Culture of the 1920sCulture of the 1920s

Remember from last time…Remember from last time…

Return to Return to NormalcyNormalcy NativismNativism IsolationismIsolationism PrejudicePrejudice Anti-ImmigrationAnti-Immigration HostilityHostility

The Sacco and Vanzetti CaseThe Sacco and Vanzetti Case

April 15, 1920 – Two employees of a factory April 15, 1920 – Two employees of a factory are robbed and shot in Braintree, are robbed and shot in Braintree, Massachusetts.Massachusetts.

The two men arrested, Nicola Sacco and The two men arrested, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were immigrants and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were immigrants and anarchists.anarchists.

Despite questionable evidence, the two were Despite questionable evidence, the two were convicted and executed. convicted and executed.

This shows the strength of the RED SCARE and This shows the strength of the RED SCARE and anti-immigration sentiment during this time.anti-immigration sentiment during this time.

Other signs of fear and intolerance include a Other signs of fear and intolerance include a revival of the Ku Klux Klan in the late 1910s revival of the Ku Klux Klan in the late 1910s and early 1920s.and early 1920s.

There was also a cultural conflict There was also a cultural conflict within Americawithin America

Traditional/Traditional/Fundamental ViewsFundamental Views Modernist ViewsModernist Views

Traditional v ModernTraditional v Modern Conservative Conservative

WomenWomen Prohibition and Prohibition and

Gambling Gambling RestrictionsRestrictions

ReligionReligion Theatre and Theatre and

SymphonySymphony NewspapersNewspapers

Loose WomenLoose Women Speakeasies and Speakeasies and

Gambling HallsGambling Halls EvolutionEvolution Talkies and the Talkies and the

Jazz AgeJazz Age RadioRadio

Old School

FLAPPERSFLAPPERS

During this During this ““return to normalcyreturn to normalcy”” in in the 1920s, many people wore new the 1920s, many people wore new clothing styles and acted in a way clothing styles and acted in a way that differed from the norm.that differed from the norm.

Women known as FLAPPERS Women known as FLAPPERS embodied the carefree spirit of this embodied the carefree spirit of this time.time.

Traditional v ModernTraditional v Modern

Conservative women Conservative women were traditionally were traditionally expected to act a expected to act a certain way.certain way. Don’t drinkDon’t drink Don’t smokeDon’t smoke Don’t be loudDon’t be loud Dress ConservativelyDress Conservatively

Flappers were much Flappers were much more loose and casual more loose and casual with the way they with the way they carried themselves.carried themselves. They DrankThey Drank They SmokedThey Smoked They were outgoing.They were outgoing. Dressed ProvocativelyDressed Provocatively

Traditional v ModernTraditional v Modern

Religious Education Religious Education Evolution Education Evolution Education

Tennessee State Law Tennessee State Law prohibited the teaching prohibited the teaching evolution in science evolution in science classrooms. classrooms.

John Scopes decided John Scopes decided to teach it anyway.to teach it anyway.

His case “The Scopes His case “The Scopes Trial” went all the way Trial” went all the way to the Tennessee to the Tennessee Supreme Court.Supreme Court.

The original law The original law banning evolution banning evolution was upheld but this was upheld but this began the argument began the argument for teaching evolution for teaching evolution in classrooms.in classrooms.

The Scopes TrialThe Scopes Trial As science progresses, there is a conflict between As science progresses, there is a conflict between

those who believe in EVOLUTION, and those who those who believe in EVOLUTION, and those who believe in CREATIONISM.believe in CREATIONISM.

Many FUNDAMENTALISTS reject DarwinMany FUNDAMENTALISTS reject Darwin’’s idea of s idea of revolution.revolution.

In 1925, Tennessee passes the BUTLER ACT, which In 1925, Tennessee passes the BUTLER ACT, which outlawed teaching evolution.outlawed teaching evolution.

Sensing that this was unconstitutional, the ACLU Sensing that this was unconstitutional, the ACLU convinced JOHN T. SCOPES, a biology teacher in convinced JOHN T. SCOPES, a biology teacher in Dayton, to teach evolution. He was arrested and put Dayton, to teach evolution. He was arrested and put on trial.on trial.

CLARENCE DARROW defended Scopes at the trial and CLARENCE DARROW defended Scopes at the trial and WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN was the prosecutor. WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN was the prosecutor.

After being found guilty, the verdict was later After being found guilty, the verdict was later overturnedoverturned

1818thth AMENDMENT AMENDMENT

In 1920, the 18In 1920, the 18thth Amendment bans the Amendment bans the sale, production, and distribution of sale, production, and distribution of alcohol in the United States.alcohol in the United States.

Congress passes the VOLSTEAD ACT, Congress passes the VOLSTEAD ACT, giving the Department of the Treasury giving the Department of the Treasury the ability to enforce the 18the ability to enforce the 18thth Amendment.Amendment.

