Demobilization

Returning to a peacetime economyArmed Forces – reduced from 3 million to 300,000 almost overnight.

Few jobs for Veterans – businesses cut wartime production worth $ Billions. Fired women who had helped maintain production during the war.

Rural v. Urban / Traditional v. Modern

Migration to the cities – 1st time 50% of Americans lived in cities. Most came for jobs, were shocked by the cities (drinking, gambling, promiscuous behavior) many feared the moral decay of society.

Fundamentalism

Religious movement – coined by Rev. Curtis Law’s in 1921. Believed in the infallibility of the Bible. Brought about by the social changes of the early 1900’s, the liberalization of biblical criticism, and Darwin’s theories about the origins of the universe.

Scientific Theory brings Challenges

Charles Darwin – Origins of the Species (evolution) challenged the Bible (Genesis account) about the creation of man.

Butler Act – prevented evolution from being taught in schools

“Monkey Trials”

John Scopes – teacher in Dayton Tenn., fired for teaching Darwin’s theory of evolution.

July 10-25, 1925

“Trial of the Century”

Outdoors to handle the crowds

William J.Bryan – Prosecutor “fundamentalist” “Bible expert”

Clarence Darrow – A.C.L.U. attorney, best lawyer of the era. Evolutionist

Darrow was able to get Bryan to testify that the Bible was not as concrete as they believed.

Bryan lost supporters – died 5 days later a broken man

Scopes was found guilty – fined $100, overturned in 1927

by Tenn. Supreme Court

18th Amendment – Jan. 16, 1920Banned manufacturing, sale, transportation, and consumption of Alcohol in the U.S.

Rural Populists & Urban Progressives of 1900’s (reformers)

Reasons – domestic abuse/violence, public drunkenness, loss of moral and ethical judgment while intoxicated, health problems.

Fundamentalist and Women’s organizations (Women’s Christians Temperance)

Anti-Saloon League (ASL) – Headed by Wayne Wheeler Confronted Politicians, if you were for prohibition they helped you get elected, if you weren’t they destroyed you

By 1917 - 28 States were dry (no alcohol)

Slight Reduction – 75,000 arrests each year for violations

Saloons died – rise of secret clubs “Speak easies” (sold illegal alcohol), moonshine, rot gut.

No Alcohol from 1920 – 1933 21st Amend overturned

Unprecedented disregard for the law (rise of organize crime)

Mafia and bootleggers, rum runners, speakeasies, moon shiners

New York City contained many poor Irish and Italian immigrants

Could either work in low paying factories or turn to crime to improve their situation.

Gangs included the Roach guards, Shirt tails, Dead Rabbits, and the Plug Uglies.

Collection of thieves and thugs, boys recruited at young age, taught to fight and pick pockets

Became more organized, began extorting money from local gambling dens

1900’s Paul Kelly 1st “Mob Boss” united the Five Points Gangs

“Scar face”Got his start in Kelly’s Five points Gang

1919 Moved to Chicago to escape murder charges, reunited with Johnny Torrio

Torrio’s number 1 man. controlled casinos, brothels, speakeasies, and distilleries. 1922 producing beer for $4-5 a barrel and sold it for $45 a barrel.

After a failed attempt on his life Torrio retired. Capone was in charge.

Empire was worth $50 million a year

1931 arrested for tax evasion – Elliot Ness (U.S. Justice Dept)

Sentenced to 11 years in prison, sent to Alcatraz (model prisoner)

1938 diagnosed with syphilis

Released in 1939 to family care retired to Florida

Died in 1947

Americans were tired of the effects of demobilization

Americans blamed Woodrow Wilson (Dem.), opened the door for Republicans.

1920, Senator from Ohio

Focused on improving the economy

Sec. of Treasury – Andrew Mellon, proposed tax cuts to allow Americans to keep more of their money. Stimulate business growthTrickle down theory – opponents feared the money would only trickle down to the lower classes

Economy rebounded, businesses boomed, unemployment and prices dropped.

Reflected badly on the Republicans

Ohio Gang - Longtime friends of Harding, served in his Cabinet

Charles Forbes - Veterans Admin., Took bribes to award contracts for Hospital construction, 2 years in prison.

