A Real Look into the Roaring Twenties by Kaitlyn Wilson

EQ 1: Why did modern culture of the 1920s cause some to think that traditional society and morality were under attack?

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1. Fundamentalism and the Scopes Trial

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Christian Fundamentalism was a Protestant movement that became popular in the South and the West. They believed in a literal interpretation of the creation of man in the Bible. At the same time, Charles Darwin's theories of evolution and natural selection became more popular. These differing views led to a revolutionary trial that was known as the "trial of the century". John Scopes was a public high school teacher in Dayton, TN. Scopes included evolution into his curriculum which was against Tennessee state law. He was defended by Clarence Darrow who was well known for defending radical figures. The State's attorney was William Jennings Bryan, a well known political figure and also a fundamentalist. The American Civil Liberties Union and Scopes plotted his arrest to gain more publicity about the subject and the American Civil Liberties Union agreed to pay for his defense. Ultimately, Judge John T. Raulston would not allow a scientific testimony of Darwin's theory so the trial was quickly ended, and Scopes was fined $100. The larger presence of scientific believers made traditional religious followers believe their ideas were under attack. It wasn't until 1967, that it became legal to teach evolution in public schools.

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More information on the Scopes Trial

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"There is, it appears, a conspiracy of scientists afoot. Their purpose is to break down religion, propagate immorality, and so reduce mankind to the level of brutes. They are the sworn and sinister agents of Beelzebub, who yearns to conquer the world, and has his eye especially upon Tennessee."

- H.L. Menken

2. Prohibition and Organized Crime

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January 16th, 1919 the 18th Amendment was passed, banning any activity with alcohol. It was believed that alcoholism hurt worker productivity, increased violence, and had negative health effects. In order to enforce the amendment, the Volstead Act was created. However, this created an underground economy that produced moonshine. Some moonshine was actually toxic and killed 5,000 people. This wasn't the only thing killing people though. Gangs fought to control alcohol distribution territories and were often called "turf wars". Instead of drinking moonshine, alcohol was often smuggled over from overseas and Canada too. In 1929, Hoover saw that enforcement was failing and conducted a study to find our what the issues were. When the results returned they were inconclusive and no resolutions were made. This annoyed many taxpayers who considered the study a waste of money. Then, as a result of modernizin beliefs, the 21st Amendment was passed and alcohol was once legal again.

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Deputies dumping illegal alcohol

“Prohibition is the trigger of crime.”

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- Ian Fleming

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3. Nativism and Immigration

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Nativists believed in protecting the interests of native born Americans. While they were called natives, they were not referring to American Indians but those who were descendents of the original 13 colonies. They objected the influence of Roman Catholics, Jews, Asians, and Southeast Europeans. Their views became even stronger when their was a large influx of immigrants. In 1916, Madison Grant's book "The Passing of the Great Race" said that American racial stock was being diluted by immigrants. As the book became more popular, the national census against immigration greatly reduced immigrants ability to come to the United States. In 1921, the Emergency Quota Act placed a numerical value for immigrants allowed and then in 1924 the Immigration Act of 1924 was passed. This act was more permanent and allowed an average of 270,000 immigrants. The immigrants brought differing values and cultures which made people with traditional American view weary. As a result of their fears acts were placed to control the influence that immigrants could have.

"America must be kept American. For this purpose, it is necessary to continue a policy of restricted immigration."
- Calvin Coolidge

4. Ku Klux Klan

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With the increase in fundamentalism and patriotism, the Klan once again flourished in the 1920's. They supported white supremacy but no longer targeted just blacks. They targeted other cultures , religions, and races. Their goal was to return to a "clean style of living" and attacked urbanization. Klan members believed the societies were being ruined by the city culture. Membership boomed and was between 3 million and 8 million. Due to the increase in membership, the Klan began to have political power in many states but their own corruption was a major downfall. The looser mentality that was growing in the 1920's, made the KKK even more aggressive with their practices.

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KKK proganda in the 1920's

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5. Sacco-Vanzetti Court Case

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On April 5th, 1920, two men robbed and killed two employees of a shoe factory in Massachusetts. The police arrested two Italian immigrants, Nico Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti. The case evidence was questionable but when it was learned that the men were anarchists and that they were foreigners, they were believed to be guilty. July 14th, 1921, the men were found guilty and sentenced to death. Even after 6 years of appeals, the men were executed. While the evidence was not very reliable, the ruling reflected the prejudices and fears immigrans and some of their values dring this era.

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EQ 2: How did new industries and a consumer society contribute to the Roaring Twenties?

