american life in the roaring twenties, 1920–1929
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter30AmericanLifeinthe"RoaringTwenties,"
1920–1929
I.SeeingRed• BolshevikRevolution(1919):comingofCommunismtoRussia– EffectsonUnitedStates:• SmallCommunistPartyemerged
– Blamedforsomelaborstrikes(Seattle,1919)• Bigredscareof1919-1920:
– Nationwidecrusadeagainstleft-wingerswhoseAmericanismwassuspect
– AttorneyGeneralA.MitchellPalmer“sawred”tooeasily– “FightingQuaker”roundedup6,000suspects– NumberdoubledinJune1919whenabombshatteredboththenervesandthehomeofPalmer
I.SeeingRed(cont.)
– Othereventshighlightedredscare:– December1919:shiploadof249allegedalienradicalsdeportedonBuford(the“SovietArk”)toRussia
– September1920,still-unexplainedbombblastonWallStreetkilled38peopleandwoundedahundredothers
• Statelegislatures1919-1920joinedoutcry;passedcriminalsyndicalismlaws:– Anti-redstatutesmadeunlawfulmereadvocacyofviolencetosecuresocialchange
– Criticsprotestedthatmerewordsnotcriminaldeeds– ViolencedonetofreedomofspeechasIWWmembersandotherradicalsvigorouslyprosecuted
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I.SeeingRed(cont.)– In1920fiveNewYorkstatelegislators,alllawfullyelected,deniedseatsbecausetheywereSocialists
• Conservativesusedredscaretobreakfledglingunions:– Unionscalledfor“closed”orall-unionshop;thiswasdenouncedas“Sovietismindisguise”
– Employershailedtheirantiunioncampaignfor“open”shopasAmericanplan
• Anti-redismandantiforeignismreflectedinnotoriouscase—regardedbyliberalsas“judiciallynching”– NicolaSaccoandBartholomeoVanzetticonvictedin1921ofmurderofaMass.Paymasterandhisguard
I.SeeingRed(cont.)– JuryandjudgeprejudicedagainstdefendersbecausetheywereItalians,atheists,anarchists,anddraftdodgers
– Liberalsandradicalstheworldoverralliedtotheirdefense– Casedraggedonforoversixyearsuntil1917whencondemnedmenelectrocuted
– Communistsandradicalshadtwomartyrsin“classstruggle”
II.HoodedHoodlumsoftheKKK
• NewKuKluxKlan:– Resembledantiforeign“nativist”movementof1850sratherthanantiblacknightridersof1860s:• Antiforeign,anti-Catholic,antiblack,anti-Jewish,antipacifists,anti-Communist,anti-internationalist,anti-evolutionist,antibootlegger,antigambling,anti-adultery,andanti-birthcontrol• Pro-Anglo-Saxon,pro-“native”American,pro-Protestant
II.HoodedHoodlumsoftheKKK(cont.)
– Klanbetokenedextremist,ultraconservativeuprisingagainst:• ForcesofdiversityandmodernitytransformingAmericanculture• SpreadrapidlyinMidwestandBibleBeltSouthwhereProtestantFundamentalismthrived• Mid-1920speakhadfivemilliondues-payingmembersandwieldedpotentpoliticalinfluence• “KnightsoftheInvisibleEmpire”includedamongofficialsImperialWizards,GrandGoblins,KingKleagles,andotherhorrendous“kreatures”
II.HoodedHoodlumsoftheKKK(cont.)
• ThingsofKKK:– Impressive“konclaves,”hugeflag-wavingparades– Chiefwarningwasblazingcross– Principleweaponbloodiedlash,supplementedbytarandfeathers
– Rallyingsongsandbrutalslogan
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II.HoodedHoodlumsoftheKKK(cont.)
