1920s social changes

2. Demobilization
Returning to a peacetime economy
Armed Forces – reduced from 3 million to 300,000
almost overnight.
Few jobs for Veterans – businesses cut wartime
production worth $ Billions. Fired women who had
helped maintain production during the war.

3. Rural v. Urban / Traditional v. Modern
Migration to the cities – 1
st
time 50% of Americans lived
in cities. Most came for jobs, were shocked by the cities
(drinking, gambling, promiscuous behavior) many feared
the moral decay of society.
Fundamentalism
Religious movement – coined by Rev. Curtis Law’s in 1921.
Believed in the infallibility of the Bible. Brought about by the
social changes of the early 1900’s, the liberalization of biblical
criticism, and Darwin’s theories about the origins of the
universe.

4. Scientific Theory brings Challenges
Charles Darwin – Origins of the Species (evolution)
challenged the Bible (Genesis account) about the creation
of man.
Butler Act – prevented evolution from being taught in
schools

5. “Monkey Trials”
John Scopes – teacher in Dayton
Tenn., fired for teaching Darwin’s
theory of evolution.
July 10-25, 1925
“Trial of the Century”
Outdoors to handle the crowds

6. William J.Bryan – Prosecutor
“fundamentalist” “Bible expert”
Clarence Darrow – A.C.L.U.
attorney, best lawyer of the
era. Evolutionist
Darrow was able to get Bryan
to testify that the Bible was
not as concrete as they
believed.
Bryan lost supporters – died 5 days later a broken man
Scopes was found guilty – fined $100, overturned in 1927
by Tenn. Supreme Court

7. 18
th
Amendment – Jan. 16, 1920
Banned manufacturing, sale, transportation,
and consumption of Alcohol in the U.S.

8. Rural Populists & Urban Progressives of 1900’s (reformers)
Reasons – domestic abuse/violence, public drunkenness, loss of
moral and ethical judgment while intoxicated, health problems.
Fundamentalist and Women’s organizations (Women’s
Christians Temperance)
Anti-Saloon League (ASL) – Headed by Wayne
Wheeler Confronted Politicians, if you were for
prohibition they helped you get elected, if you
weren’t they destroyed you
By 1917 - 28 States were dry (no alcohol)

9. Slight Reduction – 75,000 arrests each year for violations
Saloons died – rise of secret clubs “Speak easies” (sold
illegal alcohol), moonshine, rot gut.
No Alcohol from 1920 – 1933 21
st
Amend overturned
Unprecedented disregard for the law (rise of organize crime)
Mafia and bootleggers, rum runners, speakeasies, moon shiners

10. New York City contained many poor Irish and Italian immigrants
Could either work in low paying factories or turn to crime to improve
their situation.
Gangs included the Roach guards, Shirt tails, Dead Rabbits, and the
Plug Uglies.
Collection of thieves and thugs, boys recruited at young age, taught
to fight and pick pockets
Became more organized, began extorting money from local gambling
dens
1900’s Paul Kelly 1
st
“Mob Boss” united the Five Points Gangs

11. “Scar face”
Got his start in Kelly’s Five points Gang
1919 Moved to Chicago to escape murder
charges, reunited with Johnny Torrio
Torrio’s number 1 man. controlled casinos, brothels, speakeasies,
and distilleries. 1922 producing beer for $4-5 a barrel and sold it for
$45 a barrel.
After a failed attempt on his life Torrio retired. Capone was in charge.
Empire was worth $50 million a year

12. 1931 arrested for tax evasion – Elliot Ness (U.S. Justice Dept)
Sentenced to 11 years in prison, sent to Alcatraz (model prisoner)
1938 diagnosed with syphilis
Released in 1939 to family care retired to Florida
Died in 1947

13. Americans were tired of the effects of demobilization
Americans blamed Woodrow Wilson (Dem.), opened the door for
Republicans.
1920, Senator from Ohio
Focused on improving the economy
Sec. of Treasury – Andrew Mellon, proposed tax cuts to
allow Americans to keep more of their money. Stimulate
business growth
Trickle down theory – opponents feared the money would
only trickle down to the lower classes
Economy rebounded, businesses boomed, unemployment
and prices dropped.

