Chapter 24

The Jazz Age1919-1929

A careful act holding onto time as demonstrated by Harold Lloyd

Section 1

Time of Turmoil“On a hot summer day in 1920, about 50,000 African Americans marched through the streets of Harlem in New York City. Thousands more lined the sidewalks, cheering the marchers. Their leader, Marcus Garvey, stirred new hope in African Americans, saying ‘We are descendants of a people determined to suffer no longer.’ A participant at the march later recalled, ‘It was the greatest demonstration of African American unity in American history . . .’” -TAJ

Problems after World War I

The Red Scare Labor Unrest Racial Unrest

Fear of RadicalismMany liberties of American citizens had been taken away during WWI. People who were against the war were arrested. There was distrust of the government, distrust of foreigners and anyone different.

The Russian Revolution disturbed Americans as the Bolsheviks continued to establish a Communist State.

They encouraged workers around the world to overthrow CAPITALISM – an economic system based on private property and free enterprise.

Many Americans felt THREATENED by “bolshevism.”

Actions of ANARCHISTS – people who believed there should be no government- made the fears worsen. (A series of Anarchist bombings and bomb threats on public officials.)

The Red ScareA period when the government went after the “REDS” - as communists were known – and others with radical views. Attorney General A. MITCHELL

PALMER and his deputy J. Edgar Hoover ordered the arrest of anyone suspected to be COMMUNISTS.

-Led raids on suspicious groups, ransacked, homes and offices and seized records. (Didn’t find the weapons and dynamite they said they were looking for.) A few hundred aliens were DEPORTED – expelled from the U.S.“The blaze of revolution was sweeping over every American

institution of law and order, burning up the foundations of society.” -Palmer

Sacco and VanzettiA criminal case in Massachusetts in 1920 was caused by the fear of immigrants and radical ideas.

A shoe factory in Massachusetts was robbed by two men. A guard was shot and killed.

Italian immigrants Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were arrested for the crime.

Although they said they were innocent- both men were anarchists and Sacco owned a pistol. They were executed.

Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter wrote a defense of the two men.

Labor Unrest

Strikes Sweep Country

During the war, labor and management had put aside their differences. When the war ended, there was new conflict.

Workers demanded increased WAGES to keep up with rising prices.

There were more than 2,500 strikes in 1919.

The largest strike in American history began in the STEEL industry.

About 350,000 steelworkers went on strike in September 1919. They demanded

higher wages and an 8-hour workday.

Police Officers in Boston went on strike-demanding the right to form a UNION.

“There is no right to strike against the public safety by anybody, anywhere, any time.” - Massachusetts governor Calvin CoolidgeWhen the strike collapsed, officials fired the entire Boston police force.During this time of Union decline, African American, A. Philip Randolph, started the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters- a union of railroad workers.

Racial Unrest

1919- rising racial tensions led to violence.

In South – more than 70 African Americans were lynched.In Chicago, a group of whites stoned an African American youth who was swimming in Lake Michigan- the youth drowned.Riots broke out.

MARCUS GARVEY supported a “back-to-Africa: movement- he founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association to promote racial unity and pride.

Section 2

Desire for Normalcy

Harding Presidency

The “Ohio Gang”

Sensing Americans longed for calm and stability after decades of progressive reform and world war, the senator from Ohio, Warren G. Harding, promised a “return to NORMALCY.”

-Running-mate was Calvin Coolidge.

Harding gave jobs in the government to many of his friends and political supporters.

Harry Daughtery- Attorney General

Charles Forbes- Head of Veteran’s Bureau

Albert Fall- Secretary of Interior

Many were unqualified- Some were corrupt.

Teapot Dome Scandal-Symbol of CORRUPTION during the Harding administration

ALBERT FALL

Secretly leased – rented- government oil reserves in Elk Hills, California and TEAPOT DOME, Wyoming to owners of two oil companies.

-He got more than $400,000

-He was convicted and sent to prison. This was the first time a cabinet member was ever sent to jail.

-1923- Harding went out west to escape the stress of Washington, DC. He had a heart attack and died. Coolidge became president.

Honesty Returns to the White House

A Friend to Business

Calvin Coolidge had a reputation for HONESTY.

He fired Daughtery – replaced the remaining members of the “Ohio Gang.”

He had the government become big supporters of BUSINESSES.

“The chief business of the American people is business . . . The man who builds a factory builds a temple.”

A New Term

President Coolidge seemed to be exactly what the country wanted.

He won the 1924 presidential election.

-During this election, it was the first time women won GOVERNOR’S races.

Nellie Tayloe Ross- Wyoming

Mirriam Ferguson- Texas

Foreign Policy

Promoting Peace

Coolidge favored a limited role for the nation in word affairs.

1922 – Leaders from Japan and Britain met in Washington, DC. These countries, along with France, signed the FIVE-POWER TREATY.

This treaty marked an agreement for the countries to limit the size of their navies. This marked the first time

world powers agreed to DISARM.

