InClass DBQ 03 03 03 04 15 THE

In-Class DBQ – 03. 03 – 03. 04. 15 THE TWENTIES

Question The 1920 s were a period of tension between new and changing attitudes on the one hand traditional values and nostalgia on the other. What led to the tension between old and new AND in what ways was the tension manifested?

Remember your formatting INTRO – thesis statement; mentioning your three subtopics BODY PARAGRAPHS – 3 of them 1) RR Land Grants 2) Control of Interstate Commerce 3) Anti-Trust Activities CONCLUSION – restate your main ideas; wrap up the essay

Document A Sinclair Lewis; Babbitt; 1922 He is talking about the average American male He lists, essentially, the OLD – things that used to influence him – priests, senators, community leaders, Washington Then he talks about what influences men NOW – advertised wares, new appliances Advertising is the cause of this tension It manifests itself through mass-produced items O. I here – Henry Ford; the assembly line; automobiles

Document B “The Bridge” by Joseph Stella; 1922 This is a picture of a suspension bridge This describes what’s new in the 20 s – cities, urbanization, steel construction America is becoming more interconnected and the American vertical city is on the rise Cities are growing – the new Rural areas declining – the old

Document C The Tennessee Evolution Case - 1925 William Jennings Bryan – prosecutor Clarence Darrow – defense for John Scopes, who was put on trial for teaching evolution In his arguments Darrow is essentially putting the Bible on trial The 20 s was a decade of questioning authority and the status quo Tension here – Christian / religious America vs. new age America & separation of Church and State It’s manifesting in legal court cases and battles

Document D Hiram Wesley Evans – “The Klan’s Fight for Americanism” - 1926 The KKK – white supremacist group against minorities and immigration He mentions the “old pioneer stock” – AKA the white Europeans that first came here He is protesting immigration The old – White America The new – The American Melting Pot O. I. – Immigration Quota Acts of 1921 and 1924; the Nativist Movement Manifestation – Formation of anti-immigration and nativist groups; racial tensions

Document E Langston Hughes – “The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain” – 1926 Hughes is equating the life of black people in the U. S. with Jazz. Using symbolism and imagery, he is trying to encourage his people to embrace who they are, and not want to be white. Black is beautiful The OLD – privileged white America The NEW – The American Melting Pot / African. American expression and freedom Manifestation – racial tension; population shifts O. I. – The Harlem Renaissance, the Great Migration

Document F Mary B. Mullett – “The Biggest Thing That Lindbergh Has Done” – 1927 Not focusing on Lindbergh’s feat of flying the Atlantic, Mullett is celebrating Lindbergh’s integrity and character. This is tension – morality vs. immorality in a celebrity culture The New – celebrity culture – celebrities are normally celebrated for what they do not who they are The Old – a focus and a desire for prominent men and women have a moral compass and good character

Document G “Women Smokers” – The New York Times - 1928 The Women’s Christian Temperance Union is on the soapbox about cigarettes They are calling for educating people about the harmful effects of smoking We can see two tensions here: The old – Ignorance about substance abuse The new – awareness about substance abuse The old – Christian values – abstinence and moderation The new – living it up; partying; drinking and smoking

Document H Marriage and Divorce – 1890 -1930 Marriages begin to decline during the decade of the 20 s Divorces are on the rise The old – monogamy; marriage; religious values The new – promiscuity This tension manifests itself through a rise in divorce and a decline in marriage

Document I Morrow Mayo – “Aimee Rises from the Sea” – 1929 The 20 s has brought about an explosion in secular culture No more hymns – it’s JAZZ No more sad songs or fiery condemning sermons – the 20 s is about FEELING GOOD. Heaven is a cross between Pasadena, CA and Washington, D. C. – meaning in the 20 s, Heaven is on earth, not someplace we should look forward to.