do now: list 10 words/phrases that describe the 1920s based on your research objectives: to examine...
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1920s: An Overview
Do Now: List 10 words/phrases that describe the 1920s based on your research
Objectives: To examine the 20s, focusing primarily on the tensions that existed during the decade
A Once Popular View “The Roaring 20s” “The Jazz Age”
› A decade of prosperity and a new culture Flappers dancing to the hot sounds of the
new Jazz music in downtown Harlem. Renaissance poets expressing their
culture within the new north Gangsters and bootleggers serving their
immoral pleasantries at the local speakeasies
Speculators freely exchanging cash for a chance to win it big on Wall Street.
Though valid, there is an issue with this view.
RealityCulture Clash and Social Turmoil
Immigrants became the target for governmental crackdowns on radicalism
Blacks found themselves out of job held during the war
The re-emergence of the KKK in a more radical form
Religious battles over immorality Farmers struggled to make a living Cities shut down due to strikers Science and Religion Clashed
Changes in Social Norms
› Generational Rift › New Women › Harlem Renaissance › Jazz › Consumerism
The Red Scare
May 1st, 1919 “May Day”› 20 bombs were mailed to
government officials and capitalists including
Oliver Wendel Holmes John D. Rockefeller J.P. Morgan Jr.
In June the same year› Bombs exploded across in US is 8
cities On September 16, 1920, 30
people were killed when a wagon exploded near Wall Street
The Panic over Radicalism
Why› The Russian Revolution› Communists taking control of
Hungary and staging revolts in Italy and Germany
› The Immense increase in organized labor during WWI
› 1/5 of the nations workers participated in strikes in 1919. Demands for increase in pay and
shorter work days 365,000 steelworkers 400,000
miners
Crackdown
During the 1920s, the government and corporations began a massive crackdown on Labor› The US Supreme Court abolished
minimum wage laws for women, overturned child labor laws and outlawed picketing.
› Corporations used blacklists, prevented free speech and assembly and employed guards to prevent organization.
Examples
An immigrant shouts “To Hell with the United States” and is killed. The killer is acquitted within a few minutes.
A crowd claps and cheers when sailor shot a man for refusing to stand during the Star Spangled Banner at a WWI victory pageant.
A clothing-store clerk is jailed for 6 months for commenting that Lenin was “one of the brainiest” world leaders.
Chicagoans Cheer Tar Who Shot Man Sailor Wounds Pageant Spectator Disrespectful to Flag. Chicago, May 6—Disrespect for the American flag and a show of resentment toward the
thousands who participated in a victory loan pageant here tonight may cost George Goddard his life. He was shot down by a sailor of the United States navy when he did not stand and remove his hat while the band was playing the “Star-Spangled Banner.”
Goddard had a seat of vantage in the open amphitheater. When he failed to stand he was the most conspicuous figure among the throng. When he fell at the report of the “sailor’s” gun the crowd burst into cheers and hand-clapping. When Goddard failed to respond to the first strains of the national anthem Samuel Hagerman, sailor in the guard of honor, asked him to get up.
“What for?” demanded Goddard. "Hagerman touched him with his bayonet. “Get up. Off with your hat.” Goddard muttered and drew a pistol. With military precision Hagerman stepped back a pace and slipped a shell into his gun. Goddard started away. As the last notes of the anthem sounded the sailor commanded
him to halt. Then he fired into the air. “Halt!” Goddard paid no attention. The sailor aimed and fired three times. Goddard fell wounded. Each shot found its
mark. When he [Goddard] was searched, an automatic pistol, in addition to the one he had
drawn, was found. Another pistol and fifty cartridges were found in a bag he carried. He said he was a tinsmith, out of work. Papers showed he had been at Vancouver and Seattle and it was believed by the authorities he had come here for the I.W.W. convention.
Source: Washington Post, 7 May 1919, 2.
Sacco and Vanzetti Guilty Until Proven Innocent
Sacco- Shoe Maker Vanzetti-Fish
Peddler › Anarchist Italian
immigrants who supported violent revolution.
› Accused of robbing a paymaster in Braintree, Mass.
› A gun was loosely linked to the killing but evidence was flimsy
› Neither man had a criminal record
Key defense evidence was not admitted
Jury foreman used unsavory stereotypes to describe the two during the trial.
The judge even reminded the jury at one point to remember their own “true American citizenship.”
Both men were sentenced to death and consequently electrocuted in 1927
After the trial the presiding judge commented “did you see what I did with those anarchistic bastards the other day?”
Today, Sacco Guilty, Vanzetti not
Reminder: Immigrant Restrictions
1920 Immigration Quotas= 2% of 1910 Census
1924 Changed= 2% of 1890 quotas
› This change was made to target “New Immigrants” specifically. It was extremely effective in limiting those many saw as “the problem.”