• Collapsedinlate1920sinpartbecauseofcorruption– $10initiationfee,ofwhich$4akickbacktolocalorganizationasincentivetorecruit
– KKKamanifestationofintoleranceandprejudiceagainstpaceofsocialchangein1920s
– Civilrightsactivistsfoughtinvainforlegislationmakinglynchingafederalcrime
III.StemmingtheForeignFlood
• IsolationistAmerica(1920s),ingrownandprovincial,hadlittleuseforimmigrants:
• 800,000camein1920-1921• 2/3fromsouthernandeasternEurope• Americansrecoiledatthese“NewImmigrants”• CongresspassedEmergencyQuotaAct1921
– NewcomersfromEuroperestrictedtoaquota• ImmigrationActof1924replacedEmergencyAct
– Quotacutfrom3%to2%– Nationaloriginsbaseshiftedfromcensusof1910to1890
III.StemmingtheForeignFlood (cont.)
– SouthernEuropeansbitterlydenounceddeviceasdiscriminatory– PurposewastofreezeAmerica'sexistingracialcomposition,whichwaslargelynorthernEuropeans
– SlammeddoorabsolutelyagainstJapaneseimmigrants» “HateAmerica”rallieseruptedinJapan
– ExemptfromquotasystemwereCanadianandLatinAmericans—» Easytoattractforjobswhentimesgood» Easytosendhomewhentimesbad
• EffectedpivotaldepartureinAmericanpolicy– Claimednationwasfillingup—“NoVacancy”sign– By1931moreforeignersleftthanarrived
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III.StemmingtheForeignFlood (cont.)
– QuotascausedAmericatosacrificesomeofitstraditionoffreedomandopportunity• Aswellasitsfutureethnicdiversity(seeFigure30.1)
– ImmigrationActof1924markedendofera—– Virtuallyunrestrictedimmigrationhadbroughtsome35millionnewcomers,mostlyfromEurope
– Immigranttidenowcutoff– LeftonAmericanshoresapatchworkofethniccommunitiesseparatedbylanguage,religion,andcustoms
– “Culturalpluralists”opposedimmigrationrestrictionbecausetheycelebratedethnicidentityandculturalcross-fertilization
Figure 30-1 p696
IV.TheProhibition“Experiment”
• Prohibition—– Lastcauseofprogressivereformmovement– EighteenthAmendment:(1919):authorizedprohibition(SeeAppendix)• ImplementedbyVolsteadActpassedbyCongressin1919• Madeworld“safeforhypocrisy”• LegalabolitionofalcoholespeciallypopularinSouthandWest
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IV.TheProhibition“Experiment” (cont.)
• InWest,prohibitionanattackonvicesassociatedwithwesternsaloons(publicdrunkenness,prostitution,etc.)• Strongoppositionto“dry”amendmentinlargereasterncities– Especiallyfor“wet”foreign-bornpeople– Sociabilitybuiltarounddrinking
• MostAmericansassumedprohibitionhadcometostay• Prohibitionistsnaïve:
– OverlookedtenaciousAmericantraditionofstrongdrink– Overlookedweakcontrolbycentralgovernment,especiallyoverprivatelives
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IV.TheProhibition“Experiment” (cont.)
– Federalgovernmenthadneversatisfactorilyenforcedalawthatmajorityofpeopleorstrongminorityrejected
– Lawmakerscouldnotlegislateawaythirst• Peculiarconditionshamperedenforcement:
– Wisdomoffurtherself-denialafterwar– Slakingthirstbecamecherishedpersonalliberty– Wetsbelievedwaytorepealwastoviolatelawonlargescale– Solderscomplainedprohibition“putover”onthemwhiletheywere“overthere”
– Workersbemoanedlossofcheapbeer
IV.TheProhibition“Experiment” (cont.)
– Flamingyouththoughtit“smart”toswillbootlegliquor– Millionsofoldercitizensfoundforbiddenfruitfascinatingastheyengagedin“barhunts”
• Mighthavebeenmoresuccessfuliftherehadbeenlargearmyofenforcementofficials– Federalagenciesunderstaffed– Underpaidsnooperssusceptibletobribery
• Prohibitionsimplydidnotprohibit:– “Menonly”cornersaloonsreplacedby“speakeasies”– Hardliquordrunkbymenandwomen– ZealofAmericanprohibitionagentsstrainedrelationswithCanada
IV.TheProhibition“Experience” (cont.)