Albert Fall - Sec of Interior - Teapot Dome Scandal leased Federal Oil reserves to private company could have deprive the U.S of its oil reserves in a crisis/war

August 2, 1923 following Harding’s Death: heart attack

Reelected in 1924 - Focused on economy, “The Business of America is Business”, “The man who builds a factory builds a temple”

Foreign Policy - Hoped to prevent future wars

Kellogg – Briand Pact – 1928 outlawed all war, 62 nations joined. No enforcement

Washington Conference – 1921 World leaders

No Russia, No Germany, No Italy

10 year ban on militarism of navies, treaties to limit size

Americans enjoyed more leisure time

New York Yankees - Most dominate team of decade

Won 4 world series during decade

1927 Yankees “Murders Row” maybe the best team ever

George Herman “Babe” Ruth – “Great Bambino”

Most recognizable athlete of the era

Became a Yankee in 1920

Paid 20,000 in 1920, hit 54 Home runs

1927 hit 60 HR’s - Record until 1961

Notre Dame – Most famous College Football team

Coach Knute Rockne 1924 season (undefeated) 10-0, National Champs, Rose Bowl Victory

Red Grange – “Galloping Ghost”, University Of Illinois

1925 turned pro Joined the Chicago Bears helped popularize the newly formed NFL (1922)

Jack Dempsey – “Manassa Mauler”

1919 – 1926 Heavyweight Champ

1926 lost to Gene Tunney

1927 rematch v. Tunney – 120,000 spectators, $2,650,000 purse

Long Count – Dempsey knocked Tunney down in 7th round, failed to return to neutral corner. Tunney received 14 seconds instead of only 10 seconds. Dempsey lost fight

Robert Trent “Bobby” Jones1923 – 1930 Won 13 Major Championships

1930 won the Grand Slam won all 4 Majors

Retired in his prime only 28, devoted more time to family and his law practice.

Designed and created Augusta National Golf Club (Home of the Master’s)

Jim Thorpe – Native American Indian

1912 Olympics won Decathlon and Pentathlon “You are the greatest athlete in the world”

Played Professional Baseball and Football

Served as President of the American Professional Football Association

In 2000 ABC Sports selected him as “Athlete of the Century”

Right to Vote19th Amendment – August 26, 1920

Clothing – Corsets out, dresses became loose fitting and length shortened to 9 inches off ground (showing ankle), by end of decade shortened to the knees.

Hairstyle – Bob cut (boyish look)

Make-up – Lipstick, rouge

Social Behavior – smoking, drinking, and gambling in public

Pre WWI – most women did not work or stopped after marriage

1910 -> 1930 population of women in workforce grew 20%

Although greater opportunities they didn’t receive equal pay. Earned only about ½ of what a man might.

Women in High Places -

Nellie Ross – Governor of Wyoming, 1st women to be elected Governor.

About 200 women elected to State Govts

Anarchists, Communists, and Foreigners, Oh My!

Communism – Economic/Political system where property/means of production are Government owned

Americans fear and persecution of Communists

Threatened Capitalism and Americas way of life

Bolshevik Revolution in Soviet Union by Lenin

Americans feared that workers dissent would lead to a communist revolution.

“Mayday” May 1, 1919 - 16 bombs sent to prominent Americans, discovered by a postman

U.S Attorney General – House bombed on June 2, 1919 – lashed out

Convinced Congress to spend $ to “weed out” communists, radicals, and anarchists.

Nov. 7, 1919 raids began – little consideration for due process

Dec. 249 aliens deported on the Buford, commonly called the “Soviet Ark”

Mitchell Palmer

“Fighting Quaker”

Raids continued until 1920, 6500 arrests (97 of 100 searched without a warrant) in all 446 people deported

In all the arrest only 3 pistols and no explosives were found

Italian immigrants and known anarchists

Charged with payroll robbery and murder in Massachusetts in May 1920

Convicted and sentenced to death

Little evidence and unfair trial led to public outcry

Executed August 23, 1927

Xenophobia – fear of foreigners

Emergency Immigration Act (1921) – limited immigration to 3% of each nations representation already in U.S. based on 1910 census

National Origins Act (1924) – similar to Emergency Immigration Act but used the 1890 census, also banned Asian Immigration = Japan and China – “undesirable”