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1. Credit

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As the economy also became more modernized there were higher wages and shorter workdays. This shift gave workers more time and more money which encourage spending. The traditional views were more focused on thrifting and being frugal with their money. Debt was considered shameful but when the idea of "buy now, pay later" more people were willing to spend money they did not really have at the time. Many believed though that they could pay the borrowed money over time, so the idea and use of credit thrived. Most Americans bought their radios and automobiles on installment plans. This was great for consumers in the moment, but in the long run their incomes could not support spending habits. The pleasure that consumers got from being able to purchase items that they couldn't normally by using credit encouraged the feel good optimism that was present during the 1920's.

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General Motors advertising by using credit

2. Mass Production

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Mass production became popular in the 1920's due to large scale manufacturing done with machinery, increased supply, and reduced costs. The increase in standard of living paired with shorter workdays influenced mass production. Harvester, began giving an annual two week paid vacation due to mass production. Workers could be paid more because the goods would cost less to make. A primary example of mass production was Henry Ford's Model T.

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Mass production in the 1920s

3. Model

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As people became more accepting of cars, Henry Ford developed a moving assembly line to produce the cars. His assembly lines could build a car in 93 minutes. Ford's most popular car at this time was the Model T. In the first year,1908, the Model T sold for $850 but by 1924 they were $295. HIs philosophy was that the lower the cost of the car, the more people would buy it. General Motors and Chrysler also competed in selling their models. The competition and business helped stimulate the steel and petroleum industry. The Model T made it much easier for people to travel

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“I will build a car for the great multitude. It will be large enough for the family, but small enough for the individual to run and care for. It will be constructed of the best materials, by the best men to be hired, after the simplest designs that modern engineering can devise. But it will be so low in price that no man making a good salary will be unable to own one...” - Henry Ford

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4. Mass Advertising

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As companies made more products intended for ease and leisure, they needed a way to promote the more modern goods. They wanted to attract customers for new inventions. They advertised the convenience and leisure of their products that was a growing desire in this era. Companies also tried to have famous people promote the items so that everyday consumers wanted to have the same goods as them, a practice still used today. Along with promotion, advertisers began giving 30 day trials and using experts opinion to sell their products too. Advertisers targeted consumers fears, like weight gain. With less traditional inventions being made, mass advertising greatly increased sales of items that people would not have traditionally bought. As a result of buying convenience and lesurue products, the modern culture became more apparent in the Roaring Twenties.

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Radio advertising for hair dryers in the 1920s

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"Just as modern mass production requires the standardization of commodities, so the social process requires standardization of man, and this standardization is called equality."
- Erich Fromm

5. Birth of Airline Industry and Charles Lindbergh

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In the 1900's many people were trying to build the first powered airplanes and continued to improve each others planes. Glenn Curtiss was the first to sell airplanes in the United States and was a major part of WWI. With the increased ability of aviation, Wilson became a supporter of regular airmail that could better connect the country. In 1925, the aviation industry boomed when the Kelly Act was passed that allowed Post officials to contract private airplane operators. The next year, Congress passed the Air Commerce Act which provided federal aid to build airports. Then in 1927, Charles Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic by himself. His success showed the possibilities for commercial flight. By the end of 1928, 48 airlines served 355 American cities. People were moving toward the more modern era views that allowed aviation and other oppurtunities.

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"I was astonished at the effect my successful landing in France had on the nations of the world. To me, it was like a match lighting a bonfire."

-Charles Lindbergh

EQ 3 : How did popular culture, the arts, and literature change in the 1920s?

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1. Art and Edward Hopper

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American artists challenged traditional ideas and explored the new values and ideas of the modern era. European art greatly influenced American artists and there was a wide range of individualistic styles. Edward Hopper was well known for his visual accuracy of realism while simultanesouly having haunting scenes. His paintings showed the presence of a new modern culture that greatly differed from traditonal style pieces.

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Hopper's "Summer Evening"

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"Great art is the outward expression of an inner life in the artist, and this inner life will result in his personal vision of the world."

-Edward Hopper

2. Writers and F. Scott Fitzgerald

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Writers often focused on the isolation and alienation that modern brought. Similar to the artists, they had many different styles and techniques. F. Scott Fitzgerald was especially known for his criticisms of the culture that modern society was creating in his book "The Great Gatsby". Reading was still a popular activity during the time and people went to books to find information. Writers expressed their feelings of change through their novels.

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"Though the Jazz Age continued it became less and less an affair of youth. The sequel was like a children's party taken over by elders."

F. Scott Fitzgerald

3. Movies

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Due to the economic prosperity during the 1920's, Americans had more time to relax and enjoy themselves. Many Americans fell in love with watching movies. Even though they was no sound on the films, live musicians often played to accompany the movie. In 1927, "The Jazz Singer" was produced, the first "talking" movie. People became more unified because they spent more time together enjoying things like movies. Movies also helped spread new ideas and attitudes.

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Movies in the 1920s

4. Baseball and Babe Ruth

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As motion picture and radio popularity increased, so did sports. Sporting events brought people together, and made many athletes celebrities. Among athlete celebrities was Babe Ruth. Babe Ruth was famous for hitting home runs and was one of the first to be paid to endorse products in advertisments.