– Worstofhomemade“rotgut”producedblindness,evendeath» Bootleggerworkedinpartnershipwithundertaker
• Yet“nobleexperiment”notentirelyafailure:– Banksavingsincreased– Absenteeisminindustrydecreased– Deathfromalcoholismandcirrhosisdeclined– Lessalcoholconsumedthanindaysbeforeprohibition
V.TheGoldenAgeofGangsterism• Prohibitionspawnedshockingcrimes:– Profitsofillegalalcoholledtobriberyofpolice– Violentwarsinbigcitiesbetweenrivalgangs• Rivaltriggerman“erased”bootleggingcompetitors• Chicago(1920s):500mobstersmurdered• Arrestsfewandconvictionsfewer• Chicagomostspectacularexampleoflawlessness:
– 1925“Scarface”AlCaponebegansixyearsofgangwarfare– Zoomedthroughstreetsinarmor-platedcarwithbulletproofwindows
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V.TheGoldenAgeofGangsterism(cont.)
– “PublicEnemyNumberOne,”couldnotbeconvictedofmassacreonSt.Valentine'sDay1929» Ofsevenunarmedmembersofrivalgang» Afterserving11yearsforincometaxevasion,Caponereleasedassyphiliticwreck
• Gangstersmovedintootherprofitableandillicitactivities:– Prostitution,gambling,narcotics– Honestmerchantsforcedtopay“protectionmoney”– Racketeersinvadedranksoflocallaborunionsasorganizersandpromoters
– Organizedcrimecametobeoneofnation'sbiggestbusinesses
V.TheGoldenAgeofGangsterism(cont.)
– By1930,annual“take”ofunderworld$12to$18billion• Criminalcallousnesssanktonewdepthsin1923:
– Kidnappingforransomandeventualmurderofinfantsonofaviator-heroCharlesALindbergh
– CongresspassedLindberghLaw:makinginterstateabductionincertaincircumstancesadeath-penaltyoffense
VI.MonkeyBusinessinTennessee• Educationalstridesin1920s:–Morestatesrequiredstudentstoremaininschooluntilage16or18,oruntilgraduation
– Highschoolgraduationratesdoubledin1920s• ChangeineducationaltheorybyJohnDewey
• Principlesof“learningbydoing”– So-calledprogressiveeducationwithitsgreater“permissiveness”
– Believedworkbenchasessentialasblackboard– “Educationforlife”shouldbeprimarygoalofteacher
VI.MonkeyBusinessinTennessee(cont.)
– Sciencemadeadvancements:• Healthprograms,launchedbyRockefellerFoundationinSouthin1909,wipedouthookwormby1920s• Betternutritionandhealthcareincreasedlifeexpectancyofnewborns(from50yearsin1901to59yearsin1929)• ScienceandprogressiveeducationfacedunfriendlyfireofnewlyorganizedFundamentalists– Numerousattemptsmadetosecurelawsprohibitingteachingofevolution
– Tennessee,heartofso-calledBibleBeltSouth,wherespiritofevangelicalreligionrobust
VI.MonkeyBusinessinTennessee(cont.)
• “MonkeyTrial”:– In1925,Daytonhigh-schoolbiologyteacherJohnT.Scopesindictedforteachingevolution• Defendedbynationallyrenownedattorneys
–WilliamJenningsBryanmadetoappearfoolishbyfamedcriminallawyerClarenceDarrow• Fivedaysaftertrial,Bryandiedofstroke
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VI.MonkeyBusinessinTennessee(cont.)
• Historicclashbetweentheologyandbiologyprovedinconclusive:– Scopesfoundguiltyandfined$100– Tennesseesupremecourtupheldlaw,butsetasidefineontechnicality
– Fundamentalistswononlyhollowvictory• Fundamentalism(emphasisonliteralreadingofBible)
– RemainedvibrantforceinAmericanspirituallife– StronginBaptistChurchandrapidlygrowingChurchesofChrist,organizedin1906
VII.TheMass-ConsumptionEconomy
• Prosperityput“roar”intotwenties:– RecentwarandTreasurySecretaryAndrewMellon'staxpolicies:• Favoredrapidexpansionofcapitalinvestment• Newmachineryincreasedproductivity• Assembly-lineproductionreachedperfectionbyHenryFord'sfactorieswhereafinishedautomobileemergedeverytenseconds• Newindustriessprouted
VII.TheMass-ConsumptionEconomy(cont.)
