“the roaring twenties” and the great depression (1920-1941) unit 10

““The Roaring Twenties” and The Roaring Twenties” and the Great Depressionthe Great Depression

(1920-1941)(1920-1941)

Unit 10Unit 10

I. I. Life in the 1920sLife in the 1920s::

1920s1920s: “The Jazz Age” “The Roaring 20s” : “The Jazz Age” “The Roaring 20s” “The Golden Age of Sports”“The Golden Age of Sports”

A. A. Changing Role of WomenChanging Role of Women:: 1919thth Amendment Amendment (1920) – granted (1920) – granted

women suffrage (right to vote)women suffrage (right to vote) New jobs opened up during WWI and the New jobs opened up during WWI and the

women didn’t want to give their jobs up women didn’t want to give their jobs up when the men came back home – so…when the men came back home – so…more women began to go to collegemore women began to go to college


Jeanette RankinJeanette Rankin – first woman elected to – first woman elected to Congress (1916) – served throughout the Congress (1916) – served throughout the 1920s1920s

FlappersFlappers – modern women of the 1920s – modern women of the 1920s -young, rebellious, fun-loving, and bold -young, rebellious, fun-loving, and bold -short hair, short dresses (to the knees), -short hair, short dresses (to the knees), more makeup (esp. lipstick) more makeup (esp. lipstick) -attitudes change – ex: began to smoke -attitudes change – ex: began to smoke and drink in publicand drink in public


B.B. Prohibition EraProhibition Era (1919-1933): (1919-1933): 1818thth Amendment Amendment (1919) – prohibited the (1919) – prohibited the

making, selling, or transportation of making, selling, or transportation of alcoholalcohol

Volstead ActVolstead Act – law passed by Congress – law passed by Congress to enforce prohibition – ignored by most to enforce prohibition – ignored by most of the cities on the east coastof the cities on the east coast


Success of prohibition:Success of prohibition:-consumption of alcohol decreased-consumption of alcohol decreased-arrest for drunkenness decreased-arrest for drunkenness decreased WhyWhy did Prohibition eventually fail? did Prohibition eventually fail?1)1) Not enforced – some police depts. were Not enforced – some police depts. were

corrupt, just didn’t care, or were scared corrupt, just didn’t care, or were scared of the gangstersof the gangsters

2)2) Most people didn’t take prohibition Most people didn’t take prohibition seriously – drank anyway seriously – drank anyway


3)3) The crime wave that began made most The crime wave that began made most people think that the amendment should people think that the amendment should be repealedbe repealed

-organized crime got involved in -organized crime got involved in bootleggingbootlegging (the illegal selling of alcohol) (the illegal selling of alcohol)


Al CaponeAl Capone – nicknamed “Scarface” – nicknamed “Scarface” -had a talent for avoiding jail by buying off -had a talent for avoiding jail by buying off policemen, city officials, and politicianspolicemen, city officials, and politicians-made up to $60 million a year from -made up to $60 million a year from bootleggingbootlegging-convicted of tax evasion in 1931 and sent -convicted of tax evasion in 1931 and sent to prisonto prison-released in 1939 after becoming ill with -released in 1939 after becoming ill with syphilis – died in 1947syphilis – died in 1947


2121stst Amendment Amendment (1933) – repealed the 18 (1933) – repealed the 18thth Amend. and allowed local communities to Amend. and allowed local communities to decide whether or not to legalize alcoholdecide whether or not to legalize alcohol

--speakeasyspeakeasy – secret club or bar – usually in – secret club or bar – usually in a basement – needed a password to get ina basement – needed a password to get in


C.C. Entertainment in the 1920sEntertainment in the 1920s:: Shorter working hours and higher wages Shorter working hours and higher wages

gave Americans more spare time and gave Americans more spare time and more money for entertainmentmore money for entertainment

1) 1) RadioRadio – first radio station in Pittsburgh, – first radio station in Pittsburgh, PA in Nov. 1920 – only news at first – PA in Nov. 1920 – only news at first – baseball and music broadcasted laterbaseball and music broadcasted later


2)2) Moving Picture ShowsMoving Picture Shows (“movies”) – all (“movies”) – all movies were silent films at first (had movies were silent films at first (had music but no talking) music but no talking) -Charlie Chaplin was the most famous silent -Charlie Chaplin was the most famous silent film starfilm star-first “talking” movie was -first “talking” movie was The Jazz SingerThe Jazz Singer (1927)(1927)-other stars of the 20s: Rudolph Valentino, -other stars of the 20s: Rudolph Valentino, Clara Bow, Mary PickfordClara Bow, Mary Pickford


