I and continued throughout the 1920s. (4 points)
 • Describe the population shift involved in the “Great
Migration.” Explain reasons why there was a Great Migration
from the south to the north.
 • Explain how this migration produced an important change
in the domestic affairs of the United States during the first
three decades of the twentieth century. Describe two ways life
was affected in the North.
Practice Question
 In the early 20th century, many African-Americans
moved from the South to cities in the North. This “Great
Migration” helped stimulate a flowering of artistic talent
by African-Americans in New York known as the Harlem
Renaissance. One way in which the Harlem Renaissance
was significant was that it
 A. reduced racial tensions in the northern cities.
 B. led to a decline in activity by the Ku Klux Klan.
 C. led to a relaxation of restrictions on African-
Americans in the South.
 D. contributed to the recognition of African-American
culture.
Stock Market Speculation
 1920s began with hope, optimism, and prosperity
 Most US businesses were highly productive and
expanding, which all believed would continue
 Many people invested heavily in the stock market
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Buying stock on credit= Buying on the margin
Bull Market: Public confidence in stocks causes stock prices to rise
What were some causes of the crash?
 Stock market speculation was a national mania; not a
problem as long as stock prices continued to rise
 1925-1929: Stock values doubled, but in September the
tide turned and stock prices dropped sharply
Stock Market Crash of 1929
 October 1929: The Crash
 Black Tuesday: Stock plummeted as panicky investors sold all
their holdings
 29th the market plunged further dropping 43 points
 A record 16 million shares were sold that day
 Brokers who had sold stocks to investors on credit
(margin) called in their debts
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Few could pay because they had been forced to sell their stocks
for so low at huge losses
 Thousands of people had lost all stocks and savings,
starting the Great Depression
1920s Foreign Policy
 1921: Washington Naval Disarmament Conference
 Five Nations with largest Navies agreed to limit ship
construction (US, Britain, France, Italy, and Japan)
 1928: Kellogg-Briand Pact
 63 nations agree to never fight an aggressive war
 Problem: Treaty had no real commitment to stopping
aggressors or to act in any way in response
 League of Nation’s World Court:
 Nations to argue case before judges and settle disputes
peacefully
 US Isolationist Policies keep us from joining