• Automobile:– Nowbecamecarriageofcommoncitizen– By1930Americansownedalmost30millioncars– Createdshiftincharacterofeconomy:• Americanmanufacturers
– Masteredproblemsofproduction– Shiftedfocustoconsumption– Couldtheyfindmassmarketsforgoods?
• NewarmofAmericancommercecameintobeing:
VII.TheMass-Consumption Economy(cont.)
– Advertising• BruceBartonpublishedbestseller:TheManNobodyKnows:– Provocativethesis:JesusChristgreatestadmanofalltime– “EveryadvertisingmanoughttostudytheparablesofJesus”– “Marvelouslycondensed,asallgoodadvertisingshouldbe”– Christ'sexecutiveability:“Hepickeduptwelvemenfromthebottomranksofbusinessandforgedthemintoanorganizationthatconqueredtheworld”
VII.TheMass-ConsumptionEconomy(cont.)
– Sports:• Becamebigbusinessinconsumptioneconomy• HeroeslikeGeorgeH.(“Babe”)Ruthfarbetterknownthanmoststatesmen• YankeeStadiumbecame“housethatRuthbuilt”• In1921heavyweightchampion,JackDempsey,knockedoutlightheavyweightGeorgeCarpentier– JerseyCitycrowdpaidmorethanamilliondollars– Firstinseriesofmillion-dollar“gates”in1920s
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VII.TheMass-Consumption Economy(cont.)
– Buyingoncredit;anotherinnovationofpostwareconomy:• “Possesstodayandpaytomorrow”wasmessage• Peoplewentintodebttoownallkindsofnewmarvels—refrigerators,vacuumcleaners,carsandradios—now• Prosperityaccumulatedanoverhangingcloudofdebt• Economybecameincreasinglyvulnerabletodisruptionsofcreditstructure
VIII.PuttingAmericaonRubberTires• Machinerywasnewmessiah—andautomobileitsprincipalprophet– Automobile• Newindustrialsystem:
– Assembly-linemethods– Mass-productiontechniques
• Americansadaptedratherthaninventedgasolineengine:– Europeanscanclaimoriginalhonor– 1890s—daringAmericaninventorsandpromoters– HenryFordandRansomE.Oldsdevelopedinfantautomotiveindustry
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VIII.PuttingAmericaonRubberTires(cont.)
• By1910sixty-ninecarcompaniesrolledouttotalannualproductionof181,000units• DetroitbecamemotorcarcapitalofAmerica• ScientificManagement:
– StopwatchefficiencytechniquesofFrederickW.Taylor– Eliminatewastedmotion
• HenryFord:– Morethananyotherindividual,putAmericaonrubbertires– HisModelT(“TinLizzie”)
» Cheap,rugged,andreasonablyreliable,thoughroughandclattering
» Partshighlystandardized
VIII.PuttingAmericaonRubber(cont.)
– Devotedhimselftogospelofstandardization– Graspedandappliedtechniqueofmovingassemblyline—Fordism
– SoldFordroadsterfor$260(seeFigure30.2)– FordismcaughtfireoutsideUnitedStates– FloodofFordsphenomenal:
» In1914“AutomobileWizard”turnedouthis500,000thModelT» By1930totalhadrisento20million» By1929,26millionmotorvehiclesregistered—oneforevery4.9American(seeFigure30.3)
Figure 30-2 p704
Figure 30-3 p704
IX.TheAdventoftheGasolineAge
– Impactofself-propelledcarriagetremendous:• Giganticnewindustryemerged• Employeddirectlyorindirectly6millionpeople• 1,000sofnewjobscreatedbysupportingindustries
– Rubber,glass,andfabrics– Highwayconstruction,servicestationsandgarages– America'sstandardoflivingrosetoenviablelevel
• Petroleumbusinessexpanded:– OilderricksshotupinCalifornia,Texas,Oklahoma– Railroadshardhitbycompetitionwithpassengercars,buses,andtrucks
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IX.TheAdventoftheGasolineAge(cont.)
