The 1920s – A Time of
Social Conflict
A “New Morality”
A changing role for women. After
World War I women …
•Could vote
•Were a larger part of the
workforce
•Used their money to attend
college in greater numbers.
•Were given more freedom and
independence because of the
development of the automobile.
The image of women in the 1920s
underwent a radical change.
The Flapper Image – During the 1920s, many women began to use their new status
in society. They embraced their sexuality and expressed themselves in ways that
challenged traditional values and the role of women. Below: Actress Clara Bow –
The “It Girl”
Fashion for women in
the 1920s.
The Flapper Image
Flapper
Automobile
Discuss: In what ways
do you think the
development of the
automobile helped to
change the identity of
women.
Let’s take a look at this selection from F. Scott Fitzgerald to get an idea of the
changing status of women in society in the 1920s.
Ok … so we’ve talked about the changing identity of women. Well, there’s another
movement that had been going on for a long time, that had actually been driven
mainly by women. This movement gains success in the 1920s.
Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition was largely a remnant of the Progressive era.
18th Amendment – banning manufacture, sale, or transportation of alcohol.
The Volstead Act - laws passed to allow the federal government to enforce
prohibition laws. Federal government now given police powers.
Prohibition officers dumping alcohol
Prohibition raid in Detroit
Discussion question: Because of prohibition, do you think people
are going to stop drinking alcohol?
How will be work around prohibition laws …?
Bootlegging – The illegal production and distribution of liquor.
Speakeasies – bars where alcohol was sold illegal.
Prohibition era speakeasy
GANGSTA’
Prohibition led to the rise of
organized crime.
Mobsters realized huge profits
could be made by selling liquor.
The influence of the mob
expanded during the 1920s …
Rise in
•Gambling
•Prostitution
•Racketeering – Mob would pay
police officers not to do their
jobs. Mob could then require
local businesses to pay a
“protection fee”
Review and Reinforce – Prohibition
Reading and Questions
NEXT …
The rise of religious debate ….
In small groups, spend about 15 minutes discussing and writing down answers to
the following questions:
1) In what ways does religion affect your daily life?
2) Where to you see the influence of religion in our society today?
3) Do you think the government should have any involvement in religious matters?
John T. Scopes, biology
teacher who became the
center of a nationwide
controversy in 1925.
Check out that sick hat.
Changing Pace – White board notes on Scopes Trial
An example of the anti-evolution sentiment that
existed in Tennessee.
Clarence Darrow speaks during the Scopes “Monkey” Trial
Clarence Darrow (left) and William Jennings Bryan have a
friendly conversation during the Scopes trial. The two men
maintained a respect for one another throughout the affair.
Darrow interrogates Bryan for two hours. The trial had to be
moved outside to accommodate the massive crowds.
The trial was dramatized, first in a
play, and then in a movie by the
same name: Inherit the Wind
It’s good stuff, you should check it
out.