Many Americans get around this law by Many Americans get around this law by drinking at SPEAKEASIES (secret bars) drinking at SPEAKEASIES (secret bars) and buying alcohol from BOOTLEGGERS.and buying alcohol from BOOTLEGGERS.

Traditional v ModernTraditional v Modern

The invention of the The invention of the Radio allowed people Radio allowed people to listen to music and to listen to music and news in their homes.news in their homes.

This new This new entertainment and entertainment and form of communication form of communication contributed to the rise contributed to the rise of “mass culture.”of “mass culture.” Everybody has access to Everybody has access to

the same the same information/stuff.information/stuff.

Traditional v ModernTraditional v ModernEntertainment Entertainment

Traditionally Traditionally people went to the people went to the theatre or the theatre or the symphony for symphony for entertainment.entertainment.

People went to the People went to the movies to see movies to see talkies or to the talkies or to the dance halls and dance halls and speakeasies to speakeasies to listen and Dance to listen and Dance to Jazz.Jazz.

Writers in the 1920sWriters in the 1920s

Carl Sandburg – a poet known for Carl Sandburg – a poet known for glorifying the Midwest and working glorifying the Midwest and working class people. Best known for class people. Best known for ““ChicagoChicago”” and and ““FogFog””

““The Lost GenerationThe Lost Generation”” After the war, a large number of writers After the war, a large number of writers

become very disillusioned about the future of become very disillusioned about the future of the world after seeing the devastation of WWI. the world after seeing the devastation of WWI. They become known as the They become known as the ““Lost GenerationLost Generation”” T.S. Eliot – Poet known for T.S. Eliot – Poet known for ““The Hollow MenThe Hollow Men”” – – ““The The

world will end, not with a bang, but with a whimper.world will end, not with a bang, but with a whimper.”” Ernest Hemingway – An ambulance driver during the Ernest Hemingway – An ambulance driver during the

war. Best known for war. Best known for For Whom the Bell Tolls, A For Whom the Bell Tolls, A Farewell to Arms, The Sun Also Rises, Farewell to Arms, The Sun Also Rises, and and The Old The Old Man and the SeaMan and the Sea..

Eugene OEugene O’’Neill – Most famous playwright of his time.Neill – Most famous playwright of his time. F. Scott Fitzgerald – His book, F. Scott Fitzgerald – His book, The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby, ,

embodied the despair of embodied the despair of ““The Lost GenerationThe Lost Generation””

Artists of the 1920sArtists of the 1920s

Edward Hopper used city scenes to Edward Hopper used city scenes to embody the sadness, embody the sadness, disenchantment, and isolation that disenchantment, and isolation that many people felt after WWI.many people felt after WWI.

THE HARLEM RENAISSANCETHE HARLEM RENAISSANCE

In the NYC neighborhood of Harlem, African In the NYC neighborhood of Harlem, African American artists and writers begin a American artists and writers begin a movement championing black culture movement championing black culture known as the HARLEM RENAISSANCE. known as the HARLEM RENAISSANCE. These writers included:These writers included: Claude McKay – A poet that brings problems of Claude McKay – A poet that brings problems of

racism to the publicracism to the public Zora Neale Hurston – Female novelist that wrote Zora Neale Hurston – Female novelist that wrote

Their Eyes Were Watching God Their Eyes Were Watching God about strong about strong black women in the South.black women in the South.

Langston Hughes – Most famous poet of the Langston Hughes – Most famous poet of the Harlem Renaissance. Most famous poem is Harlem Renaissance. Most famous poem is ““Harlem.Harlem.””

Music in the 1920sMusic in the 1920s

A focus on JAZZ, SWING and the A focus on JAZZ, SWING and the BLUES becomes popular in the BLUES becomes popular in the 1920s.1920s.Louis Armstrong – Nickname Louis Armstrong – Nickname ““Satchmo,Satchmo,””

most famous jazz trumpet player ever.most famous jazz trumpet player ever.Bessie Smith – Brought blues to the Bessie Smith – Brought blues to the

mainstream.mainstream.Ma Rainey – Another early blues artist.Ma Rainey – Another early blues artist.

Marcus GarveyMarcus Garvey

As segregation and discrimination gets As segregation and discrimination gets worse, many African Americans start to worse, many African Americans start to look for new ways to fight it.look for new ways to fight it.

Marcus Garvey begins the United Negro Marcus Garvey begins the United Negro Improvement Association. He calls for Improvement Association. He calls for self-reliance and separation from white self-reliance and separation from white society.society.

Eventually, he toys with the idea of Eventually, he toys with the idea of beginning a colony in the African country beginning a colony in the African country of Liberia. of Liberia.

To sum it all up:To sum it all up:

The Roaring 20s The Roaring 20s was a time of rapid was a time of rapid change.change.

The transition from The transition from traditionalist to traditionalist to modernist views modernist views signaled a massive signaled a massive change in society.change in society.

African Americans African Americans in Harlem in Harlem celebrated their celebrated their culture through Art, culture through Art, Music, and Music, and Literature.Literature.