14. Reflected badly on the Republicans
Ohio Gang -Longtime friends of Harding, served in his Cabinet
Charles Forbes - Veterans Admin., Took bribes to award
contracts for Hospital construction, 2 years
in prison.
Albert Fall -
Sec of Interior - Teapot Dome Scandal
leased Federal Oil reserves to private company
could have deprive the U.S of its oil reserves in
a crisis/war

15. August 2, 1923 following Harding’s Death: heart attack
Reelected in 1924 -Focused on economy, “The Business of
America is Business”, “The man who
builds a factory builds a temple”
Foreign Policy -Hoped to prevent future wars
Kellogg – Briand Pact – 1928 outlawed all war, 62 nations joined.
No enforcement
Washington Conference – 1921 World leaders
No Russia, No Germany, No Italy
10 year ban on militarism of navies, treaties to limit size

16. Americans enjoyed more leisure time

17. New York Yankees - Most dominate team of decade
Won 4 world series during decade
1927 Yankees “Murders Row”
maybe the best team ever
George Herman “Babe” Ruth – “Great Bambino”
Most recognizable athlete of the era
Became a Yankee in 1920
Paid 20,000 in 1920, hit 54 Home runs
1927 hit 60 HR’s - Record until 1961

18. Notre Dame – Most famous College Football team
Coach Knute Rockne
1924 season (undefeated) 10-0, National Champs, Rose Bowl Victory
Red Grange – “Galloping Ghost”, University Of Illinois
1925 turned pro Joined the Chicago Bears
helped popularize the newly formed NFL (1922)

19. Jack Dempsey – “Manassa Mauler”
1919 – 1926 Heavyweight Champ
1926 lost to Gene Tunney
1927 rematch v. Tunney – 120,000 spectators, $2,650,000 purse
Long Count – Dempsey knocked Tunney down in 7
th
round,
failed to return to neutral corner. Tunney received 14
seconds instead of only 10 seconds. Dempsey lost fight

20. Robert Trent “Bobby” Jones
1923 – 1930 Won 13
Major Championships
1930 won the Grand Slam
won all 4 Majors
Retired in his prime only 28,
devoted more time to family
and his law practice.
Designed and created Augusta
National Golf Club (Home of
the Master’s)

21. Jim Thorpe – Native American Indian
1912 Olympics won Decathlon and Pentathlon
“You are the greatest athlete in the world”
Played Professional Baseball and Football
Served as President of the American Professional Football
Association
In 2000 ABC Sports selected him as “Athlete of the Century”

22. Right to Vote
19
th
Amendment – August 26, 1920

23. Clothing – Corsets out, dresses
became loose fitting and length
shortened to 9 inches off ground
(showing ankle), by end of decade
shortened to the knees.
Hairstyle – Bob cut (boyish look)
Make-up – Lipstick, rouge
Social Behavior – smoking,
drinking, and gambling in public

24. Pre WWI – most women did not work or stopped after marriage
1910 -> 1930 population of women in workforce grew 20%
Although greater opportunities they
didn’t receive equal pay. Earned only
about ½ of what a man might.
Women in High Places -
Nellie Ross – Governor of
Wyoming, 1
st
women to be elected
Governor.
About 200 women elected to State Govts

25. Anarchists, Communists, and Foreigners, Oh My!

26. Communism – Economic/Political system where
property/means of production are Government owned
Americans fear and persecution of Communists
Threatened Capitalism and Americas way of life
Bolshevik Revolution in Soviet Union by Lenin
Americans feared that workers dissent would lead to
a communist revolution.
“Mayday” May 1, 1919 - 16 bombs sent to
prominent Americans, discovered by a postman

27. U.S Attorney General – House bombed on June 2, 1919 – lashed out
Convinced Congress to spend $ to “weed out” communists,
radicals, and anarchists.
Nov. 7, 1919 raids began – little consideration for due process
Dec. 249 aliens deported on the Buford, commonly called the
“Soviet Ark”
Mitchell Palmer
“Fighting Quaker”
Raids continued until 1920, 6500 arrests (97 of 100 searched without
a warrant) in all 446 people deported
In all the arrest only 3 pistols and no explosives were found

28. Italian immigrants
and known
anarchists
Charged with
payroll robbery and
murder in
Massachusetts in
May 1920
Convicted and
sentenced to death
Little evidence
and unfair trial
led to public
outcry
Executed
August 23,
1927

29. Xenophobia – fear of foreigners
Emergency Immigration Act (1921) – limited immigration to 3% of
each nations representation already in U.S. based on 1910 census
National Origins Act (1924) – similar to Emergency Immigration
Act but used the 1890 census, also banned Asian Immigration =
Japan and China – “undesirable”
Govt is supporting WASPs

