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A Society in Transition: A Society in Transition: The 1920s The 1920s Ain't We Got Fun Performers: Van and Schenk Performers: Van and Schenk

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Page 1: A Society in Transition: The 1920s Ain't We Got Fun Ain't We Got Fun Performers: Van and Schenk

A Society in Transition: The A Society in Transition: The 1920s1920s

Ain't We Got Fun

Performers: Van and SchenkPerformers: Van and Schenk

Page 2: A Society in Transition: The 1920s Ain't We Got Fun Ain't We Got Fun Performers: Van and Schenk

““The Roaring The Roaring Twenties”Twenties”

My candle burns at both ends; My candle burns at both ends; It will not last the night; It will not last the night; But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends— But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends— It gives a lovely light.It gives a lovely light. Edna St. Vincent Millay Edna St. Vincent Millay

Page 3: A Society in Transition: The 1920s Ain't We Got Fun Ain't We Got Fun Performers: Van and Schenk

““The Jazz The Jazz Age”Age”

http://www.bassocantante.com/flapper/http://www.bassocantante.com/flapper/

music.htmlmusic.html

Page 4: A Society in Transition: The 1920s Ain't We Got Fun Ain't We Got Fun Performers: Van and Schenk

““The New Era”The New Era”

In olden days, aIn olden days, a

glimpse of stockingglimpse of stocking

was looked at as was looked at as

something shocking.something shocking.

Now, heaven knows, Now, heaven knows,

anything goesanything goes..

Cole PorterCole Porter

Page 5: A Society in Transition: The 1920s Ain't We Got Fun Ain't We Got Fun Performers: Van and Schenk

““NormalcyNormalcy””

Page 6: A Society in Transition: The 1920s Ain't We Got Fun Ain't We Got Fun Performers: Van and Schenk

““A Return to Isolation”A Return to Isolation”

Page 7: A Society in Transition: The 1920s Ain't We Got Fun Ain't We Got Fun Performers: Van and Schenk

Culture and Tension in the Culture and Tension in the 1920s1920s

A period of great contradiction: of rising A period of great contradiction: of rising optimismoptimism

and deadening cynicism, of increasing and and deadening cynicism, of increasing and

decreasing faith, of great hope and great decreasing faith, of great hope and great despair. despair.

native born American vs. native born American vs. immigrantimmigrant

rural born rural born vs. vs. urban raisedurban raised

whites whites vs. vs. blacksblacks

fundamentalists fundamentalists vs. vs. modernistsmodernists

Protestants Protestants vs. vs. Catholics and JewsCatholics and Jews

Page 8: A Society in Transition: The 1920s Ain't We Got Fun Ain't We Got Fun Performers: Van and Schenk

A Conflict in A Conflict in Values: Urban vs. Values: Urban vs.

RuralRuralIn the 1920s, In the 1920s,

Americans lived in Americans lived in

larger communities, larger communities,

which produced awhich produced a

shift in shift in valuesvalues, or a, or a

person’s key beliefs person’s key beliefs

and ideas. and ideas.

Page 9: A Society in Transition: The 1920s Ain't We Got Fun Ain't We Got Fun Performers: Van and Schenk

The 1920 census showed that for the first time, moreThe 1920 census showed that for the first time, moreAmericans lived in cities than in rural areas, and three-Americans lived in cities than in rural areas, and three-fourths of all workers worked somewhere other than a fourths of all workers worked somewhere other than a

farm.farm.

Page 10: A Society in Transition: The 1920s Ain't We Got Fun Ain't We Got Fun Performers: Van and Schenk

Conflicts over ValuesConflicts over ValuesCities represented Cities represented changes thatchanges thatthreatened rural threatened rural values. values.

During the During the 1920s, 1920s, AmericaAmerica would test thesewould test thesevalues in conflicts values in conflicts over immigration, over immigration, fundamentalism fundamentalism and prohibition.and prohibition.

Page 11: A Society in Transition: The 1920s Ain't We Got Fun Ain't We Got Fun Performers: Van and Schenk

A Conflict in Values: Rural vs. UrbanA Conflict in Values: Rural vs. UrbanIn the 1920s, many people inIn the 1920s, many people inurban areas had values that urban areas had values that differed from those in rural differed from those in rural

areas.areas.

