During this time, the cultural clash in American society intensified → modern (urban, industrial, and secular) versus traditional (rural, agrarian, and White Anglo-Saxon Protestants)

Characteristics: a resurgence of conservatism (progressivism paused), pro-business, laissez-faire

Talk about the 20s

1. Post-war Industry

   1. Control of industries - gradually from government control back to the private sector (war supplies → everyday goods)

   2. Severe labor unrest broke out after the war

      1. Soldiers wanted old jobs back

      2. Women were expected to go home and assume their traditional role

      3. African Americans were expected to go home and accept second class citizenship

      4. Conversion of factories from war to peacetime goods caused a period of layoffs and unemployment for many workers

   3. Protests and violence by workers were blamed on Bolsheviks (Communists) who supposedly infiltrated American society and labor unions (“1st Red Scare”)

2. Causes of Economic Prosperity

   1. Taylorism

      1. Frederick Taylor published a book called “The Principles of Scientific Management” that led to people believe that governmental officials could also be timed and adjusted to optimize efficiency

   2. Technologies

      1. Oil and electricity

      2. Consumer appliances: fridge, vacuum, washing machines

      3. Automobiles → replaced railroad industries → benefits: commute, travel, shopping, dating / drawbacks: traffic & injuries

   3. Credit

      1. Easier monthly payments

      2. Increase in chain stores

   4. Aviation

      1. Charles Lindbergh flew nonstop from Long Island to Paris in 1927 (big leap in technology)

3. Popular Culture

   1. The Jazz Age

      1. “Lost generation of the 1920’s” - they were called the Lost Generation because they were disillusioned with American society during the 20s 

      2. Black musicians: Joe King Oliver, WC Handy, and “Jelly Roll” Morton (created jazz that symbolized a desire to break with tradition)

      3. The Harlem Renaissance - literary and artistic movement in the 1920s in which black writers and artists described African American life through music, murals, literature, etc.

   2. Hollywood in California - movies became a national habit in cities (this also incorporated jazz singers)

   3. Mass media

      1. Radio replaced the newspaper

      2. Key authors: Sinclair Lewis and F. Scott Fitzgerald (criticized middle-class materialism and conformity)

      3. Eugen O’Neil - wrote poem expressing disillusionment with the ideal of an earlier time and with the materialism of a business-oriented culture

   4. Revolution in Morals

      1. Revolt against sexual taboos

      2. Sigmund Freud (psychologist) stressed the significance of sexual repression in mental illness

      3. Women fashion → flapper look

4. Political and Cultural Conflict in the Roaring 20s

   1. Fundamentalism vs Modernism - struggle between traditional, rural America and modern, urban America.

      1. Fundamentalists - literal truth and interpretation of the Bible.

      2. Modernists - reconcile the Bible with scientific knowledge

      3. Led to the Scopes Trial aka the “Monkey Trial” - a teacher teaching evolution, symbolized the conflict between science and theology, faith and reason

   2. Prohibition (18th Amendment) - nationwide ban on the sale, production, and importation of alcohol that remained in place from 1920 to 1933 (repealed in 1933 out of economic arguments of the Great Depression)

   3. Nativism

      1. 1921 & 1924: Emergency Quota Act and National Origins Act

      2. KKK’s silent film “Birth of a Nation” → KKK revival against African Americans, Catholics, Jews, foreigners, and suspected Communists → KKK declined when corruption became rife → 1925, KKK leader convicted of murder → membership declined

   4. African American and Cultural Renaissance

      1. Harlem Renaissance (see above)

      2. United Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) supported racial pride and developed political ideas for Black nationalism → Garvey was convicted in 1925 → 1960, Garvey’s thinking helped inspire Black pride (but rejected his Back-to-Africa movement) 

Presidents During this Time

(Republican Majority)

Not very useful

1. Warren Harding

   1. A few good choices through appointing competent people to his cabinet

      1. Supreme Court Justice Charles Evan → Secretary of State

      2. Mining engineer & Food Admin leader Herbert Hoover → secretary of commerce

      3. Etc.

   2. Domestic Policy (mid)

      1. Reduction in income tax

      2. Fordney-McCumber Tariff Act of 1922 (raised tariffs)

      3. Bureau of the Budget

      4. Released Eugene V. Debs from Prison (since the Espionage Acts)

   3. Scandals

      1. He was accused (at least his cabinet members) of accepting bribes for granting oil leases near Teapot Dome

2. Calvin Coolidge

   1. Turd

   2. Votes & Inaction - believed in limited government so he…

      1. Cut budgets

      2. Vetoed the Republican majority Congress

      3. Vetoed the McNary-Haugen Bill to help farmers as crop prices fall

      4. Didn’t allow bonuses for WWI veterans

3. Herbert Hoover

   1. Not useful, although he had a big dream to end poverty, but soon he was struck by the Great Depression