The Roaring Twenties

U.S. in the 1920s

The 1920s was: A turning point in the 20th

century

A time of conflicting values

Traditional/rural & Urban/modern

Aka: The Jazz Age

“The parties were bigger… the pace was faster, the shows were broader, the buildings were higher, the morals were looser…”

F. Scott Fitzgerald –

The Great Gatsby

Post World War I Isolationism

U.S. withdrew from foreign events

The Lost Generation Destruction & devastation of war > uncertainty,

fear, & doubt for the future Big 3 authors: Stein, Fitzgerald, Hemingway

Distrust of Russia Russian Revolution sparked fears of communism

in the U.S.

The Red Scare

Red Scare

Hatred of the “Hun” (German) transferred to Hatred of the “Reds”

Red Scare refers to the widespread fear of communism

Palmer Raids

Attorney General Palmer led attacks against suspected radicals

Aliens were deported

Palmer Raids

Immigration Issues Limiting Immigration

Limited jobs & the Red Scare > backlash against foreigners

“Nativists” re-emerge

1921 Quota Established number of

immigrants allowed into U.S. from each nation

National Origins Act 1924 Set quotas for each country at

2% of the number of people from that country living in the U.S. in 1890

Southern & Eastern European countries reduced significantly & Asian countries were nearly eliminated

Sacco & Vanzetti Italian immigrants accused of

robbery & murder Anarchists Results

Sacco & Vanzetti

At the trial… Weak evidence against Sacco & Vanzetti Judge biased against immigrants

Public support Protests in Europe & South America broke out in

support of the two men Results

Convicted & executed in 1927 Historians debate guilt or innocence but agree

political ideas played a key role

1920s Republican Presidents

Warren G. Harding

Less government in business & more business in government

“Normalcy”

Calvin Coolidge

Favored Big Business Kellog-Briand Pact:

1928 treaty that rejected war as a means to solve problems

Teapot Dome Scandal

Oil reserves were taken from the navy & transferred to the Secretary of Interior: Albert Fall

Fall secretly leased oil to companies (took bribes)

Fall was the 1st cabinet member to go to JAIL

1920s Economy

“Roaring ’20s” not so roaring

Agriculture Farmers suffering Weather conditions

Effects of WWI Soldiers returning from

war can’t get jobs Reparations system

leads to debt

Germany owes Allies

Allies owe U.S.

U.S. loans money to Germany

Labor Issues 1919

One of the most explosive times in the history of the labor movement

Workers Disappointed that

hard work in WWI wasn’t rewarded

Red Scare sentiment weakened unions

Strikes 1919 Seattle

Nation’s 1st major general strike

Shut down the city Initially started in the

shipyards Boston Police Strike

Police protested low wages & poor working conditions

Calvin Coolidge’s role Steel strike

Leader John Lewis worked for shorter hours & safer working conditions

Police Strike

“There can be no right to strike against the public safety by anybody, anywhere, anytime” - Coolidge

Henry Ford

Known for the Assembly Line

Paid workers well because he realized that workers were also CONSUMERS

Robotic work > anyone (all skill levels) could work in factory

Working Women

Common jobs for women included Nurse, secretary, factory

job (overqualified) Paid less than men

Gender Issues *First time educated men

& women could meet in the workplace … Hmmmm