WWI and 1920s: The Death WWI and 1920s: The Death of Progressivismof Progressivism

Benjamin M. Friedman,Benjamin M. Friedman, The Moral Consequences of Economic Growth (2005)(2005)

White middle-class basically conservativeWhite middle-class basically conservative

Economic prosperityEconomic prosperity willingness to expand willingness to expand power/rightspower/rights– Prosperity 1900s-1917Prosperity 1900s-1917 Progressives Progressives

Economic hardshipEconomic hardship defend what little left defend what little left– Hardships 1890sHardships 1890s rise Jim Crow, Populists rise Jim Crow, Populists

Exception: 1930sException: 1930s

I. “Fatal to Our Form of Government and I. “Fatal to Our Form of Government and American Ideals”: WWI on the Home FrontAmerican Ideals”: WWI on the Home Front

A. War CapitalismA. War Capitalism

MobilizationMobilization unprecedented unprecedented involvementinvolvementFood Administration (produce + Food Administration (produce + conserve); Fuel Administration conserve); Fuel Administration (coal/gas)(coal/gas) shortages at home shortages at home (inflation/black market)(inflation/black market)War Industries Board: War Industries Board: purchases, allocated, set prices purchases, allocated, set prices (all on business advice(all on business advice huge huge profits)profits)

National War Labor Board National War Labor Board mediates + AFL mediates + AFL cooperatescooperates few strikes few strikesEnough for men/ material in Enough for men/ material in Europe + full employment Europe + full employment (but cost living up)(but cost living up)Race riots [Chicago, July 27-Race riots [Chicago, July 27-Aug 2, 1919: “Negro Aug 2, 1919: “Negro invasion” (38 d, 537 I; East invasion” (38 d, 537 I; East St. Louis, May, June 1917, St. Louis, May, June 1917, 40-200 killed]40-200 killed]Total # women work not Total # women work not grow muchgrow much change type of change type of jobjob– 1,000s volunteer war effort + 1,000s volunteer war effort +

Alice Paul and National Alice Paul and National Woman’s Party Woman’s Party embarrassmentembarrassment passage passage 19th19th

Paid for 1/3 in taxes; 2/3 bonds/loansPaid for 1/3 in taxes; 2/3 bonds/loans debt debt $1B (1914)$1B (1914) $25B (1919) $25B (1919)

$33.5B cost; interest + vet benefits$33.5B cost; interest + vet benefits 3x (Bonus 3x (Bonus Army)Army)

““Once lead this people into war Once lead this people into war and they’ll forget there ever was and they’ll forget there ever was a thing as tolerance. To fight a thing as tolerance. To fight you must be brutal and ruthless, you must be brutal and ruthless, and the spirit of ruthless brutality and the spirit of ruthless brutality will enter into the very fibre of will enter into the very fibre of our national life, infecting our national life, infecting Congress, the courts, the Congress, the courts, the policeman on the beat, the man policeman on the beat, the man in the street.”in the street.”

Woodrow WilsonWoodrow Wilson April 1917April 1917

B. War DemocracyB. War Democracy

Wilson silence dissentWilson silence dissent Committee on Public Information Committee on Public Information (CPI)(CPI)CPI sought mind mobilization w/ CPI sought mind mobilization w/ propaganda:propaganda:Demonized GermanyDemonized GermanyUrged self-censorship & spied on Urged self-censorship & spied on neighborsneighborsVigilantes harassed German-Vigilantes harassed German-AmericansAmericansState/ local governments, State/ local governments, businesses, & colleges fired businesses, & colleges fired dissenters, banned German dissenters, banned German culture (sauerkrautculture (sauerkraut liberty liberty cabbage)cabbage)

Espionage Act (1917) banned Espionage Act (1917) banned treasonous (loosely defined) treasonous (loosely defined) material from mailmaterial from mailSedition Act (1918) banned Sedition Act (1918) banned criticism of USGcriticism of USG– FBI to enforceFBI to enforce J. Edgar Hoover J. Edgar Hoover

USG crushed IWW, imprison USG crushed IWW, imprison Eugene V. Debs (socialist)Eugene V. Debs (socialist)SchenckSchenck v. v. U.S.U.S. (1919): “clear and (1919): “clear and present danger”present danger” American Civil Liberties UnionAmerican Civil Liberties UnionPost-war: 4 million workers strike Post-war: 4 million workers strike (delayed demands) + growing (delayed demands) + growing black militancy (DuBois, vets) + black militancy (DuBois, vets) + Bolshevik Rev. (W sent troops)Bolshevik Rev. (W sent troops) “Red” summer“Red” summer Red Scare Red Scare (A. Mitchell) Palmer Raids(A. Mitchell) Palmer Raids

Post-War DepressionPost-War Depression

1920-21: post-war dislocations1920-21: post-war dislocations 24% fall 24% fall GDPGDP

