Political Upheaval in the Roaring Twenties: From Radicalism to Conservatism

1. The Roaring Twenties Chapter 32

2. Political Philosophies • Radical (Socialist, Communist, or Anarchist) • Conservative—keeping the status quo • Reactionary—desire to move society back into a past society, usually idealized • Liberal—advocating changes in society’s institutions to reflect changing conditions

3. Americanism • Red Scare • Bolshevik Revolution in Russia sparked paranoia that communism would spread to the US. • Large #s of strikes occurred post-WWI • b/c of inflation during war • Progressed b/c Wilson out of country due to Treaty of Versailles, which led to Red Summer of 1919

4. “Come unto me, ye opprest!”

5. Strike One • Seattle General Strike (Jan. 1919) • 35K shipyard workers on strike b/c of failed wage increase • Other workers across in Seattle joined in the strike • Though peaceful, conservatives feared a European-style labor takeover • Seattle mayor called for federal troops to head off the “anarchy of Russia”

6. Strike Two • Boston Police Strike (Sept. 1919) • 70% plus of B-Town’s policemen went on strike seeking wage increases & right to unionize • Gov. Coolidge called out the National Guard stating there was “no right to strike against public safety” • Gompers offered to settle strike, demanding police had no right to form a union

7. Strike Three • Palmer Raids • After bomb scares post-United Mine Workers of America Strike (Nov. 1919), Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer got $500K from Congress to “tear out the radical seeds” • Identities of person who sent bombs never IDed—radicals, Bolsheviks & Wobblies blamed • Bombings included Wall Street (38 dead) and Palmer’s Washington home

8. “These attacks will only increase the activities of our crime-detecting forces”

9. Palmer Raids, Part Two • Teachers had to sign loyalty oath • “Radicals” deported to Russia; mostly anarchists • Jan 1920—5K suspected communists arrested in 33 cites; • most seized w/o warrants or just cause • 550 Russians deported; many US citizens

10. “It is more blessed to give than to receive”

11. Public Reaction to Palmer Raids • Most Americans condoned Palmer’s actions • Many began to question the compromising of individual rights • Members of state legislatures were denied seats b/c they were Socialists • Conservatives used the “red scare” to break the backs of fledgling unions

12. Sacco and Vanzetti • S & V charged & convicted of killing 2 people in a robbery in Massachusetts • Jury & judge probably prejudiced: S&V were Italians, atheists, anarchists, & draft dodgers • Radicalism became issue during the trial

13. Evidence not conclusive; many believe sentence was due to prejudice Repeated motions for a new trial were DENIED by Judge Thayer & MSC Thayer sentenced the men to death by electric chair S&V Case, Part Two

14. Ku Klux Klan

15. KKK • Resurgence of KKK began in South but quickly spread to SW & Midwest • Total membership as high as 5 million • 1915 movie Birth of a Nation • Resembled nativist “Know-Nothings” than the anti-black terrorist organization of the 1860s

16. Opposed immigration, Catholics, blacks, Jews, Communists, bootleggers, gambling, and discussion of birth control Pro-WASP KKK Targets

17. Demise of the KKK • 1925—Stephenson jailed for 2nd degree murder • Embezzlement of Klan officials

18. KKK Impact • Race riots of 1919 (Charleston, Chicago) • Anti-immigration legislation • 1921 Immigration Act: ended open immigration w/ a limit and quota system • 1924 National Origins Act: reduced # of immigrants (esp. eastern/southern Europe); banned Asians completely

20. Scopes Trial (aka Monkey Trial) • Fundamentalists: • Believed teaching Darwinism evolution was destroying faith in God and Bible and causing a breakdown in America’s youth • Numerous attempts to pass laws prohibiting the teaching of evolution in public schools • 1925—Dayton, TN—HS bio teacher John Scopes indicted for teaching evolution, thus breaking a TN law banning the teaching of the evolution

21. Scopes Trial…Part Two • ACLU wanted to fight the Butler Law, Scopes volunteered; huge public following of the case via radio • Scopes was defended by Clarence Darrow • Prosecutor was William Jennings Bryan • Darrow placed fundamentalism on trial • VERDICT: Scopes found guilty and fined $100 • IMPACT: Fundamentalism suffered a setback, but strong in Baptist and Church of God; WJB died a week after the trial

24. Prohibition & the 18th Amendment • Supported by churches and women, in Midwest and South • Volstead Act of 1919 implemented the amendment; opposed in larger eastern cities b/c of “wet” foreign-born peoples

25. Problems with enforcement: • Federal authorities had never satisfactorily enforced a law were many were hostile to it. • Most drinkers ignored “dry” laws. • Lack of enforcement officials. • Alcohol could be sold by doc’s Rx & necessary for industrial uses • Alcohol could be manufactured in small amounts almost anywhere • (700 million gallons of home brew made in 1929!)

26. Results of Prohibition: • Rise of organized crime: • Huge profits in “bootlegging” • Al Capone and John Dillinger; increased violence in Chicago in 1920s • Gov officials accepted bribes • Organized crime spread to other crimes • Rise of speakeasies • Disappearance of saloons • Many Americans became used to casually breaking the law • Prohibition repealed in 1933

27. Mass Consumption Economy • Glorification of business • Booming economy post-WWI • “trickle down” tax policies • Buying on credit • Industrial productivity rose 70% • Wages @ all-time high. • Electric power increased & new applicances • New technology: electric motors & assembly lines • New industries: light metals; synthetics; movies; auto industry (petroleum, steel, rubber, concrete)

28. 1920s Inventions & Innovations • Telephoto & television (not widely available until late 1940s) • Medical breakthroughs • Iron lung (respirator) • Life expectancy rose from 49 to 59 • Construction • Skyscrapers • Empire State Building • Chain stores became common

29. New Workers: • White Collar Workers • Demand of consumer products created need for advertising and sales people • Women entered the work force • Typists • Teachers • Shop clerks • Cashiers • Switchboard operators

30. Advertising in the 1920s • Helped find mass markets for goods • Used persuasion, allure & sexual suggestion

31. Sports in the 1920s • Babe Ruth and Jack Dempsey famous due to “image making”

32. Assembly Line 101 • Frederick Taylor—started movement of using more efficient methods to increase production in the workforce • Henry Ford used it in his plant, followed by other car makers (GM and Chrysler) • Ford realized his workers were potential consumers; paid $5/day • Used the assembly line to build car in 1.5 hrs making the Model-T a staple in American life

33. Automobile Impact: • New “king industry” in America • Supporting industries such as rubber, glass, fabrics, highway construction, service stations/garages • Nation’s standard of living improved • RR industry declined b/c of cars, buses, and trucks; schools consolidated b/c of buses • Leisure time spent traveling • Sprawling suburbs

34. Radio’s Impact • Created a new bustling industry • Added to American leisure life • Nation more closely-knit • Advertising perfected as an art • Sports further boomed • Politicians used the airwaves • Newscasts informed millions @ once • Music filled the airwaves

35. