The Twenties. Post-War America 1919 – returning veterans have difficulty finding work; US...
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Transcript of The Twenties. Post-War America 1919 – returning veterans have difficulty finding work; US...
Post-War America1919 – returning
veterans have difficulty finding work; US disillusioned in aftermath of the War
Most wanted to return to “normalcy”, rejected both internationalism and progressivism
Biggest problem:lack of jobs
The Red ScareA reaction against radical political and
economic movements; targeted political activists and union organizers
Ex: the International Workers of
the World (IWW)
The Red ScareCauses:
reaction to the Russian Revolution and communist movements in Europe
disillusionment after WW I
labor unrest; major strikes in 1919 and 1920
The Red ScareMeant to suppress “anti-American” groups
like the Socialists and other radical organizations
Meetings broken up
Leaders arrested
IWW Rally in New York
The Red ScareLed to rise of the nativist groups, particularly
the Ku Klux Klan
Highest membership
in their history
The Red Scare“Palmer Raids” – round up of
radicals, led by Atty. Gen. A. Mitchell Palmer
Created FBI to monitor activities of those suspected of being “un-American”; directed by J. Edgar Hoover
The Red ScareAlso targeted immigrants
suspected of disloyalty or radical politics
Case of Sacco and Vanzetti (1921 – 1926)
Suspected radicals; arrested for murder, executed despite lack of evidence
Worldwide movement over their innocence
The Red ScareWhat ended the Red Scare:
creation of groups opposing government restrictions (American Civil Liberties Union)
return of economic prosperity
scandals in the Klan and other groups
ACLU founder Roger Baldwin Protest against Palmer Raids, NY, 1921
Prohibition!(what a great idea!)
Section 1. After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.
ProhibitionPassage of the Volstead Act led to illegal
manufacture of alcohol (“bootlegging”)
Government crackdown on booze
Attendance at Mass up 25%!
The Modern vs. the TraditionalTwo conflicting themes in the 20s: modern vs.
traditional values; coincided during the decadeEvangelist Billy Sunday
Mrs. Allard
The Modern vs. the TraditionalThe “Scopes Monkey Trial” – HS teacher John
Scopes arrested in TN for teaching evolution
Opposing attorneys Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan (again!)
The “Scopes Monkey Trial” - 1926Trial broadcast live on radio; highlight was
Darrow questioning Bryan as expert witness
Bryan
Darrow
Scopes found guilty, fined $100, forbidden to teach in TN again
Bryan considers return to politics but dies one week after end of trial
The “New Morality”
Emphasized fast living and materialism
less inhibited than before
More interested in fun (otherwise known as “sin”)
Modern Consumer Items
Other popular items:
(to keep the little woman happy!)
The “Talkie”
First movie with sound:
The Jazz Singer with Al Jolson
Not exactly politically correct
Films
• Silent Films– Became popular in
1903– The Mark of Zorro
• “Talkies”– The Jazz Singer
• 1927• First talking movie
Celebrities in the 1920sCharles Lindbergh and
the Spirit of St. Louis
First man to cross the Atlantic solo; 33 hours, no pee pee breaks
Mary Pickford
Red Grange
Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle
Rudolph Valentino
Lou Gehrig
Babe Ruth
Charlie Chaplin
Celebrities in the 20s
Politics Harding vs. Cox:
US rejects activist govt.; elects Harding in a landslide
Noteworthy:
Dem VP Franklin D. Roosevelt
Warren G. HardingFormer Ohio Senator and newspaper publisher;
represented a “return to normalcy” for many voters
Inactive president; liked to gamble, drink, and chase skirts; very popular with American people
The smokin’ hot Florence Harding
The Harding “Administration”Harding mainly a figurehead; govt. attempts
to roll back progressive reforms; a return to laissez-faire
Secretary of the Treasury Andrew Mellon drops income tax to near zero and restores the Tariff to near record levels
(Fordney-McCumber)
Dropped anti-trust activity
Anti-labor
Foreign Policy of the 20sReturn to isolationism and beginning of arms
reductions with Europe
Washington Conference
led to arms limitations
Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928) outlaws war as a foreign policy
The Harding “Administration”
Considered one of the most corrupt in history
Atty. Gen. Harry Daugherty tried for selling pardons; acquitted
Sec. of the Interior Albert Fall convicted for taking bribes from oil companies to drill on govt. land; called Teapot Dome
Biggest scandal of the 20s
Death of Harding (Aug. 23, 1923)
I have no trouble with my enemies. But my friends, they're the ones who keep me walking the floor at nights!
I don't know much about Americanism, but it's a damn good word with which to carry an election.
God, what a job!
Calvin CoolidgeMost inert president of all-time
Total opposite of Harding
Said little, did little
maintained status quo
1924 – lowest turnout ever
1928 – “I do not choose to run”; declines to run for another term
1928 Election
Herbert Hoover vs. Al Smith
Problems with the Smith candidacy: Yankee accent (first campaign on the radio)
a “wet” (anti- Prohibition)first Catholic candidate in history