Conservatism and Cultural Conservatism and Cultural Diversity in the 1920sDiversity in the 1920s

• Get out the Chapter 15 packet and Get out the Chapter 15 packet and take a look at the first pagetake a look at the first page

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Key Concepts for the 1920sKey Concepts for the 1920s

1.1. The 1920s were dominated by The 1920s were dominated by conservative Republican presidents.conservative Republican presidents.

2.2. Americans experienced an unprecedented Americans experienced an unprecedented burst of consumer activity as new mass-burst of consumer activity as new mass-produced commodities were made produced commodities were made available.available.

3.3. Tensions prevailed between rural and Tensions prevailed between rural and urban America.urban America.

4.4. The decade witnessed a rise in nativism The decade witnessed a rise in nativism and racism.and racism.

5.5.   The period was culturally vibrant as new The period was culturally vibrant as new forms of music and art became popularforms of music and art became popular

6.6. The U.S. government persecuted radicals The U.S. government persecuted radicals in the red scare.in the red scare.

““Return to Normalcy”Return to Normalcy”

• Election of 1920Election of 1920– Cox/F. Roosevelt (D) v. Harding/ Cox/F. Roosevelt (D) v. Harding/

Coolidge (R) Coolidge (R) – Idealism v. NormalcyIdealism v. Normalcy– Republicans win the electionRepublicans win the election• Mandate from the American people?Mandate from the American people?

Harding AdministrationHarding Administration

• Sought to cut taxes (esp. wealthy)Sought to cut taxes (esp. wealthy)• Reduce government spendingReduce government spending• Protect American industriesProtect American industries

• FYI- Harding never really wanted to FYI- Harding never really wanted to be Presidentbe President

• Died 3 years into his term Died 3 years into his term in in comes Coolidgecomes Coolidge

Coolidge AdministrationCoolidge Administration

• ““Silent Cal” – the best thing for a Silent Cal” – the best thing for a president to do is very little, especially president to do is very little, especially when it came to government control or when it came to government control or regulation of the economyregulation of the economy

• Business flourished!Business flourished!• Won election in 1924, but promised Won election in 1924, but promised

not to run in 1928not to run in 1928• 1928 election winner:1928 election winner:

Herbert HooverHerbert Hoover

Mass ConsumerismMass Consumerism• Economy reached Economy reached

unprecedented unprecedented heights in the 1920sheights in the 1920s

• Stock market Stock market “bubble”“bubble”

• Purchasing on credit Purchasing on credit (installment buying)(installment buying)– Buy now, pay laterBuy now, pay later– Needs Needs wants wants

• Radio, Radio, automobile/assembly automobile/assembly line, motion pictures, line, motion pictures, professional sportsprofessional sports

Steamboat Willie

Ford has been called the “Father Ford has been called the “Father of the Traffic Jam.”of the Traffic Jam.”

Divisions DomesticallyDivisions Domestically

• Urban vs. RuralUrban vs. Rural– Those living in rural areas saw the city Those living in rural areas saw the city

as a place of crime and sinas a place of crime and sin– Prohibition! (18Prohibition! (18thth Amendment) Amendment)• Drys, Wets, Speakeasies, BootleggersDrys, Wets, Speakeasies, Bootleggers

• Prohibition Video

Harlem RenaissanceHarlem Renaissance• Modern v. Traditional Modern v. Traditional

art formsart forms• Harlem, NY- Center of Harlem, NY- Center of

Black American Black American cultural and cultural and intellectual life- intellectual life- cultural meccacultural mecca

• Artists, poets, Artists, poets, authors, musicians, authors, musicians, painterspainters

• Opportunity to protest Opportunity to protest racial issues and racial issues and promote black pridepromote black prideLangston Hughes

Nativist AnxietyNativist Anxiety

• Reemergence of the Ku Klux KlanReemergence of the Ku Klux Klan– Targets: Jews, eastern Europeans, Targets: Jews, eastern Europeans,

Catholics, radicals, unions, Black Catholics, radicals, unions, Black AmericansAmericans

• Sacco and Vanzetti TrialSacco and Vanzetti Trial– Italian immigrants convictedItalian immigrants convicted

and executed for murder and executed for murder

despite lack of evidencedespite lack of evidence

• ““Hundred Percenters”Hundred Percenters”

The Only Way to Handle It?The Only Way to Handle It?

• Isolationists and Isolationists and nativists succeeded nativists succeeded in damming up the in damming up the flow of immigrants flow of immigrants to the United States to the United States in the early 1920s. in the early 1920s.

• The Immigration Act The Immigration Act of 1924 placed strict of 1924 placed strict quotas on European quotas on European immigrants and immigrants and completely shut out completely shut out the Japanese.the Japanese.

The Woman’s Era?The Woman’s Era?

• 19th Amendment (1920) Gave women the right to vote

Margaret Sanger- lectured Margaret Sanger- lectured about contraceptionabout contraception

The Morality PoliceThe Morality Police

Woman in the Woman in the driver’s seatdriver’s seat

Why so important?Why so important?• Historians see the Historians see the

period as one where period as one where Americans became Americans became identified with identified with consumerism and consumerism and materialismmaterialism

• Actions of those during Actions of those during the 20s are in reaction the 20s are in reaction to Progressive Era and to Progressive Era and WWIWWI

• Development and Development and expansion of American expansion of American economy like nothing economy like nothing beforebefore