The 1920s

OK if you’re an insider, not a good time to be an outsider

Growing City culture = Lesser Moral Values?

Many thought cities were dens of evil - in large part caused by new immigrants

Also, war often breeds nationalism that desires unity and conformity

Can a country ever be unified if there are people of varied backgrounds and beliefs (religious, political, etc.)?

Threats to “America”

Rise due to fears of a threat to “ traditional American culture”

Who threatened “traditional American culture”? -- blacks, “loose” moral women, Southern and Eastern Europeans, Jews, Catholics

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The Monkey Trial

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Are you an insider?

“Return to normalcy”“The business of this country is

business”Business people in govt. positionsLower taxes on high incomes1% of banks control 50% of businessRich richer, poor poorer

Consumerism of 1920s

Year Average Hourly Earnings Average Weekly Hours 1919 .47 46.3 1920 .55 47.4 1921 .51 43.1 1922 .48 44.2 1923 .52 45.6 1924 .54 43.7 1925 .54 44.5 1926 .54 45.0 1927 .54 45.0 1928 .56 44.4 1929 .56 44.2 1930 .55 42.1

Bachelor's or First

Professional

Master's or Second

Professional

Doctor's or Equivalent

School Year

Ending

Total, All

Degrees Male Female Male Female Male Female

1918 42,041 26,269 12,316 1,806 1,094 491 65 1920 53,516 31,980 16,642 2,985 1,294 522 93 1922 68,488 41,306 20,362 4,304 1,680 708 128 1924 92,097 54,908 27,875 5,515 2,701 939 159

1926 108,407 62,218 35,045 6,202 3,533 1,216

193

1928 124,995 67,659 43,502 7,727 4,660 1,249

198

1930 139,752 73,615 48,869 8,925 6,044 1,946

353

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A Means of Ensuring Conformity -- KKK

During mid 1920s KKK membership rises to over 5 million

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Red Summer of 1919

Racial violence throughout the US from 1910-1930.

Riots in multiple cities.

Failures of Progressivism

Red Scare

Strikes in Seattle, Boston, and steel industry

Also bomb threats to famous citizens (including attorney general)

American Legion - anti radical group.

Foreign Radicals: The Easy Target

Led by Atty. Gen. Palmer police round up foreign-born anarchists and communists and deport them - no search warrant, no trial (1920)

Ends less than a year later under protests and false alarm in NYC on May Day.

Sacco and Vanzetti Case

Palmer Raids -

Stop Outsiders? Stop Immigration

Foreign People in General: Another easy target

Fears of a “barbarian horde” from Europe after the war lead to strict immigration laws

Eventually National Origins Quota Act - European immigration = 150,000 & no Asian immigration

Fears of a deterioration of the Anglo race (Eugenic Movement)

Quotas exist until 1960s