Relatively quick recoveryRelatively quick recovery

Shaped attitudes Americans + Hoover in Shaped attitudes Americans + Hoover in 19291929– 1929 GDP falls only 12%, short recovery 1929 GDP falls only 12%, short recovery

before collapsebefore collapse

II. The New Era of the 1920sII. The New Era of the 1920sConsumerism flourished b/c of advertising, Consumerism flourished b/c of advertising, credit, & economic growth (compare 1990s)credit, & economic growth (compare 1990s)Gov. fostered business growth (lobbyists)Gov. fostered business growth (lobbyists)– Coolidge: “The chief business of the American Coolidge: “The chief business of the American

people is business.”people is business.”– Taft court abandoned Progressive era rulings Taft court abandoned Progressive era rulings

+ attacked unions+ attacked unionsMass entertainment grew further as big Mass entertainment grew further as big business, technology (radio), and middle class business, technology (radio), and middle class expandedexpandedAccelerated pop shifts (blacks, suburbs)Accelerated pop shifts (blacks, suburbs)Some opposed modern changes (reactionary)Some opposed modern changes (reactionary)Decade ended w/ economic collapseDecade ended w/ economic collapse

III. EconomyIII. EconomyA. The BoomA. The Boom

Cost of living stable, earnings increasedCost of living stable, earnings increased

Productivity gains: moving assembly line (1914), Productivity gains: moving assembly line (1914), electrification (1929, electricity in 2/3 of all homes)electrification (1929, electricity in 2/3 of all homes)

““Welfare capitalism”Welfare capitalism”

Car industry: Car industry: – 1900: 4,000 cars/year1900: 4,000 cars/year

– 1929: 4.8 million/year1929: 4.8 million/year 1car/5 people (1/43 in UK) 1car/5 people (1/43 in UK)

As RxR: fuels other segments (steel, glass, oil, As RxR: fuels other segments (steel, glass, oil, construction), creates new biz (fast food, gas construction), creates new biz (fast food, gas stations), changes patterns (suburbs, roads)stations), changes patterns (suburbs, roads)

Car symbol of social equalityCar symbol of social equality

B. BustB. Bust1) Small business: corporate expansion 1) Small business: corporate expansion (gov’t support/acquiescence)(gov’t support/acquiescence) crushed crushed– 1918: 29,000 chain stores; 1929: 160,000 (i.e. 1918: 29,000 chain stores; 1929: 160,000 (i.e.

WalMart)WalMart)

2) Farmers: WWI2) Farmers: WWI produce for Europe produce for Europe overproductionoverproduction price crash (Dust Bowl) price crash (Dust Bowl)

3) Workers: union decline (WWI + Red 3) Workers: union decline (WWI + Red Scare), wages not keeping paceScare), wages not keeping pace– 1929 (pre-Crash): $2500/yr family 4 decent living1929 (pre-Crash): $2500/yr family 4 decent living– 2/3 tax paying Americans made less than $15002/3 tax paying Americans made less than $1500

IV. SocietyIV. SocietyA. “Bound for the Promised Land”: Great A. “Bound for the Promised Land”: Great

MigrationMigration

Blacks pulled North by WWI jobs ($48/day in Blacks pulled North by WWI jobs ($48/day in factories vs. $2/day; paid cash vs. factories vs. $2/day; paid cash vs. sharecropping), rights (blacks can vote de sharecropping), rights (blacks can vote de facto + de jure), and power (substantial facto + de jure), and power (substantial voting blocs in citiesvoting blocs in cities limited by machine limited by machine patronage system/gerrymandering/white patronage system/gerrymandering/white flight)flight)

1.5 million left South, 1920s1.5 million left South, 1920s

Harlem Renaissance (NYC): explosion Harlem Renaissance (NYC): explosion artistic expression [Langston Hughes, artistic expression [Langston Hughes, James Weldon Johnson (writer + NAACP), James Weldon Johnson (writer + NAACP), Alain Locke (Alain Locke (The New NegroThe New Negro)])]Continued discrimination/violenceContinued discrimination/violence Marcus Garvey (Universal Negro Marcus Garvey (Universal Negro Improvement Assoc.) + call for black Improvement Assoc.) + call for black independence/separationindependence/separation– Black Star Line: “return” blacks to Black Star Line: “return” blacks to

“motherland” of Africa“motherland” of Africa

B. Women WorkingB. Women WorkingNumber in workforce continued to increase post-Number in workforce continued to increase post-WWIWWI10.8 million working women (1930) 10.8 million working women (1930) Job segregation (clerical); pay discriminationJob segregation (clerical); pay discriminationMost female workers singleMost female workers single3.1 million 3.1 million wiveswives worked to help w/ consumption worked to help w/ consumption– 1920: 23% female workers; 1930: 29%1920: 23% female workers; 1930: 29%Many African, Japanese, & Mexican American Many African, Japanese, & Mexican American wives worked to help their families survive wives worked to help their families survive – Worked as domestics or rural laborersWorked as domestics or rural laborers

C. SuburbanizationC. SuburbanizationProsperity & cars fueled suburban expansion (can + Prosperity & cars fueled suburban expansion (can + want)want)

1930 almost 1 out of 6 in suburbs; growing 2x speed 1930 almost 1 out of 6 in suburbs; growing 2x speed citiescities