• Speedymarketingofperishablefoodstuffsaccelerated• Newprosperityenrichedoutlyingfarms• Countlessnewhard-surfacedroadsconstructed• Thankstoinstallment-plans,countlessAmericansacquiredhabitofriding
– Zoomingmotorcarsagentsofsocialchange:• Atfirstaluxury,rapidlybecameanecessity• Becamebadgeoffreedomandequality• Ostentationseemedmoreimportantthantransportation• Leisurehourscouldnowbespentmorepleasurably
IX.TheAdventoftheGasolineAge(cont.)
• Womenfurtherfreedfromdependenceonmen• Suburbsspreadfurtherfromurbancore• Isolationamongsectionsdeclined• Autobusesmadepossibleconsolidationofschools,andtosomeextentchurches• By1951,amillionAmericanshaddiedinmotorvehicleaccidents• Virtuoushomelifepartiallybrokedownaspeopleabandonedparlorforhighway• Moralsofyouthsaggedcorrespondingly• Crimewaveof1920sand1930saidedbymotorcar
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IX.TheAdventoftheGasolineAge(cont.)
• Airandenvironmentalqualityimprovedwithlesshorseuse• Automobilebroughtmoreconvenience,pleasure,andexcitementintomorepeople'slivesthanalmostanyothersingleinvention
X.HumansDevelopWings
• Gasolineenginesprovidedpowerthatenabledhumanstoachieveflight–Wrightbrothers,OrvilleandWilbur,performed“miracleatKittyHawk,”N.C.onDec.17,1903• Orvillestayedairbornefor12secondsand120feet• Airagelaunchedby2obscureOhiobicyclerepairmen
– Airplanes—“flyingcoffins”usedfor:• VariouspurposesduringGreatWar,1914-1918• Privatecompaniesoperatedpassengerlinesandtransportedmail
X.HumanDevelopWings (cont.)
– 1927CharlesA.Lindbergh—“Flyin'Fool;”firstsoloflightacrossAtlantic• Pilotedsingle-engineplane,SpiritofSt.LouisfromNewYorktoParisingrueling33hoursand39minutes• Achievementdidmuchtodramatizeandpopularizeflying,whilegivingboosttoinfantaviationindustry
– Impactofairshiptremendous:• ProvidedAmericanspiritwithanotherdimension• Gavebirthtogiantnewindustry
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X.HumanDevelopWings (cont.)
• Unfortunately,initialaccidentratehigh• By1920sand1930s,travelbyaironregularlyscheduledairlinessignificantlysafer• Humanity'snewwingsincreasedtempoofalreadybreathlesscivilization– Railroadsfurtherhurtbylossofpassengersandmail– Lethalnewweapongiventowarwithuseofbombs– Isolationbehindoceansbecomingbygonedreamasworldslowlyshrinks
XI.TheRadioRevolution
• Speedofairplanefareclipsedbyspeedofradiowaves:– GuglielmoMarconi,anItalian,inventedwirelesstelegraphin1890s• Usedforlong-rangecommunicationduringWorldWarI
– Nextcamevoice-carryingradio:• Red-letterdayinNovember1920whenPittsburghradiostationbroadcastnewsofHarding'slandslidevictory
XI.TheRadioRevolution (cont.)
– Latermiraclesachievedintransatlanticwirelessphonographs,radio,telephones,andtelevision
– Earliestradioprogramsreachedonlylocalaudiences• Bylate1920stechnologicalimprovementsmadelong-distancebroadcastingpossible– Nationalcommercialnetworksdrownedoutlocalprogramming
• Advertising“commercials”maderadioanothervehicleforAmericanfreeenterprise,ascontrastedtogovernment-ownedsystemsofEurope
XI.TheRadioRevolution (cont.)
