Ch. 24 – The New EraThe Roaring Twenties

The New Era• Term used by contemporaries referring to

America’s evolution into a modern nation.• The 20’s were a period of greatest political, social,

and economic change in U.S. history.• Often referred to as the “roaring 20s” or the “jazz

age”.– Renowned for its growing middle class, professional

opportunities, and consumerism.– More significant for its liberation from tradition and

propriety though.

The Election of 1920

• Red Scare created tension in U.S. society and placed emphasis on desire for return to prosperity.– Republicans selected less known candidate from Ohio

in Warren Harding.– Return to Normalcy was their platform.

• The “Return to Normalcy” reflected this desire to regain pre-war lifestyle in America.

• Upon taking office Harding and Republicans focused on policies aimed to help economic growth.

The Harding Presidency• Harding worked to pass legislation that would

benefit American businesses.– 1. He passed high protective tariffs – drove up the

prices of foreign goods and encouraged people to buy American.

– 2. Established a federal budget to manage govt. spending.

– 3. Cut excess profit taxes from the war to help business owners spend on economic needs.

– 4. Avoided international affairs that would cost money.

Behind the Policies• Harding chose Andrew Mellon as his secretary of

the Treasury and Herbert Hoover as secretary of Commerce.– They believed in a policy of “supply side economics”

where they cut taxes and passed measures to help wealthiest Americans, in response they create more jobs and growth.

– When Harding took office the avg. American paid 4% income tax and wealthiest paid 74% income taxes.

– By 1928 most Americans paid .5% income taxes, and wealthiest paid 25%.

Peace

• Harding initiated the Washington Conferences in November 1921.– Negotiated agreements between Britain, France,

Japan, Italy, Germany, etc…– Provided the opportunity to reduce the amount of

naval buildup globally and preserve trade rights• Particularly the Open Door Policies.

Scandal in the Harding Administration• Unfortunately, Harding’s friends from “the Ohio

Gang” had ties to political machines.– Harding himself was honest, but worry over the

scandals caused him to fall ill– He passed away from a heart attack before the scandals

became public.• Teapot Dome Scandal: Albert Fall, Harding’s

Secretary of Interior, leased gov’t. oil lands to special interest groups for bribes over $300,000.– The Senate investigated the scandal and Fall went to

prison.

Calvin Coolidge

• While he differed starkly in personality from Harding, he was similar in regard to his passive approach to the Presidency.

• Believed government should intervene as little as possible in the life of the nation.

• Famous Quote “ the business of America is Business”.

The Dawes Plan• Coolidge protected U.S. businesses by raising high

tariffs and practicing limited isolationism.– High tariffs upset former allies because it hampered

their recovery efforts after the war.• Dawes Plan was negotiated by American Diplomat

Charles Dawes in 1924– Appeased allies by reducing their war debts

considerably and repayments– They had to agree to make concessions to the crippled

German economy and war debts.– Tariffs stayed high though.

Technology and Economic Growth• Developed for use primarily during WWI for

battlefield coordination.– Early uses through smalls pulses and Morse code.– Canadian scientist, Reginald Fessenden discovered

modulation which made it possible to transmit speech and music.

• Americans flocked to purchase short wave radios powered by vacuum tubes.– By the end of the decade almost every home had one.

• Later would use Fessenden’s model to create radar and television.

The Automobile

• While the Automobile was invented and available in the late 1800s, but predominantly seen as toy for the rich.– Henry Ford : Model T and assembly line changed

this.– Made automobile more affordable and practical

for the average American.• By the end of the decade there were more

than 30 million cars on the road.

Ways the Automobile changed Society• 1. The automobile obviously made Americans more

mobile.– Get from point “A” to “B” faster.

• 2. Increased employment for various other items.– Many other industries were created because of the

automobile.– Parking garages, road development and maintenance,

street lights, mechanics, motels, etc…• 3. Entertainment – simply riding in the car became

an entertaining past-time for many American families.– Weekend vacations were much more common.

First Gas Station

1920s Roads

Automobile cont.• 4. Teenage freedom and independence.– Kids were capable of going on dates with complete

freedom from adult supervision for the first time. This created tension in the home.

• 5. Status Symbol – more competition led to Americans wanting to have the

biggest, best, and newest cars.• 6. Suburbs– people could now live outside cities, and still work in

them.

Automobile Cont.

• 7. Education– People were now capable of leaving home more

easily to get higher education. • 8. Extended Families– Kids left home to get an education and perhaps

met a significant other. They got married, had kids, and only visit their families on holidays and special occasions.