Urban ValuesUrban Values– City-LifeCity-Life

Fast-paced, Fast-paced, competitivecompetitive

Immigrants, MigrantsImmigrants, Migrants Consumer societyConsumer society Jazz, moviesJazz, movies Drinking, gambling, Drinking, gambling,

casual datingcasual dating

– Liberal politicsLiberal politics– Embrace ChangeEmbrace Change– Science-orientedScience-oriented

Page 12: A Society in Transition: The 1920s Ain't We Got Fun Ain't We Got Fun Performers: Van and Schenk

Rural America representedRural America representedthe traditional spirit of hard the traditional spirit of hard work, self-reliance, religion, work, self-reliance, religion, and independence. and independence.

Rural ValuesRural Values– Small towns, farmsSmall towns, farms

Slower pace of lifeSlower pace of life Close social Close social

relationshipsrelationships

– Traditional valuesTraditional values Conservative moralsConservative morals Thriftiness, moderation, Thriftiness, moderation,

respectability respectability

– Church-orientedChurch-oriented– TemperanceTemperance

Page 13: A Society in Transition: The 1920s Ain't We Got Fun Ain't We Got Fun Performers: Van and Schenk

Anti-Immigrant SentimentsAnti-Immigrant Sentiments

NativistNativist – anit immigrant – anit immigrant

Some Americans feared the Some Americans feared the arrival of so many arrival of so many Catholics, Jews, unskilled Catholics, Jews, unskilled laborers, and people not of laborers, and people not of Anglo-Saxon heritage with Anglo-Saxon heritage with different languages and different languages and Customs who clustered Customs who clustered together in ethnic together in ethnic communities. Nativist communities. Nativist feelings were intensified by feelings were intensified by the actions of immigrant the actions of immigrant anarchists and socialists.anarchists and socialists.

Page 14: A Society in Transition: The 1920s Ain't We Got Fun Ain't We Got Fun Performers: Van and Schenk

The National Origins Act of The National Origins Act of 19241924

This act used the 1890 census figures to This act used the 1890 census figures to create a quota system which largely create a quota system which largely excluded the new wave of immigrants from excluded the new wave of immigrants from southern and eastern Europe. The new law southern and eastern Europe. The new law cut the quota for northern and western cut the quota for northern and western European countries by 29 percent, but European countries by 29 percent, but slashed that for southern and eastern slashed that for southern and eastern Europe by 87 percent. Europe by 87 percent.

The act banned immigration from east Asia The act banned immigration from east Asia entirely.entirely.

In 1929, a new law limited immigration to In 1929, a new law limited immigration to 150,000 persons a year.150,000 persons a year.

Page 15: A Society in Transition: The 1920s Ain't We Got Fun Ain't We Got Fun Performers: Van and Schenk

Close the Gate.Literary Digest, 7/5/19.Originally from the Chicago Tribune (Orr).

Page 16: A Society in Transition: The 1920s Ain't We Got Fun Ain't We Got Fun Performers: Van and Schenk

The Ku Klux KlanThe Ku Klux Klan

grew dramatically grew dramatically

in the 1920s.in the 1920s.– Members of the Klan Members of the Klan

used violence, used violence, targeting blacks, targeting blacks, Catholics, Jews, and Catholics, Jews, and immigrants. immigrants.

– The Klan also focused The Klan also focused on influencing on influencing politics. politics.

– The Klan’s peak The Klan’s peak membership was membership was about 4.5 million with about 4.5 million with many in Indiana, many in Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio. Illinois, and Ohio.

Page 17: A Society in Transition: The 1920s Ain't We Got Fun Ain't We Got Fun Performers: Van and Schenk

Why did people join the Klan?

Page 18: A Society in Transition: The 1920s Ain't We Got Fun Ain't We Got Fun Performers: Van and Schenk

The Ku Klux Klan: The Invisible The Ku Klux Klan: The Invisible EmpireEmpire

“100% Americanism” Anti-black

Anti-immigrant

Anti-women’s suffrage

Anti-bootleggers

Anti-Semitic

Anti-Catholic

Anti-union

Page 19: A Society in Transition: The 1920s Ain't We Got Fun Ain't We Got Fun Performers: Van and Schenk

The Klan pledged to The Klan pledged to devote itself to devote itself to purging American life purging American life of impure, alien of impure, alien influences and to influences and to protect “traditional” protect “traditional” values. It worked to values. It worked to punish divorce and punish divorce and attempted to institute attempted to institute compulsory Bible compulsory Bible reading in schools.reading in schools.