3) 3) SportsSports – radio made sports more popular – radio made sports more popular – baseball became “America’s Favorite – baseball became “America’s Favorite Pastime” – famous athletes included:Pastime” – famous athletes included:


a)a) Babe RuthBabe Ruth – “ – “The Sultan of Swat”…“The The Sultan of Swat”…“The Great Bambino”Great Bambino”

a) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyFaLT-L2uk

-most famous baseball player of the ‘20s (NY -most famous baseball player of the ‘20s (NY Yankees) Yankees)

-714 career homeruns (a record nearly 40 -714 career homeruns (a record nearly 40 years)years)


b)b) Harold “Red” GrangeHarold “Red” Grange – famous football – famous football playerplayer

-nicknamed “The Galloping Ghost”-nicknamed “The Galloping Ghost”

-made Pro football very popular-made Pro football very popular


c)c) Jack DempseyJack Dempsey – famous heavyweight – famous heavyweight boxerboxer

-100,000s attended his matches-100,000s attended his matches


d)d) Man “o” WarMan “o” War – famous race horse – famous race horse

-named horse of the century-named horse of the century

-lost only 1 time in 21 races-lost only 1 time in 21 races

-the horse that beat him was named…-the horse that beat him was named…

UpsetUpset


e)e) Gertrude EderleGertrude Ederle – 1 – 1stst woman to swim woman to swim across the 35 mile wide English Channelacross the 35 mile wide English Channel

-her time beat the men’s record by nearly 2 -her time beat the men’s record by nearly 2 hourshours


4)4) Music / DanceMusic / Dance – the radio made music – the radio made music more popular more popular --JazzJazz was the most popular music of the 20s – was the most popular music of the 20s – started in New Orleansstarted in New Orleans--Louis ArmstrongLouis Armstrong was the most popular jazz was the most popular jazz musician of the 20smusician of the 20s-popular dances included: Charleston, Fox--popular dances included: Charleston, Fox-trot, and Tangotrot, and Tango


5)5) LiteratureLiterature – famous authors included: – famous authors included:

-F. Scott Fitzgerald – -F. Scott Fitzgerald – The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby

-Sinclair Lewis – -Sinclair Lewis – Main StreetMain Street

-Ernest Hemingway – -Ernest Hemingway – A Farewell to ArmsA Farewell to Arms


D.D. TransportationTransportation Henry FordHenry Ford – “made the 20s happen” – “made the 20s happen”

-responsible for changing the automobile industry -responsible for changing the automobile industry by using the by using the assembly lineassembly line – each worker had a – each worker had a specific jobspecific job-1920: 8 million cars on the road-1920: 8 million cars on the road-1929: 23 million-1929: 23 million-developed the -developed the Model TModel T car (every one was exactly car (every one was exactly the samethe same-created the “$5 workday” and the concept of the -created the “$5 workday” and the concept of the “weekend”“weekend”


-before the assembly line: 12 hrs to build a car-before the assembly line: 12 hrs to build a car

-after assembly line: 28 minutes to build a car-after assembly line: 28 minutes to build a car


Charles LindberghCharles Lindbergh – nicknamed “Lucky – nicknamed “Lucky Lindy” or the “Lone Eagle”Lindy” or the “Lone Eagle”

-the first to fly solo, non-stop across the Atlantic-the first to fly solo, non-stop across the Atlantic

-flew from NYC to Paris May 20-flew from NYC to Paris May 20 thth and 21 and 21stst of of 19271927

-no parachute, no radio, no heat, no sleep-no parachute, no radio, no heat, no sleep

-name of the airplane was the “Spirit of St. Louis”-name of the airplane was the “Spirit of St. Louis”


Amelia EarhartAmelia Earhart – the 1 – the 1stst woman to fly woman to fly across the Atlantic without stopping (1932) across the Atlantic without stopping (1932) -disappeared while trying to fly around the world-disappeared while trying to fly around the world


E.E. Return of the Ku Klux KlanReturn of the Ku Klux Klan Revived in the 1920sRevived in the 1920s Membership: Membership:

-1916: 100,000-1916: 100,000

-1924: 2 million-1924: 2 million

-1928: 4 million-1928: 4 million

-today: approx. 6,000-today: approx. 6,000 Attacked African Am.’s, Jews, Catholics, Attacked African Am.’s, Jews, Catholics,

and immigrantsand immigrants


F.F. Scopes / “Monkey” TrialScopes / “Monkey” Trial 1925: TN passed a law that made it 1925: TN passed a law that made it

illegal to teach evolution in public schoolsillegal to teach evolution in public schools John ScopesJohn Scopes, a teacher from Dayton, , a teacher from Dayton,