Consumerism • As a result of the growing employment rates

Americans began buying goods for pleasure rather than need in large quantities.– Appliances like electric washing machines,

refrigerators, vacuum cleaners.– Luxury items like wrist watches, cigarettes, and

jewelry.– For the first time cosmetic and toiletry items were

commonly used.• Such new needs gave rise to a growing

advertisement industry that preyed on people’s need to fit in, feel desirable, and live luxuriously.

The Original Appliances

1920’s Advertisements

What is this Advertisement for?

Entertainment Industry

• Movies became popular during the 1920s.– The first “talkies” emerged in 1927– The Jazz Singer was the first full length feature film

with sound.– Following a few controversial films Hollywood studios

developed the Motion Picture Association to regulate, censer, and promote the Cinema industry.• Given the culture of the day movie going became favorite

past time, creating movie stars.

Commercial Radio

• In 1920 KDKA in Pittsburgh became the nation’s first commercial radio broadcast.

• By 1927 the National Broadcast Company created the first national broadcast.– By that time there were over 500 radio stations

broadcasting news, entertainment, and commercial advertising nationwide.

Changing Culture• The Flapper: modern woman of the 20’s whose

liberation was reflected in dress, conduct, hair style, and provocative behavior.– While the career woman in professional occupations

was widely publicized, in reality a relatively low percentage of women were truly independent of men.

• League of Women Voters and National Woman’s Party were formed to fight for equal rights throughout the 20s.– Dominated various consumer groups and increased in

influence.

Science vs. Religion• “Scopes Monkey Trial”: John Scopes, Biology teacher

in Dayton, Tennessee, was charged and prosecuted for teaching evolution in his classroom.– Scopes was influenced by the ACLU to break the law so they

could challenge it in court.• The Scopes Trial made national headlines when 3-

Time Presidential Candidate William Jennings Bryan prosecuted him, and famous trial attorney Clarence Darrow defended him.– Darrow publicly challenged traditional religious views.

• The Trial became a symbol or old conservative views versus new ideas.

The Jazz Culture• Jazz: popular new music style of the 20’s that had

a faster beat which challenged traditional conservative tastes.– Jazz music had such a large impact on American

culture that the 20’s are often referred to as the “Jazz Age”.

– The black migration north following WWI brought southern jazz to urban centers

– The Phonograph and radio helped to circulate this style and feed the craze.

Alcohol and Organized Crime• Prohibition: many Conservative Protestants felt that

alcohol use was at the root of many social evils.– Progressives were able to pass the 18th Amendment which

made the sale of liquor illegal.– While the Amendment saw limited initial success, within a

year its limitations became apparent.• Younger Americans with a more carefree attitude

began to resent the new laws.• Enforcing the law became nearly impossible as time

passed and people found creative ways around it.– The government had only hired 1,500 agents to enforce the

law and many places received little help from local police.

Al Capone • Organized Crime: Violation of the Prohibition Act

became a major industry nationwide.– Men like Al Capone became famous household names

for their outright defiance of an unpopular law.– Bought off local officials and corrupted Chicago politics,

paid for an army of 1,000 gunmen to protect his investments

– Capone’s thugs were linked to over 250 murders between 1920-1927.

– Eventually was sent to prison for tax evasion.

The Speakeasy• Speakeasies: secret bars, casinos, and social

centers where people could engage in activities deemed inappropriate by Conservatives and Protestants.– Depending on the level of funding, some speakeasies

were high class establishments where law enforcement would even frequent.

• Even with all the problems, Prohibition continued with support of rural protestants.– Would not be overturned until 1933, heavy pressure

from the depression.

Rise of the New Klan and Nativists• Growing concern regarding the influence of

immigrants on American culture.– Capone represented the influence of Italian Catholics on

culture while growing concern mounted over the number of Japanese immigrants.

– 1921 Congress passed an emergency quota act that greatly decreased the percentage of immigrants from various nations.

– National Origins Act of 1924 banned immigration from east Asia entirely.

Klan• Film Birth of a Nation glorified the early Klan and

inspired new groups to establish.– Reconstruction was no longer a problem, this time the

Klan focused on Jews, Catholics, and immigrants.– Also spread out of rural Southern towns to big

Midwestern and Northern urban centers.– Indiana had the largest membership of any state.– By 1924 the Klan reported 4 million members

nationwide.

Bartolomeo Vanzetti & Nicola Sacco

• The Sacco and Vanzetti Trial: Italian immigrants with questionable political views.– Controversy over their trial and the way in which it

occurred led many Americans to believe they were innocent.

– Both men were executed by electrocution anyway.• Trial became a symbol of the ethnic tensions

that existed in America.