30. Kuklos = Circle
Originated in 1865 by Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest
William Simmons – 1915 restarted Klan in Stone Mtn. Georgia
“Birth of a Nation” film portrayed Klan as righteous and popular
Targeted Catholics, Blacks, Jews, and Immigrants
Enrollment increased to nearly 5 million by mid 1920’s
Gained political control over several State Legislatures
Lost power quickly due to corruption, violence , and the conviction
of prominent Klan member David Curtis Stephenson for kidnapping
and rape

31. Model T “Tin Lizzie”
More than 1 million being sold each year
Assembly Line – system to move parts from one worker to
another, cut production to less than 2 hours
Mass Production – made automobile more affordable. Model T
sold for $250 - $300
Installment plan – payments made over time

32. Henry Ford and Rise of Business
“Can have it in any color as long as it is black”
1903 Ford started his company for the masses
1908 = 1
st
Model T at $950
In 19 years he sold 15 million in US alone
1914 begins paying employees $5 an hour!!!
•double everyone else, “best place to work”
Cut work day to 3, 8 hour shifts for 24 hours
1 Model T coming off every 24 seconds

33. Impact of Henry Ford
Increase in cars on the road
Increase in credit debt due to installment
Need for more roads – most govt. $ spent in 1920s
JOBS – construction, rubber, steel, gas
Growth of the suburbs -> discrimination
Model for other businesses to follow
Random Facts:
•In 1932 He introduced the V8 engine block for 1
st
time
•In 1942 patented the plastic car body, 30% lighter

34. Fight for Equality
Niagara Movement
•First organized attempt to protest treatment of blacks
•Headed by W.E.B. Du Bois - Awareness was key
National Association for Advancement of Colored People
•NAACP originally headed by Du Bois
•Founded in 1909
•Disagreed with Booker T Washington’s beliefs on aiding A.A.
•Believed in promoting higher education and self-fulfillment
Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA)
•Led by Marcus Garvey – Jamaican born
•Two Ideas: 1. Return to Africa
•2. Be proud of heritage “Black is beautiful”
•4 million followers!!!

35. During the 1920’s millions of African Americans fled
(Great Migration) discrimination and poverty from the
south to northern states
Chicago, Detroit, D.C., Harlem
helped create a distinct African American culture that would
influence mainstream America.

36. A period of African American artistic accomplishment
developing around the Harlem section of New York
Black artists gained recognition for their contributions to the arts
(music, dance, paintings, and literature)
Langston Hughes (Poet) leader of the movement
Great Migration also lead to violence.
Red Summer in 1919 = 25+ race riots

37. Developed in New Orleans – blend of African American
spirituals, European harmonies and West African rhythms
1
st
jazz record published in 1917 by The Original Dixieland Jazz Band
Louis Armstrong – trumpeter/singer
1920’s know as the “Jazz Age”
Chicago and New York helped bring Jazz into the mainstream
‘Duke” Ellington – composer – new style of Jazz (orchestra)

38. Served as a friend and teacher as well as provided entertainment,
brought a large world into Americans home
1920 – only a few thousand
1924 – 2.5 million
1929 – 12 million
1926 NBC and CBS began service

39. Nickelodeons – theaters, admission only 5 cents
Talkies – first movies with sound and dialogue
“Jazz Singer” 1927 starring Al Jolson

40. Charles Lindberg – “Lucky Lindy”, “Lone Eagle”
May 20, 1927 “Spirit of St. Louis”
1
st
solo flight across the Atlantic New York to Paris
33 1/2 hours, won $25,000 prize

41. Humans Develop Wings
“Flying Coffins”
1903: Wright Brothers Kitty Hawk, NC
•12 seconds and 120 feet Crazy?
By 1913 Lockheed was offering $5 rides
Lindy was called the most popular man of his day
He inspired William Boeing – mass production
Lead to passengers & mail from S.F. to Chicago
Amelia Earhart – first female to fly Atlantic solo
•Got lost in Pacific flight, bermuda triangle?

42. Post War Depression
Farmers Suffer – overproduction > prices fall > can’t pay
bills > banks foreclose
Workers Strike – 1919 4 million worker on strike,
hoped to increase wages
Steel Strike – 250,000 workers across country
strike failed
Boston Police Strike – 2 nights of violence,
Governor Calvin Coolidge brought in militia to
restore order. Fired entire force.

43. Expatriates – many writers and intellectuals who criticized the
values of the 1920’s and WWI moved to Paris France
“Lost Generation” – Term coined by Gertrude Stein to describe
writer and poet who criticized 1920 American culture
(Sherwood Anderson, Ernest Hemmingway, e.e. Cummings)