Racial Issues
Blacks demanded rights since they had fought in war› 14.4 % death rate v 6.3% white› Blacks not allowed to march in Paris victory parade
Many blacks had moved from the south Demographics in the North Changed Blacks often worked as strikebreakers
› Resulting racial tensions were ubiquitous in the north. 25 anti-black riots in 1919
1910 v 1930 In 1910, 9 of 10 blacks
lived in south 1.5 million moved
north during WWI› Detroit's black pop
increased 611% Congregated to
boroughs of cites like Harlem
The Reemergence of the KKK
Post-WWI cultural changes threatened tradition “American” culture› Black migration led
to demographic changes
› The influx of immigrants in the beginning of the century
› New emphasis on the urban culture
KKK › Edward Clarke and
Bessie Tyler Enlisted members
through commission payments.
Emphasized nativism Promoted prohibition Blamed Af. Am, Jews,
Catholics, and Immigrants
Profound Influences
By 1924 the Klan dominated 24 of the 48 state legislatures
Blocked the nomination of NYC Catholic, Al Smith into the senate.
› More than 3 million members Men and Women,
Urban and Rural,
One Members Contribution Head of Indiana Klan,
David Curtis Stephenson (Made a million selling robes and hoods),
He defended prohibition but drank like a fish
He was Convicted for kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 28 year-old woman
Many left the Klan as a result
Major anti-black riots Tulsa, Oklahoma
Black community destroyed including 23 churches
Why: Young black man stumbled into a white elevator operator while getting off the elevator
Newspapers included the following:
Rosewood, Florida White mob from Georgia burns a town looking for a rapist. The only structure left standing is the only white-owned home in
town.
One man forced to dig his own grave A blacksmith was lynched
Harlem RenaissanceA celebration of black culture
Between 1910 and 1920 an explosion of literature and art› Associated Negro
Press 500 black magazines
and newspapers› Carter Wilson
Founded 1st Negro Historical Society as well as the Journal of Negro History
Figures of the Renaissance
Writers and Poets › Countee Cullen› Langston Hughes› Zora Neale Hurston› Paul Robeson
Musicians› Duke Ellington › Count Bassie› Louis Armstrong › Fatts Waller
Political Leaders › W.E.B. Dubois
Civil rights activist› Marcus Garvey
Back to Africa Movement Black pride and
movement to return to homeland
› James Weldon Johnson NYU professor Writer
Langston HughesI, Too, Sing America
I, too, sing America.I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.Tomorrow,
I'll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody'll dare
Say to me,
"Eat in the kitchen,"
Then.Besides,They'll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed--I, too, am America.
Meeropol-Billy Holiday Late 30sStrange Fruit
Southern trees bear a strange fruitBlood on the leaves and blood at the rootBlack bodies swingin' in the Southern breezeStrange fruit hangin' from the poplar trees
Pastoral scene of the gallant SouthThe bulging eyes and the twisted mouthScent of magnolia, sweet and freshThen the sudden smell of burning flesh
Here is the fruit for the crows to pluckFor the rain to gather, for the wind to suckFor the sun to rot, for the tree to dropHere is a strange and bitter crop
Prohibition January 16th, 1920
› Anti-Saloon League › Women’s Christian Temperance Movement
Women reformers concerned with child neglect, domestic abuse. Industrialists concerned with productivity
› Made progress during WWI Anti-German sentiment (most breweries owned by Germans). Grains for food, not alcohol.
Results of Prohibition Initially looked positive– Alcohol related deaths down
80% in 1921 from pre-war levels 30-50% less consumption 20% fewer deaths from cirrhosis.
Crackdowns did little good Mo Smith and Izzie Einstein, two NYC agents dressed in
disguises› 7000 arrests in NYC led to a Whopping 17 convictions.› IRS was responsible for enforcement till ’30› By 1925, NYC and 5 other states prohibited police from
investigating violations
What in the world r u thinking Izzie and Moe?
Speakeasies, Bootleggers and Rum Runners By 1927—30,000 speakeasies (this is 2x
the number of legal bars that existed prior to prohibition)
Doctors prescribed liquor as medication to be obtained legally at the drug store
An estimated 100,000 Cleveland residents made alcohol.
Bootleggers included glamorized organized crime leaders such as Capone› The image of became ingrained in American
culture.
