EOC Test Preparation: Roaring 20s and the Great Depression

New Scientific Ideas and Discoveries

• Charles Darwin: evolution– “higher criticism” stated

that the Bible should be studied as a piece of literature to decide its validity

• Issues arising between traditionalists/fundamentalists and these new ideals.

New Scientific Ideas and Discoveries

• The “Monkey Trial”– Scopes Trial• John Scopes, TN high school

teacher that taught evolution instead of creationism• William Jennings Bryan was

the prosecutor • Clarence Darrow

represented Scopes• Bryan admitted that he did

not interpret the Bible literally, yet Scopes still lost

New Scientific Ideas and Discoveries

• New Technology– Henry Ford• Model T car

and mass production

– Wright brothers• First airplane

flights

New Scientific Ideas and Discoveries

• New technology– Household appliances– Nightlife– Mass media• Radio • Movies

Consumerism

• Consumer society: not a want, but a need– Ppl measure their

social status by what they buy and own

• Installment plan– Buy now, pay later

Women

• More women entering workforce– Still not getting leadership roles– Single women wanted, not married women

• Dress and attitude changed– Flappers

Intellectual Responses

• The Lost Generation– Writers who disagreed with moral corruption and

greed• F. Scott Fitzgerald• Ernest Hemingway

Art in the 1920s• Jazz

– African American culture but reached a wide audience

– Louis Armstrong-trumpeter and singer

• Poetry and literature– Langston Hughes– Zora Neal Hurston

• Harlem Renaissance

Social Conflicts

• Red Scare– Communism

• Palmer Raids• Sacco and Vanzetti– Italian immigrants – Accused anarchists and

murderers– Little evidence, put to

death in 1927

Social Conflicts

• Immigration– Nativism– Quotas

• KKK– Attacked blacks, Jews, Catholics, immigrants

• Prohibition– 18th, 21st Amendments– Organized crime

The Great Depression

• Causes:– Speculation– Buying on margin/credit– Farmers• Overproduction• Dust Bowl

The Great Depression

• Black Tuesday– Oct. 29, 1929• Stock market crashed

• 25% unemployed• Hoovervilles– Homeless communities • Shantytowns

The Great Depression

• FDR– Fireside chats– Direct relief– Deficit spending – New Deal