• Radiodrewpeoplebackhomeandknittednationtogether– Programssponsoredbymanufacturersanddistributorsofbrand-nameproductshelpedmakeradio-toutedlabelshouseholdwordsandpurchases
• Sportsfurtherstimulated• Politiciansadjustedspeakingtechniquestonewmedium• Hostoflistenersheardtheirfavoritenewscaster• Musicoffamousartistsandorchestrasbeamedintocountlesshomes
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XII.Hollywood'sFilmlandFantasies
• Flickeringmoviefruitofnumerousgeniuses:• 1903:birthoffirststorysequenceonscreen:
– TheGreatTrainRobbery–infive-centtheaters,popularlycalled“nickelodeons”
– Firstfull-lengthclassicwasD.W.Griffith'sBirthofaNation(1915):» GlorifiedKuKluxKlanofReconstructiondaysanddefamedblacksandNortherncarpetbaggers
• Hollywoodbecamemoviecapitalofworld
XII.Hollywood'sFilmlandFantasies(cont.)
– UsedinWorldWarIasengineofanti-Germanpropaganda:• “Hangthekaiser”filmshelpedsellwarbondsandboostmorale
– 1927—successoffirst“talkie”—TheJazzSinger:• “Silents”usheredoutastheaters“wiredforsound”• Earlycolorfilmsproduced
XII.Hollywood'sFilmlandFantasies(cont.)
• Phenomenalgrowthinpopularityoffilms–Movie“stars”commandedmuchhighersalariesthanpresidentofUnitedStates• $100,000forsinglefilm• Manyactorsandactressesmorepopularthannation'spoliticalleaders
– Criticsbemoanedvulgarizationofpopulartasteswithfilmsandradio
XII.Hollywood'sFilmlandFantasies(cont.)
• Effectsofnewmassmedianotallnegative:– Insularityofethniccommunitieserodedasimmigrants'childrentooktopublicmedia
– Somediversityofimmigrants'OldCountryculturelost,but:• StandardizationoftastesandlanguagehastenedentranceintoAmericanmainstream• Setstageforworking-classpoliticalcoalitionthatwouldovercomedivisiveethnicdifferencesofpast
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XIII.TheDynamicDecade– Changesinlifestylesandvalues:• Morelivedinurbanareasthanincountrysideby1920• Womencontinuedtofindemploymentincities• Organizedbirthcontrolmovement:
– LedbyfieryfeministMargaretSanger,whoopenlychampionedcontraceptives
• CampaignforEqualRightsAmendment– ByAlicePaul'sNationalWoman'sparty
• Churchesaffected:– FundamentalistslostgroundtoModernists– Somechurchestriedtofightdevilwithworldlyweapons
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XIII.TheDynamicDecade(cont.)
– Turnedtonewentertainment– Someevenincludedmovingpicturesforyouth
– Chimes“strucksexo'clockinAmerica”:• Advertisersexploitedsexualalluretoselleverything• Youngwomen'sclothingandstyleschanged• “Flapper”symbolizedmoreindependentlifestyle• Adventuresomefemalesshockedelderswhentheysportednewone-piecebathingsuits• JustificationfornewsexualfranknessfoundinwritingsofDr.SigmundFreud
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XIII.TheDynamicDecade(cont.)
• Manytaboosflewoutwindow• Sexualfreedombecamemoreprevalent• Flapperasgoddessof“eraofwonderfulnonsense,”andjazzitssacredmusic:– MovedupfromNewOrleanswithmigratingblacks– Wailingsaxophonebecametrumpetofnewera– W.C.Handy,“JellyRoll”Morton,LouisArmstrong,andJoe“King”Olivergavebirthtojazz
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XIII.TheDynamicDecade(cont.)