Govt is supporting WASPs

Kuklos = Circle

Originated in 1865 by Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest

William Simmons – 1915 restarted Klan in Stone Mtn. Georgia

“Birth of a Nation” film portrayed Klan as righteous and popular

Targeted Catholics, Blacks, Jews, and Immigrants

Enrollment increased to nearly 5 million by mid 1920’s

Gained political control over several State Legislatures

Lost power quickly due to corruption, violence , and the conviction of prominent Klan member David Curtis Stephenson for kidnapping and rape

Model T “Tin Lizzie”

More than 1 million being sold each year

Assembly Line – system to move parts from one worker to another, cut production to less than 2 hours

Mass Production – made automobile more affordable. Model T sold for $250 - $300

Installment plan – payments made over time

Henry Ford and Rise of Business

“Can have it in any color as long as it is black” 1903 Ford started his company for the masses 1908 = 1st Model T at $950 In 19 years he sold 15 million in US alone 1914 begins paying employees $5 an hour!!!

• double everyone else, “best place to work”

Cut work day to 3, 8 hour shifts for 24 hours 1 Model T coming off every 24 seconds

Impact of Henry Ford

Increase in cars on the road Increase in credit debt due to installment Need for more roads – most govt. $ spent in 1920s JOBS – construction, rubber, steel, gas Growth of the suburbs -> discrimination Model for other businesses to follow Random Facts:

• In 1932 He introduced the V8 engine block for 1st time

• In 1942 patented the plastic car body, 30% lighter

Fight for Equality Niagara Movement

• First organized attempt to protest treatment of blacks

• Headed by W.E.B. Du Bois - Awareness was key National Association for Advancement of Colored People

• NAACP originally headed by Du Bois

• Founded in 1909

• Disagreed with Booker T Washington’s beliefs on aiding A.A.

• Believed in promoting higher education and self-fulfillment Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA)

• Led by Marcus Garvey – Jamaican born

• Two Ideas: 1. Return to Africa

• 2. Be proud of heritage “Black is beautiful”

• 4 million followers!!!

During the 1920’s millions of African Americans fled (Great Migration) discrimination and poverty from the south to northern states

Chicago, Detroit, D.C., Harlem

helped create a distinct African American culture that would influence mainstream America.

A period of African American artistic accomplishment developing around the Harlem section of New York

Black artists gained recognition for their contributions to the arts (music, dance, paintings, and literature)

Langston Hughes (Poet) leader of the movement

Great Migration also lead to violence.

Red Summer in 1919 = 25+ race riots

Developed in New Orleans – blend of African American spirituals, European harmonies and West African rhythms

1st jazz record published in 1917 by The Original Dixieland Jazz Band

Louis Armstrong – trumpeter/singer

1920’s know as the “Jazz Age”

Chicago and New York helped bring Jazz into the mainstream

‘Duke” Ellington – composer – new style of Jazz (orchestra)

Served as a friend and teacher as well as provided entertainment, brought a large world into Americans home

1920 – only a few thousand

1924 – 2.5 million

1929 – 12 million

1926 NBC and CBS began service

Nickelodeons – theaters, admission only 5 cents

Talkies – first movies with sound and dialogue

“Jazz Singer” 1927 starring Al Jolson

Charles Lindberg – “Lucky Lindy”, “Lone Eagle”

May 20, 1927 “Spirit of St. Louis”

1st solo flight across the Atlantic New York to Paris 33 1/2 hours, won $25,000 prize

Humans Develop Wings

“Flying Coffins” 1903: Wright Brothers Kitty Hawk, NC

• 12 seconds and 120 feet Crazy? By 1913 Lockheed was offering $5 rides Lindy was called the most popular man of his day He inspired William Boeing – mass production Lead to passengers & mail from S.F. to Chicago Amelia Earhart – first female to fly Atlantic solo

• Got lost in Pacific flight, bermuda triangle?

Post War Depression

Farmers Suffer – overproduction > prices fall > can’t pay bills > banks foreclose

Workers Strike – 1919 4 million worker on strike, hoped to increase wages

Steel Strike – 250,000 workers across country strike failed

Boston Police Strike – 2 nights of violence, Governor Calvin Coolidge brought in militia to restore order. Fired entire force.

Expatriates – many writers and intellectuals who criticized the values of the 1920’s and WWI moved to Paris France

“Lost Generation” – Term coined by Gertrude Stein to describe writer and poet who criticized 1920 American culture (Sherwood Anderson, Ernest Hemmingway, e.e. Cummings)