The Klan operated as The Klan operated as a “fraternal” society a “fraternal” society using rituals, using rituals, costumes and costumes and “secret” language to “secret” language to attract followers..attract followers..

Canon City Klan, 1924Canon City Klan, 1924

Page 20: A Society in Transition: The 1920s Ain't We Got Fun Ain't We Got Fun Performers: Van and Schenk

MembershipMembership

declined in thedeclined in the

late 1920s late 1920s

because of a because of a

series of series of scandalsscandals

affecting Klan affecting Klan

leaders.leaders.

Page 21: A Society in Transition: The 1920s Ain't We Got Fun Ain't We Got Fun Performers: Van and Schenk

Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1921 Race RiotTulsa, Oklahoma, 1921 Race Riot

Page 22: A Society in Transition: The 1920s Ain't We Got Fun Ain't We Got Fun Performers: Van and Schenk

The Tulsa riot was triggered by the accusation of a white womanThe Tulsa riot was triggered by the accusation of a white womanthat a black man had attempted to sexually assault her. Tulsathat a black man had attempted to sexually assault her. Tulsapolice arrested the man. A white crowd gathered outside the jail. police arrested the man. A white crowd gathered outside the jail. Several months before a similar crowd had lynched a white Several months before a similar crowd had lynched a white suspect. To stave off a lynching, a group of armed blacks drove tosuspect. To stave off a lynching, a group of armed blacks drove tothe jail and volunteered to help guard it. The authorities refusedthe jail and volunteered to help guard it. The authorities refusedtheir offer. The blacks returned to their section of the city. Shortlytheir offer. The blacks returned to their section of the city. Shortlyafterward, a rumor of an impending attack on the jail impelled afterward, a rumor of an impending attack on the jail impelled them to return. Again the police refused their help. But some them to return. Again the police refused their help. But some whites in the crowd demanded that they disarm. They refused. whites in the crowd demanded that they disarm. They refused. One white moved to take a black man's rifle by force. There was aOne white moved to take a black man's rifle by force. There was ashot; a white man fell dead. Blacks beat a hasty retreat to their shot; a white man fell dead. Blacks beat a hasty retreat to their cars. Whites milled about. Then they ran home to get weapons cars. Whites milled about. Then they ran home to get weapons and, in largely uncoordinated bands, headed off to "Run the and, in largely uncoordinated bands, headed off to "Run the Negro Out of Tulsa.“Negro Out of Tulsa.“

Page 23: A Society in Transition: The 1920s Ain't We Got Fun Ain't We Got Fun Performers: Van and Schenk

All through the night and into All through the night and into The morning thousands of The morning thousands of white Tulsans invaded thewhite Tulsans invaded theblack section of the city black section of the city as smaller bands of blacks, as smaller bands of blacks, some of them WWI veterans,some of them WWI veterans,fought to defend houses,fought to defend houses,businesses, and churches. Bybusinesses, and churches. Bythe time the governor the time the governor ordered in the National ordered in the National Guard, the shooting was over. Guard, the shooting was over. The entire black communityThe entire black communityWas a smoldering ruin. Was a smoldering ruin. Hundreds were dead, most ofHundreds were dead, most ofthem black. Thousands hadthem black. Thousands hadfled the city, all of themfled the city, all of themblacks. No white was blacks. No white was arrested. The city and state arrested. The city and state authorities failed to mount authorities failed to mount any sort of an investigation.any sort of an investigation.