• Newracialprideblossomedinnorthernblackcommunities:– HarleminNYC—130,000AfricanAmericanresidentsin1920s
» Oneoflargestblackcommunitiesinworld– CulturenurturedbypoetslikeLangstonHughes
» TheWearyBlues(1926)– Harlemspawnedcharismaticpoliticalleader,MarcusGarvey
» FoundedUnitedNegroImprovementAssociation(UNIA)topromoteresettlementofblacksin“Africanhomeland”
» Sponsoredblackbusinessestokeepmoneyinblackpockets» Helpednewcomerstonortherncitiesgainself-confidenceandself-reliance
» ExampleprovedimportanttofoundingofNationofIslam(BlackMuslim)movement
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XIV.CulturalLiberation
• Literatureandthearts:–Mostofearliergenteelwritershaddiedby1920s• NewYorkerEdithWhartonandVirginia-bornWillaCathercontinuedtobepopular
– Nownewmodernistsbecomingpopular(seeThinkingGloballysection)
–Modernismquestionedsocialconventionsandtraditionalauthorities,consideredoutmodedbyacceleratingchangesof20thcenturylife
XIV.CulturalLiberation (cont.)
– H.L.Menckenbestpersonifiedthisiconoclasm:• Knownas“BadBoyofBaltimore”• Promotedmodernistcausesinpoliticsandliterature• Assailedmarriage,patriotism,democracy,prohibition,Rotarians,andothersacrediconsofmiddle-classAmerican“booboisie”• HedismissedSouthas“SaharaoftheBozart”• Attackedhypocriticaldo-goodersas“Puritans”
– Puritanism,hejibed,was“hauntingfearthatsomeone,somewhere,mightbehappy”
XIV.CulturalLiberation (cont.)
– YoungwritersjoltedbyWWIoutofcomplacencyabouttraditionalvaluesandliterarystandards• Probedfornewcodesofmoralsandunderstanding,aswellasfreshformsofexpression• F.ScottFitzgerald—ThisSideofParadise(1920)
– “Hefoundallgodsdead,allwarsfought,allfaithsinmanshaken”
– TheGreatGatsby(1925)brilliantcommentaryonillusoryAmericanidealofself-mademan» JamesGatzreinventedhimselfastycoonJayGatsbyonlytobedestroyedbythosewithwealthandsocialstanding
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XIV.CulturalLiberation (cont.)
• TheodoreDreiser'smasterpieceAnAmericanTragedy(1925)exploredpitfallsofsocialstriving• ErnestHemingway:
– AmongwritersmostaffectedbyWWI– Hishard-boiledrealismtypifiedpostwarwriting– TheSunAlsoRises(1926)toldofdisillusioned,spirituallynumbAmericanexpatriatesinEurope
– InAFarewelltoArms(1929)heturnedhisownwarstoryintooneoffinestnovelsaboutthewar
– Hisliterarysuccessesandflamboyantpersonallifemadehimoneofmostfamouswritersinworld
– WonNobelPrizeinliteraturein1954
XIV.CulturalLiberation (cont.)
• “LostGeneration”:– Hemingway,FitzgeraldandotherAmericanwritersandpaintersformedartisticcadre:• AsexpatriatesinpostwarEurope• FoundshelterandinspirationinParissalonofGertrudeStein:– StudiedunderWilliamJamesatHarvardandherearlyworksappliedhistheoryof“streamofconsciousness”
– FriendswithPabloPicassoandHenriMatisse,shewroteradicallyexperimentalpoetryandprose
– JoinedfellowAmericanpoetsEzraPoundandT.S.Eliotinvanguardofmodernistliteraryinnovation
XIV.CulturalLiberation (cont.)
– “Highmodernists”:• Experimentedwithbreakdownoftraditionalliteraryforms• Exposedlossesassociatedwithmodernity• Wroteinself-consciouslyinternationalistmode• Haughtilyrejectedparochialismtheyfoundathome• Poundrejectedoldcivilizationandproclaimeddoctrine:“MakeItNew;”hestronglyinfluencedEliot• EliotinTheWasteLand(1922)producedoneofmostimpenetrablebutinfluentialpoemsofcentury• E.E.Cummingsusedunorthodoxdictionandpeculiartypesettingtoproducestartlingpoeticeffects
XIV.CulturalLiberation (cont.)