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Babe Ruth's presence in baseball

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"I won't be happy until we have every boy in America between the ages of six and sixteen wearing a glove and swinging a bat. "

Babe Ruth

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5. Boxing and Jack Dempsey

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At the same time, boxing became very popular. Fans idolized Jack Dempsey who held the the world heavyweight champion title from 1919 to 1926 when he lost it to Gene Tunney. When Dempsey wanted a rematch, the match was so popular that one store sold $90,000 worth of radios two weeks before the match. This was just another example of the increasing desire to have fun and get together to watch things like sporting event that was growing in the 1920s.

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Boxer Jack Dempsey

EQ 4 : How did African American influence American society in the 1920s?

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1. Great Migration

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Between WWI and the 1920s, many African Americans moved from the rural south to industrial cities in the North like New York City. By migrating to the North, African Americans escaped segregation, had better economic opportunities, and overall better lives. The North was far from having full equality but it was still better when compared to the South. Many African Americans lived in Harlem and united there. African Americans developed racial pride and artistic independence along with political organization. This unity helped spark the Harlem Renaissance.

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African Americans during the Great Migration

2. Harlem Renaissance

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The Harlem Renaissance was a creative era for African American artists and writers to express their opinions and culture. From a large Black population to pull from many writers and artists wrote about the mistreatment and inequality that was still happening even after slavery was abolished. Blacks were still paid less and unable to have certain jobs because racism was still alive even in the North. As the African American population grew, they gained more political power and say to help fight for civil rights that would influence American society.

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More information on the Great Migration and the Harlem Renaissance

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"When I was 17, I worked in a mentoring program in Harlem to improve the community. That's when I first gained an appreciation of the Harlem Renaissance, a time when African-Americans rose to prominence in American culture. For the first time, they were taken seriously as artists, musicians, writers, athletes, and political thinkers. "

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

3. Writers: Claude McKay, Langston Hughes, and Zora Neale Hurston

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Writers became very successful and popular by writing about the continual racism that was still apparent in the 1920s. Claude McKay , originally from Jamaica, was the first major writer during the Harlem Renaissance. He created a collection of poetry and published it into "Harlem Shadows" in 1922. Some poems included were "The Lynching"" and "If We Must Die" both of which expressed defiance and anger towards racism. Langston Hughes became a prominent writer for his originality and versatility. He wrote about African American experience in America and encourage racial pride and celebration of his race. Another popular writer has Zora Neale Hurston. She published "Jonah's Gourd Vine" and "Their Eyes Were Watching God" in the 1930s. In her novels, she was the first to have African American women as central characters. Her books also often were representative of rural African American culture and life. Writers were able to address and show others the mistreatment Blacks would often endure. They were able to rally as a race and fight for more equality even during the 1920s.

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"We Negro writers, just by being black, have been on the blacklist all our lives. Censorship for us begins at the color line."

-Langston Hughes

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4. NAACP

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The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People fought against segregation and discrimination against African Americans. They tried to lobby public officials and work through the court system but they did not have very much success. One of the main issues the fought was lynching. Their efforts led to the passing of the anti lynching legislation in the House in 1922. The Senate didn't pass the bill but the NAACP were persistent which kept the subject alive in the news. In 1930, the NAACP had a great political triumph. They defeated Judge John J. Parker's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court after finding out he was racist and an antilabor. By a narrow margin he was defeated and that ultimately demonstrated the growing influence and power African Americans had in Congress.

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5. Black Nationalism and Marcus Garvey

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Black nationalism was focused on generating pride and even some wanted to be separated from white society. Marcus Garvey, who was a black leader from Jamaica, was an iconic Black Nationalist who helped coin the term "Negro Nationalism". He was influenced by Booker T. Washington's idea of self reliance and even founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association. He believed that African Americans needed to educate themselves, and he even told his his followers and justice and freedom could not be attained in America. Garvey thought leading African Americans back to Africa would be a better option. Middle class African Americans did not agree with Garvey's ideas and the FBI saw UNIA as a potentially threat in causing uprisings. Garvey was convicted of mail-fraud and then deported to Jamaica. While Garvey did not lead Blacks to Africa he did help create pride and and lasting unity within the Black community, that would sprawl over into the 1950s and 1960s.

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"The Black skin is not a badge of shame, but rather a glorious symbol of national greatness."

-Marcus Garvey

Works Cited

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"Scopes Trial." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2015.

"The 1920s: Prohibition." SIRS Decades, n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 15.

Appleby, Joyce Oldham. "Boom and Bust." The American Vision: Modern times. Columbus, OH: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 2010. 358-93. Print.

"Nativism - Boundless Open Textbook." Boundless. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2015.