Page 24: A Society in Transition: The 1920s Ain't We Got Fun Ain't We Got Fun Performers: Van and Schenk

The Scopes Trial, 1925 Represents Two The Scopes Trial, 1925 Represents Two Major Issues of the 1920s: Major Issues of the 1920s:

The Conflict Between Fundamentalism The Conflict Between Fundamentalism and Modern Protestantism and The and Modern Protestantism and The

Clash Between Science and Religion Clash Between Science and Religion

Page 25: A Society in Transition: The 1920s Ain't We Got Fun Ain't We Got Fun Performers: Van and Schenk

Fundamentalism vs. Fundamentalism vs. Modern ProtestantismModern Protestantism

Fundamentalists believed in a literal Fundamentalists believed in a literal interpretation of the Bible because they interpretation of the Bible because they thought it was the inspired word of God. thought it was the inspired word of God. They were skeptical of scientific knowledge They were skeptical of scientific knowledge and argued all important knowledge could and argued all important knowledge could be found in the Bible. be found in the Bible.

Modern Protestantism had gradually Modern Protestantism had gradually adapted to a society marked by the adapted to a society marked by the influence of science and the acceptance of influence of science and the acceptance of diverse religious faiths.diverse religious faiths.

Page 26: A Society in Transition: The 1920s Ain't We Got Fun Ain't We Got Fun Performers: Van and Schenk

Billy Sunday Aimee Semple McPhersonBilly Sunday Aimee Semple McPherson

Fundamentalist Fundamentalist ministers used the ministers used the radio to spread radio to spread their message.their message.

Sunday Sunday condemned condemned radicals and radicals and criticized the criticized the changing attitudes changing attitudes of women, of women, reflecting much of reflecting much of white, rural white, rural America’s ideals. America’s ideals.

McPherson was McPherson was especially well especially well known for healing known for healing the sick through the sick through prayer.prayer.

http://http://www.npr.org/www.npr.org/templates/story/templates/story/story.php?story.php?storyId=9248328 storyId=9248328

Page 27: A Society in Transition: The 1920s Ain't We Got Fun Ain't We Got Fun Performers: Van and Schenk

Science vs. ReligionScience vs. Religion Darwin's Theory of Evolution is the widely held notion that Darwin's Theory of Evolution is the widely held notion that

all life is related and has descended from a common all life is related and has descended from a common ancestor. The theory presumes the development of life ancestor. The theory presumes the development of life from non-life and stresses that complex creatures evolve from non-life and stresses that complex creatures evolve from more simplistic ancestors naturally over time. As from more simplistic ancestors naturally over time. As random genetic mutations occur within an organism's random genetic mutations occur within an organism's genetic code, the beneficial mutations are preserved genetic code, the beneficial mutations are preserved because they aid survival -- a process known as "natural because they aid survival -- a process known as "natural selection." These beneficial mutations are passed on to the selection." These beneficial mutations are passed on to the next generation. Over time, beneficial mutations next generation. Over time, beneficial mutations accumulate and the result is an entirely different organism accumulate and the result is an entirely different organism (not just a variation of the original, but an entirely different (not just a variation of the original, but an entirely different creature). creature).

Fundamentalists think this theory is against the biblical Fundamentalists think this theory is against the biblical account of how God created humans and that teaching account of how God created humans and that teaching evolution undermines religious faith. evolution undermines religious faith.

Fundamentalists worked to pass laws preventing evolution Fundamentalists worked to pass laws preventing evolution being taught in schools, and several states did, including being taught in schools, and several states did, including Tennessee in 1925. Tennessee in 1925.

Page 28: A Society in Transition: The 1920s Ain't We Got Fun Ain't We Got Fun Performers: Van and Schenk

The Scopes TrialThe Scopes Trial John Scopes was persuaded to violate the John Scopes was persuaded to violate the

law, get arrested, and go to trial. law, get arrested, and go to trial. Scopes was represented by Scopes was represented by Clarence Clarence

DarrowDarrow, and , and William Jennings BryanWilliam Jennings Bryan, , three-time candidate for president, three-time candidate for president, represented the prosecution. represented the prosecution.

John Scopes was obviously guilty, but the John Scopes was obviously guilty, but the trial was about larger issues. trial was about larger issues.

Scopes was convicted and fined $100, but Scopes was convicted and fined $100, but Darrow never got a chance to appeal Darrow never got a chance to appeal because the conviction was overturned because the conviction was overturned due to a technical violation by the judge. due to a technical violation by the judge.

The Tennessee law remained in place until The Tennessee law remained in place until the 1960s.the 1960s.