Middle & upper classes fled urban problems (white Middle & upper classes fled urban problems (white flight)flight)– Left behind worse off: jobs, capital, talent goneLeft behind worse off: jobs, capital, talent gone gov’t turns gov’t turns

back on center citiesback on center cities– Excluded blacks, Jews, Catholics, Hispanics (restrictive Excluded blacks, Jews, Catholics, Hispanics (restrictive

covenants)covenants)

Cities & suburbs = centers of consumer cultureCities & suburbs = centers of consumer culture– Shopping centers, fast foodShopping centers, fast food

D. Children and The ElderlyD. Children and The ElderlyDecrease # children: 1870-80 over half Am women Decrease # children: 1870-80 over half Am women 5+; 1920s 20% 5+5+; 1920s 20% 5+ more time + resources for more time + resources for childrenchildren

Better nutrition/ sanitation increased life expectancy Better nutrition/ sanitation increased life expectancy for most, but for most, but notnot all people all people– 60 years by 1930 from 54 years in 192060 years by 1930 from 54 years in 1920

More people living past age 60 and forced retirements More people living past age 60 and forced retirements increased poverty among elderlyincreased poverty among elderly

US leaders rejected European-style pensions as US leaders rejected European-style pensions as socialisticsocialistic

Many states in 1920s adopted pensions & retirement Many states in 1920s adopted pensions & retirement homes to reduce elderly povertyhomes to reduce elderly poverty

V. CultureV. CultureA. Youth Culture: Sex, Drugs, JazzA. Youth Culture: Sex, Drugs, Jazz

RadiosRadios homogenization culture homogenization cultureAdvertising: selling image, creates insecurity + fear (“A Advertising: selling image, creates insecurity + fear (“A woman is only as old as her complexion”)woman is only as old as her complexion”) culture of culture of consumption (rejection thrift + work; buy on credit)consumption (rejection thrift + work; buy on credit)Cars: suburbs, end rural isolation, youthful freedomCars: suburbs, end rural isolation, youthful freedomMovies: explosion # films + viewers; no censorshipMovies: explosion # films + viewers; no censorship changing attitudes sexchanging attitudes sexWomen’s roles: voting (more right than actually), clothingWomen’s roles: voting (more right than actually), clothing= Youth culture: generational chasm: youth embrace = Youth culture: generational chasm: youth embrace change, elders fearchange, elders fear parents irrelevant as model parents irrelevant as model

DatingDating

Victorian expectation marriage brokenVictorian expectation marriage broken

1910s: minority engaged premarital sex1910s: minority engaged premarital sex

1920s: majority in 19301920s: majority in 1930

Limits sexual rev.: limited to eventual Limits sexual rev.: limited to eventual husband or one otherhusband or one other

1) spread of birth control, 2) 1) spread of birth control, 2) economic/cultural (industrialeconomic/cultural (industrial consumer), consumer), 3) Sigmund Freud3) Sigmund Freud

Drugs and Rock and RollDrugs and Rock and Roll

Smoking: tobacco companies begin to Smoking: tobacco companies begin to target women (weight control)target women (weight control)

Drinking: despite (because of?) Prohibition: Drinking: despite (because of?) Prohibition: majority college students “smart” thing to majority college students “smart” thing to dodo

Jazz: embrace black music (sexuality, Jazz: embrace black music (sexuality, drugs): “primitive” rhythms appealed to drugs): “primitive” rhythms appealed to instincts mid class whites trying to controlinstincts mid class whites trying to control– Jazz + forms of dancing banned from schoolsJazz + forms of dancing banned from schools

B. Images of FemininityB. Images of Femininity““Flappers” remade image of femininityFlappers” remade image of femininity

Stressed personal freedom & sexualityStressed personal freedom & sexuality– Few actually became flappersFew actually became flappers

Dress styles changed: 19.5 yards of cloth to 7Dress styles changed: 19.5 yards of cloth to 7

Some women asserted independence/ equality: Some women asserted independence/ equality: Equal Rights Amendment (“Men and women shall Equal Rights Amendment (“Men and women shall have equal rights throughout the United States and have equal rights throughout the United States and every place subject to its jurisdiction.”); run for every place subject to its jurisdiction.”); run for office and form political organizations (League of office and form political organizations (League of Women Voters)Women Voters)– 1919thth did not dramatically change women’s voting did not dramatically change women’s voting

habitshabits

C. The Gay ’20sC. The Gay ’20sHomosexual culture more overt in Homosexual culture more overt in some cities (Greenwich Village, some cities (Greenwich Village, NYC); greater freedom in NYC); greater freedom in speakeasiesspeakeasies illicit behaviors illicit behaviors overlap (provide entertainment)overlap (provide entertainment) degree protection; still degree protection; still discriminationdiscrimination

No sharp line: So long as man No sharp line: So long as man maintained “male” role in sex and maintained “male” role in sex and did not take on the “female” role, did not take on the “female” role, he could cross back and forthhe could cross back and forth– ““On the down low”On the down low”