KELLOG-BRIAND PACT (1928) was signed by the U.S. and 14 other nations to OUTLAW WAR.

Problem – No plan for PEACE!

A More Friendly Neighbor

The United States withdrew troops from the Dominican republic and Nicaragua.

American investors asked President Coolidge to send troops to Mexico.

He chose to negotiate instead.

Section 3

A Booming Economy

Growth in the 1920s

After WWI, American economy experienced problems readjusting to peace time:

Millions of soldiers reentered the workforce; Companies laid off workers after war production stopped

Recession- Economic downturn

Scientific Management

Hiring experts to study how goods could be produced more quickly; methods to lower costs, improve productivityASSEMBLY LINE - STEADY GROWTH

Worker Relations

Business owners offered:

-Safety Programs

-Health/Accident Insurance

-Encouraged Welfare Capitalism- Workers buy stock in the company

The Consumer EconomyIndustry changed

Electricity was more available.

Demand for electrical appliances

Increased Demand + Increased production = Lower prices

Made work easier – More leisure time

More $ money spent on advertising- Propaganda techniques

Installment Buying – “Buy now- pay later.”

The Automobile Age1920 – Car culture increased from 8 million to 23 million; 4 million worked in the automobile industry. (1924 a car was less than $300; Average industrial worker income $1,300 per year)

Henry Ford’s Model T got competition from GMs car in many colors. Ford came up with a Model A to compete.

Effects on other Industries•Need for new ROADS and HIGHWAYS, GAS stations and REST stops.

•Businesses along major roads BOOMED. STEEL, RUBBER, GLASS, OIL industries boomed.

Those Left Behind•FARMERS were not benefiting from America’s newfound prosperity.•Government no longer purchasing wheat, corn; Now competing with European agriculture.•Railroad and coal industries feeling the impact of lessened demand.

Section 4

New Directions

Changes for Women

1927- CHARLES LINDBERGH became the 1st person to fly alone across the Atlantic Ocean – plane, “Spirit of St. Louis.”Showed a “delighted concern over things that were exciting, but didn’t matter profoundly.” -Historian

19th Amendment- Gave women the right to VOTE.

More women had jobs outside of the home.

FLAPPER- new “liberated” woman; short “bobbed” hair, heavy make-up, short skirts

Entertainment

The Movies and Radio

Sports and Fads

MASS MEDIA- Forms of communication such as newspapers and radio that reached millions of people- changed attitudesLabor-saving devices, fewer working hours gave people more leisure time.

HOLLYWOOD

Motion picture industry became a leading industry.Started with silent, black-and-white films, then moved to the first “talkie” – The Jazz Singer.

RADIO brought entertainment into people’s homes.

Radio broadcast baseball, football and boxing.

Babe Ruth- who hit a record 60 homeruns became a hero/idol.

The Jazz Age

Harlem Renaissance

A Lost Generation of Writers

Jazz music captured the spirit of the 1920s.

New rhythms- IMPROVISATION- used by Jazz musicians such as LOUIS ARMSTRONG, DUKE ELLINGTON & BESSIE SMITH.

A period of time of flowering African American culture

LANGSTON HUGHES- African- American Harlem Renaissance poet

Writers questioned American ideals.

Some became EXPATRIATES- lived in another country (Gertrude Stein, Ella Scott Fitzgerald)

I, Too, Sing America

  by Langston Hughes

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.

They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong.

Tomorrow, I'll be at the table When company comes. Nobody'll dare Say to me, "Eat in the kitchen,"

Then. Besides, They'll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed–

I, too, am America.

18Prohibition

Consequences of the Ban

18th Amendment- Total ban on the manufacture, sale and transportation of liquor throughout the U. S.

Widespread lawbreaking

Organized Crime- Al “SCARFACE” CAPONE

BOOTLEGGING – Making and selling illegal alcohol

“I make my money by supplying a popular demand. If I break the law, my customers are as guilty as I am.”

Was arrested and sent to prison.

21st Amendment (1933) repealed the Prohibition Amendment.

NativismThe belief that native-born Americans are superior to foreigners

1921- Congress passed EMERGENCY QUOTA ACT- limit on immigrants from each country (3%)

1924- NATIONAL ORIGIN ACT – reduced country quota from 3% to 2%

Revived the Ku Klux Klan

Still targeted African-Americans, but also Catholics, Jews, immigrants and other groups they believe represented “un-American values.”

The Scopes Trial1924 Tennessee law made it illegal to teach EVOLUTION.

JOHN SCOPES- a high school teacher- deliberately broke the law to test its legality

Prosecuting Attorney- WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN

Defending Attorney- CLARENCE DARROWScopes convicted

Darrow made people feel that Bryan wanted to impose his religious beliefs on the entire nation.

Tennessee Supreme court overturned the conviction.

The Election of 19281927 President Calvin Coolidge announced that he would not run for President.

HERBERT HOOVER- Republican

“Hooverize” to economize, to save and to share.

ALFRED E. SMITH- Democrat

Hoover won by a landslide.