– NotallAmericanwritersradical:• Manycontinuedfamiliarregionaliststyle• RobertFrostwrotehauntinglyaboutnatureandfolkwaysofhisadoptedNewEngland• CarlSandburgextolledworkingclassesofChicagoinstrong,simplecadence• SherwoodAndersoninWinesburg,Ohiodissectedvariousfictionalpersonalities,findingthemwarpedbytheircrampedpsychologicalsurroundings
XIV.CulturalLiberation (cont.)
• SinclairLewis:– MainStreet(1920)best-sellingstoryofonewoman'sunsuccessfulrevoltagainstprovincialism
– InBabbitt(1922)heaffectionatelypilloriedGeorgeF.Babbitt,whoslavishlyconformstorespectablematerialismofhisgroup
• WilliamFaulkner:– FocusedondisplacementofagrarianOldSouthbyrisingindustrialorder
– Hisworkofferedfictionalchronicleofanimaginary,history-richDeepSouthcounty
– Inpowerfulbooks:TheSoundandtheFury(1929)andAsILayDying(1930)hepeeledbacklayersoftimeandconsciousnessfromconstrictedsoulsofhisingrownsoutherncharacters
XIV.CulturalLiberation (cont.)
– Faulknerexperimentedwithmultiplenarrators,complexstructure,and“streamofconsciousness”techniques
– Hisextendedmeditationculminatedinwhatsomeconsiderhisgreatestwork:Absalom,Absalom!(1936)
– Americancomposersandplaywrightsmadevaluablecontributions:• JeromeKernandOscarHammerstein'sShowBoat(1927)wasAmerica'sfirst“musicalplay”• EugeneO'Neill'sStrangeInterlude(1928)laidbareFreudiannotionsofsexandsubconsciousinsuccessionofdramaticsoliloquies– GarneredNobelPrizeinliterature(1936)
XIV.CulturalLiberation (cont.)
• HarlemRenaissance:– BlackculturalrenaissanceinuptownHarlem:• LedbywritersClaudeMcKay,LangstonHughes,andZoraNealeHurston• AndjazzartistsLouisArmstrongandEubieBlake
– Arguedfor“NewNegro”whowasafullcitizenandsocialequaltowhites• Adoptedmodernisttechniques,HughesandHurstoncapturedoralandimprovisationaltraditionsofcontemporaryblacksindialect-filledpoetryandprose
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XV.WallStreet'sBigBullMarket
• Economicconditionsof1920s:– Severalhundredbanksfailedannually– Floridaboom:numerousunderwaterplotssoldtoeagerpurchasersforpreposteroussums
– Stocksprovidedevengreatersensations:• Speculationranwild• Boom-or-busttradingpushedmarkettodizzypeaks• Stockmarketbecameveritablegamblingden
XV.WallStreet'sBigBullMarket(cont.)
– In1920smanyboughtstocks“onmargin”• Intoxicatedbylureofquickprofits,fewheededwarningsthatthiskindofprosperitycouldnotlast• LittledonebyWashingtontocurbspeculators• 1921CongressmovedtowardbudgetsanitybycreatingBureauoftheBudget:– AssistedpresidentinpreparingestimatesofreceiptsandexpenditurestobesubmittedtoCongressasannualbudget
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XV.WallStreet'sBigBullMarket(cont.)
– BurdensometaxesfromwardistastefultoSecretaryofTreasuryMellon• Arguedhightaxesforcedrichtoinvestintax-exemptsecuritiesratherthaninfactoriesthatprovidedpayrolls• Arguedhightaxesnotonly:
– Discouragedbusiness,but– BroughtinsmallerreturntoTreasurythanmoderatetaxes
• Mellonhelpedengineerseriesoftaxreductionsfrom1921to1926
XV.WallStreet'sBigBullMarket(cont.)
• Congress:– Repealedexcess-profittax– Abolishedgifttax– Reducedexcisetaxes,thesurtax,theincometax,andestatetaxes
• Mellon'sspare-the-richpoliciesshiftedtaxburdenfromwealthytomiddle-incomegroups• Mellon,lionizedbyconservativesas“greatestsecretaryofTreasurysinceHamilton”remainscontroversialfigure:– Reducednationaldebtby$10billion– Accusedofindirectlyencouragingbullmarket
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