Roaring Twenties

1
Roaring Twenties

• A desire for normality after the war and a
  fear of communism and foreigners lead to
  postwar isolationism

2
Post War Presidents
3
Postwar Trends

• Nativismprejudice against foreign-born
  peoplesweeps nation
• Isolationismpulling away from world
  affairsbecomes popular

isolationist1920.pdf
4
Fear of Communism

• The Red Scare
• Communismeconomic, political system,
  single-party government
• - ruled by dictator
• - no private property
• 1919 Vladimir I. Lenin, Bolsheviks, set up
  Communist state in Russia

5
The Red Scare
6
The Klan Rises Again

• Bigots use anti-communism to harass groups unlike
  themselves
• KKK opposes blacks, Catholics, Jews, immigrants.
• - 1924, 4.5 million members
• Klan controls many states politics violence
  leads to less power

7
The Klan
8
The Harding Presidency

• The Harding administration appeals to
  Americas desire for calm and peace after the
  war, but results in scandal.

9
Scandal Hits Hardings Administration

• Hardings Cabinet
• Harding favors limited government role in
  business, social reform
• Appoints Ohio gangcorrupt friends who cause
  embarrassment

10
The Teapot Dome Scandal

• Teapot Dome scandalnaval oil reserves used for
  personal gain
• Interior Secretary Albert B. Fall leases land
  to private companies
• Takes bribes is first person convicted of
  felony while in cabinet
• August 1923, Harding dies suddenly
• VP Calvin Coolidge assumes presidency, restores
  faith in government

11
The Business of America

• Advertising agencies hire psychologists to learn
  to appeal to public
• Make brand names familiar nationwide push
  luxuries as necessities
• Businesspeople work with service groups
• - promote selves as benefactors of society

12
A Superficial Prosperity

• Most Americans believe prosperity will last
  forever
• Productivity increasing, businesses expanding
• Chain stores develop national banks allowed to
  create branches

13
Buying Goods on Credit

• Installment planpay for goods over extended
  period with interest
• Banks provide money at low interest rates
• Some economists, business owners think
  installment buying excessive
• Think is sign of fundamental weakness behind
  superficial prosperity

14
The Prohibition Experiment

• 18th Amendment launches Prohibition era
• - supported by religious groups, rural South,
  West
• Prohibitionproduction, sale, transportation of
  alcohol illegal
• Government does not budget enough money to
  enforce the law
• Speakeasies and Bootleggers
• Speakeasies (hidden saloons, nightclubs) become
  fashionable
• People distill liquor, buy prescription
  alcohol, sacramental wine
• Bootleggers smuggle alcohol from surrounding
  countries

15
Organized Crime

• Prohibition contributes to organized crime in
  major cities
• Al Capone controls Chicago liquor business by
  killing competitors
• By mid-1920s, only 19 support Prohibition
• 18th Amendment in force until 1933 repealed by
  21st Amendment

16
Science and Religion Clash

• Fundamentalismmovement based on literal
  interpretation of Bible
• Fundamentalists skeptical of some scientific
  discoveries, theories
• - reject theory of evolution
• Believe all important knowledge can be found in
  Bible

17
The Scopes Trial

• 1925, Tennessee passes law making it a crime to
  teach evolution
• American Civil Liberties Union backs John T.
  Scopes challenge of law
• Clarence Darrow, most famous trial lawyer of
  day, defends Scopes
• Fundamentalist William Jennings Bryan is
  special prosecutor
• Scopes trialdebates evolution, role of
  science, religion in school
• - national sensation thousands attend
• Bryan admits Bible open to interpretation
  Scopes found guilty

18
                                                
                                                  
       Attorney Clarence Darrow raises his fist
while making a speech at the Scopes Trial (1925).
19
Popular Culture

• Radio Comes of Age
• Radio is most powerful communications medium of
  1920s
• Networks provide shared national experience
• - can hear news as it happens

20
Young Women Change the Rules

• Flapperemancipated young woman, adopts new
  fashions, attitudes

21
America Chases New Heroes and Old Dreams

• New-Found Leisure Time
• In 1920s, many people have extra money, leisure
  time to enjoy it
• Crowds attend sports events athletes glorified
  by mass media
• Lindberghs Flight
• Charles A. Lindbergh makes first solo nonstop
  flight across Atlantic
• Small-town Minnesotan symbolizes honesty,
  bravery in age of excess
• Lindbergh paves the way for other pilots

22
Next Stop

• The Great Depression
• (But dont be depressed about it)