TN, challenged the lawTN, challenged the law He was arrested and chargedHe was arrested and charged Defense attorney was Defense attorney was Clarence DarrowClarence Darrow William Jennings BryanWilliam Jennings Bryan was the was the

prosecutorprosecutor


Trial became a public battle between Trial became a public battle between Christian Christian fundamentalistsfundamentalists (those who (those who interpret the Bible literally) and scientistsinterpret the Bible literally) and scientists

Scopes was found guilty and fined $100 Scopes was found guilty and fined $100

G.G. The Red ScareThe Red Scare The fear of radicals (esp. communists and The fear of radicals (esp. communists and

socialists)socialists) Palmer RaidsPalmer Raids::

Started by Att. Gen. Started by Att. Gen. A. Mitchell PalmerA. Mitchell Palmer after after an attempt on his life by an anarchistan attempt on his life by an anarchist

Many suspected communist were arrested Many suspected communist were arrested and jailedand jailed

Most were immigrants who had committed no Most were immigrants who had committed no crimescrimes

More than 500 were deportedMore than 500 were deported


Sacco and Vanzetti CaseSacco and Vanzetti Case – two Italian – two Italian immigrants, who were anarchists, accused immigrants, who were anarchists, accused of killing 2 men during a robbery in Mass. of killing 2 men during a robbery in Mass.

-convicted without a fair trial – both were -convicted without a fair trial – both were executed in 1927executed in 1927


H.H. Republican PresidentsRepublican Presidents

1)1) Warren G. HardingWarren G. Harding – won the election of – won the election of 1920 by promising a “return to normalcy” 1920 by promising a “return to normalcy” -remembered for scandals -remembered for scandals

-his advisors, called the “-his advisors, called the “Ohio Gang”Ohio Gang”, were , were corrupt (sold gov’t offices, took bribes, etc.)corrupt (sold gov’t offices, took bribes, etc.)

Teapot Dome ScandalTeapot Dome Scandal (1921) (1921) Sec. of the Interior Sec. of the Interior Albert FallAlbert Fall transferred oil transferred oil

reserves in CA and WY from Navy Dept. to Dept. reserves in CA and WY from Navy Dept. to Dept. of the Interiorof the Interior

Fall leased the oil reserves to oilmen in exchange Fall leased the oil reserves to oilmen in exchange for money (bribe)for money (bribe)

Rumors led to a Senate investigation and Fall Rumors led to a Senate investigation and Fall was sentenced to a year in prisonwas sentenced to a year in prison


2)2) Calvin CoolidgeCalvin Coolidge – became Pres. after the – became Pres. after the death of Hardingdeath of Harding

-nicknamed “Silent Cal” because he was a -nicknamed “Silent Cal” because he was a very quiet manvery quiet man

-also won the election of 1924-also won the election of 1924


3)3) Herbert HooverHerbert Hoover – won the election of – won the election of 1928 because people were pleased with 1928 because people were pleased with the economy and didn’t want a lot of the economy and didn’t want a lot of changechange

““A chicken in every pot, and twoA chicken in every pot, and two

cars in every garage.”cars in every garage.”

““I have no fears for the futureI have no fears for the futureof our country. It is bright withof our country. It is bright with

hope.”hope.”

Other Events During the 1920sOther Events During the 1920s

Emergency Quota Act of 1921Emergency Quota Act of 1921 Set quotas (limits) on numbers of immigrants Set quotas (limits) on numbers of immigrants

from each countryfrom each country Discriminated against Asians and eastern Discriminated against Asians and eastern

Europeans (Italians, Russians, etc.)Europeans (Italians, Russians, etc.)

Washington Naval ConferenceWashington Naval Conference (1921-22) (1921-22) To reduce arms, world leaders agreed to limit To reduce arms, world leaders agreed to limit

construction of large warshipsconstruction of large warships

Kellogg-Briand PactKellogg-Briand Pact (1928) (1928) An attempt to “outlaw” warAn attempt to “outlaw” war Signed by 62 nationsSigned by 62 nations In reality there was no way to enforce it and In reality there was no way to enforce it and

everyone knew iteveryone knew it

The Great MigrationThe Great Migration (1916-1930)(1916-1930) The movement of Afr-Am’s from the rural south The movement of Afr-Am’s from the rural south

to major northern and western citiesto major northern and western cities Why?Why?

1)1) Factory jobs (“pull”)Factory jobs (“pull”)

2)2) Racism in the South (“push”)Racism in the South (“push”)

“the roaring twenties” and the great depression (1920-1941) unit 10

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