Roaring Twenties Amy Fletcher Byrnes High School 2007

Politics in the 1920 s Warren G Harding (R)elected president in 1920 – campaign said he would Bring a “return to normalcy”. -Followed an isolationist policy -Set up a quota system limiting the number of immigrants coming into the US – KKK really active in pushing this - Emergency Quota Act -Red Scare in full swing – Sacco and Vanzetti trial is major issue -Teapot Dome Scandal ruins him – involves oil leases -He dies while in officce -18 th amendment passed – Prohibition amendment -

Calvin Coolidge Harding’s vice president – became president when Harding died Reelected in 1924 Known for “supply side economics” – idea that if taxes were lowered then businesses would invest that money and consumers would have more to spend and invest resulting in economic growth. Did nothing to help the American farmers

Herbert Hoover Elected in 1928 Had been Coolidge’s Secretary of Commerce and got credit for improved economy Ran against a Catholic – Alfred E Smith – religion a big issue in the campaign Stock Market crashed during his presidency Hawley Smoot Tariff passed – caused foreign countries to raise their tariffs and number of goods sold overseas dropped

New Morality Challenged traditional ideas *glorified youth and personal freedom *women broke away from families as they entered the workforce, earned own livings or attended college *new ideas about marriage, work, and pleasure affected lives *automobiles gave youth the opportunity to pursue interests away from parents

Flappers Young, stylish, smoked, drank, wore revealing clothes Margaret Sanger opened the first birth control clinic in the US

Fundamentalist Religion Movement starts John Scopes fired for teaching about evolution in his Tennessee class *The big issue is evolution (Darwin) v creationism (God created the world as described in the Bible) William Jennings Bryan was his prosecutoe. The defense attorney was Clarence Darrow. He was found guilty of violating the Butler Act which forbade teaching anything Other than the creationist theory. The conviction was later overturned. The movie “The Grapes of Wrath” is about this case.

Prohibition It became illegal to produce or sell alcohol when the 18 th amendment passed. The Volstead Act made prohibition the responsibility of the US treasury Department which changed police powers to control people and property in the public’s interest to the federal government where it had been the responsibility of state governments before.

Americans ignored the prohibition laws and went to secret bars called “speakeasies” where alcohol could be purchased. Prohibition led to a massive increase in organized crime. One of the most Notorious of the “bootleggers” was Al Capone. Gangsters corrupted many local politicians and governments. Al Capone

Art and Literature The “Lost Generation” F. Scott Fitzgerald “The Great Gatsby” Ernest Hemingway “For Whom The Bell Tolls”

Langston Hughes - author and poet Zora Neale Hurston “Their Eyes Were Watching God”

Popular Culture Babe Ruth – baseball player Jack Dempsey - Boxer

Bessie Smith – singer (blues) Duke Ellington - Musician (Jazz) Cotton Club in Harlem where many African American musicians got their start

The Great Migration brought many African Americans to the urban areas in the North hoping for a better life. Harlem was one of the neighborhoods in New York City where many of them came. There was a sense of racial pride and a sense of community there. It fostered a massive outpouring of African American arts. The name Harlem Renaissance is given to the massive efforts in all areas of the arts. Politically, the NAACP was very active. Marcus Garvey (from Jamaica) encouraged education, but also suggested that African Americans go back to Africa – coined the phrase “Black is beautiful. ”

Rise of New Industries Assembly line used in mass production Started by Henry Ford Mass production allowed the cost of a car to be cut in half – the lives of many Americans changed as more people could afford Cars. Other businesses grew as a result of the automobile – small businesses such as gas stations, garages, motels started up. People were also able to live further away from their jobs.

As wages increased people had more money to spend (disposible income) People purchased things to make life easier. * electric razors * frozen foods * vacuums * appliances The Post Office had airmail service Charles Lindbergh made the first solo transatlantic flight to Paris By 1928 there were 48 airlines in operation 1926 National Broadcasting Company set up a network of radio stations 1928 Columbia Broadcasting Company became the competitor for NBC

Consumer Society

The Great Depression A period in US History when businesses began to slow down and many people lost their jobs. Began October 29, 1929 when the stock market crashed. It began the longest and Worst period of unemployment this country has ever seen. * Farmers lost their farms. * Banks failed and closed their doors. * Problem was that there were no social services to come in and help. * Millionaires became beggars overnight. * People were selling apples on the street * Suicide rates increased * It affected the entire world. By 1932 one out of every four people was unemployed.

Children’s chores in the 1920 s and 1930 s. From Birdie Farr summarizes the routine of living on an acreage: "We were always busy. You had chores in those days to do. . . You came home from school, did your chores, helped with supper, get your lessons, and by that time it's almost bedtime. " Many chores had to be done daily: hauling water, gathering eggs, tending the garden, and filling the wood box. And some chores like milking cows and feeding livestock had to be done more than once a day. Fieldwork started early, with feeding and harnessing the horses.

http: //livinghistoryfarm. org/farminginthe 30 s/life_06. html

Life in the Rural Areas Life in rural areas during the Depression was hard. Because prices for crops were very low, farmers received little for their efforts. They could not repay the loans that they had taken out on their farms in more prosperous times, and many lost their houses and farms. As the hard times deepened, the Red Cross and the government set up stations to dispense food and other necessities to the needy. Out in the country, there were not as many food stations, so people had to travel long distances to town to receive supplies. This trip was a hardship because few had transportation or the money to make the trip.

FACTS about this decade. Population: 123, 188, 000 in 48 states Life Expectancy: Male, 58. 1; Female, 61. 6 Average salary: $1, 368 Unemployment rises to 25% Huey Long proposes a guaranteed annual income of $2, 500 Car Sales: 2, 787, 400 Food Prices: Milk, 14 cents a qt. ; Bread, 9 cents a loaf; Round Steak, 42 cents a pound Lynchings: 21

Work Cited http: //history 1900 s. about. com/library/photos/blyindexdepression. htm http: //livinghistoryfarm. org/farminginthe 30 s/life_05. html children’s chores no copyright given http: //www. museum. siu. edu/museum_classroom_grant/Museum_Explorers/schoo l_pages/bourbonnais/page 4. htm no copyright given http: //www. geocities. com/bettye_sutton/greatdepression. html general facts about the decade of the 1930 s. No copyright given