The ugly side of gangs
Gang clashes
Corruption Stripping
morals from society
› St. Valentines Day Massacre
Carrie Nation When I found I could effect nothing through the
officials, I was sad, indeed. I saw that Kansas homes, hearts and souls were to be sacrificed. I had lost all the hopes of my young life through drink, I saw the terrible results that would befall others. I felt that I had rather die than see the saloons come back to Kansas. I felt desperate. I took this to God daily, feeling He only, could rescue. On the 5th of June [1900], before retiring, I threw myself face downward at the foot of my bed in my home in Medicine Lodge. I poured out my grief in agony to God, in about this strain: "Oh Lord you see the treason in Kansas, they are going to break the mothers' hearts, they are going to send the boys to drunkards' graves and a drunkard's hell. I have exhausted my means, Oh Lord, you have plenty of ways. You have used the base things and the weak things, use me to save Kansas. I have but one life to give you, if I had a thousand, I would give them all, please show me something to do." The next morning I was awakened by a voice which seemed to me speaking in my heart, these words, "GO TO KIOWA," and my hands were lifted and thrown down and the words, "I'LL STAND BY YOU." The words, "Go to Kiowa," were spoken in a murmuring, musical tone, low and soft, but "I'll stand by you," was very clear, positive and emphatic. I was impressed with a great inspiration, the interpretation was very plain, it was this: "Take something in your hands, and throw at these places in Kiowa and smash them." I was very much relieved and overjoyed and was determined to be, "obedient to the heavenly vision" (Acts 26:19).
Flappers Symbol of the
culture revolution Rebellious,
energetic, outgoing Created a
generational clash The older Americans
did not approve of the way these young women acted
Only represented a small number of American women but a tremendous symbol of change.
1913-1928 Fabric used to create a dress went from 19+ yards to 7 yards
Short haircuts and Makeup
Smoking and Drinking› 1918-1928 cigs
smoked doubled. 15% professionals 20% clerical
Women in Politics
1920- Women could vote in all elections but only 35% did
More focused on local government Jeannette Rankin won seat in house in
1916 By 1928 there were 145 women in 28
state legislatures
The Era of the “Hero”
1920s saw the rise of Individualism in America…Why???
› The emergence of mass media Radio Advertisements Newspapers Hollywood
Mass Media
1910-1929 # of theaters from 5000 to 22,500.
1929—80 million tickets sold (125 mil Americans in US)
1927 “The Jazz Singer” the first “Talkie”
“The Little Tramp” (Chaplin) continued silently.
News print doubled from 1914-1927
Mergers and Tabloids (Quantity not Quality)› Hearst said he
wanted his paper to be “90% entertainment, 10% information”
The News helped create homogeneity in America.
Radio
Marconi- The radio Frank Conrad- The inspiration
› Sent sports scores and music over the air. KDKA in Pittsburgh (Westinghouse)
By 1922 500 stations NBC linked stations so everyone heard
the same thing Advertising medium
Sports
Baseball and Boxing became a phenomenon in the 1920s due to mass marketing› Staged events drew thousands› New venues to host events
Yankee Stadium› Radio, Press and Advertising
Baseball
Yankee Stadium opened. Most other venues paled in comparison
The Sultan of Swat› George Herman Ruth
“Babe” clobbered 60 homeruns in a season in 1927
Clip
Boxing
Boxing drew tremendous crowds in the 20s and 30s› Madison Square Gardens fight night› Jack Dempsey– Seen as a ruthless and
outstanding fighter inside the ring and a gentleman outside the ring made him an American hero
Charles Lindbergh The Spirit of St. Louis
Charles Lindbergh flew from Long Island to Paris France and became a national hero
34 hour flight 4 million greeted him in New York on
his return
Charles Lindbergh (Lucky Lindy)
Objectives To understand the
various trends and changes to American business and economy in the 1920s
Do Now How did the 2nd
KKK differ from the first?
What 2 events gave rise to the 2nd KKK
1920s Business and Economy
Consumerism and
Economic Expansion
Following WWI
The rebounding of the economy was rapid› Between 1914 and
1926 wages rose more than 28%
› The number of millionaires doubled
Reasons for economic growth
Mass production lowered prices and increased supply
Advertising caught the public’s attention
Credit became available Buying became more
convenient Electricity was available
› Case Study– Ford exemplified all the above
Automobile
1880s Automobile invented
Approximately 8 million cars between 1880 and 1919
During the 1920s 15 million registered cars were turned out.
Model T invented by ford in 1908
Ford focused on selling cars at affordable prices
Ford’s Assembly Line?
Invented by Ransom Olds
Each worker does one specific task
Ford added the conveyer belt which cut production time from 11/2 days to 90 minutes› Ford Model Ts were rolling
off the assembly line at a rate of 1 every 24 seconds in Highland Park, Michigan
› Prices of cars dropped by 50%+
Vertical Integration
Ford used his coal mines, iron mines and forests.
His River Rouge Plant would take the ore and wood and transform it into a car.
He had his own railroad and fleet of ships His workers built the machines that built
the cars He built It all on the profits from the Model
T
Ford’s automobile revolution resulted in the following:
15% Steel
80% of rubber
65% of leather
50% of glass
7 billion gallons of gas per yr.
New businesses including › Dealership› Motels› auto garages› Campgrounds› gas stations› Roads› Busses› Trucking› etc
Some other significant points
Paid workers $5 a day (2x other factories)› Guess what they bought with their money.
Developed “Americanization” programs for immigrant › forced to take civics and English classes.”
Fought strikes violently
$5 Day- Results
Other reasons for mass production
Discovery of new oil fields Availability of electric power for
industry The application of factory
management systems New machines made production more
efficient
Consumer Credit
Borrowing for anything but a house before the 20s was considered immoral
Manufactures needed to be able to sell the new expensive goods.
Installment plans– Partial payments until paid off
Advertising persuaded consumer regardless of enormous interest rates
60% of cars
70% of furniture
80% of vacuums radios and refrigerators
90% of washing machines
Ford’s Way
Advertising
New Electric Devices Included:
Telephones Coffee Pots Vacuums Irons Sewing Machines Toasters Ovens
The public needed to be made aware of all of these + all other consumer goods (cigarettes, food, clothing, music, movies etc)
Funny Ad
Other businesses boomed
Movies Radio Stations Aviation (later in the decade) Publishing companies Fast food companies (A&W Root Beer
stands began selling burgers and root beer
Malls sprang up for the first time (Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza)
Republican’s Laissez-Faire policies
Republican dominated 20s led to Laissez-Faire policies (hands-off)
Businesses freedom led to expansion Lowered taxes and increased tariffs Surprisingly many smaller businesses
got a start in the 20s US steels market share went from 60-39% Standard oil only controlled ½ by 1930
1920s PoliticsHarding Coolidge and Hoover
Harding, Coolidge and Hoover › Republicans› Believed in hands-off policies› Continued isolationism › Stood against unions› Nativists
Harding
Defeated James Cox in 1920 election
Began as news editor Rose through the
political machine to Senate then President (a tool of bosses)
Friends of his were given jobs in the admin.
Note: Fordney-McCumber Tariff– High Tariffs
Harding spent time “drinking…gambling and womanizing with the ‘Ohio Gang’” and spent time in the White House study drinking, gambling and smoking stogies with his pals.
Teapot Dome
The K-Street House hangout became a place of business› Harding and the boys sold:
Judicial pardons, government positions, and protection and get-out-of jail free cards for bootleggers
› Harding transferred control of government oil reserves in Teapot Dome and Elk Hills to Secretary of Interior, Albert Fall who in turn issued leases to oil tycoons, Sinclair and Doheny, in exchange for new fuel tank reserves for the navy. Did not allow competitors to bid Accepted 400,000 personally
› Another appointee, Charles Forbes, stole 200,000,000 in medical supplies from the govt. His lawyer committed suicide
Harding’s role
Harding was somewhat oblivious to the scandal
Was disheartened to find out what was going on.
Died on a tour of the West Coast Public mourned
› Public didn’t care much when news of scandal was released
Coolidge
Won 1924 election against John W. Davis
A True Laissez-Faire Conservative› Fought radicals during the Red Scare› Revenue Act of 1926 cut income and
estate taxes› Weakened the Fed. Trade Commission so
they couldn’t interfere with business“The best government was the
government that governed least”
Hoover
Graduated from Stanford University From mining engineer to Exec. In
Mining. Directed Food Admin. In WW1
› This led him to accept that govt. does have a role in business
Sec. of Commerce under Harding.
Hoover
Associationalism› Believed that cooperation between all
sectors of industry and the workforce› Believed in less selfishness in business and
more public good Collaboration was key to efficiency Hosted more that 250 conferences in 8 years
International Relations
Hoover hoped to apply associationalism to foreign relations› Cooperation between governments to bolster trade› Sought to limit armament
Helped create “Dawes Plan”› Reduce German reparations by ½ › Loans to German economy (200 million)
Kellogg (Sec St.)-Briand (Fr.F. Min.) Pact–US, France and 13 other nations (48 more later) agree not to wage war on one another (no enforcement)
20s Misconceptions1. Decade of prosperity
› Most Americans did not enjoy prosperity and partake in the “new ways” of life
› Few Americans owned shares of stocks› Semi-skilled and unskilled labor actually
saw more challenges than before Yellow-Dog Contracts- Promise not to join
Union
Misconceptions Continued
1. Liberation of women › 19th amendment did not lead to women playing a
large role in politics› Women still segregated in workforce› E(qual) R(ights) A(mendment) attempts failed
and internally divided the women’s movement NOTE– Some progress
College participation, white collar jobs Sheppard-Towner Act– Fed funds for Child Care and
prenatal health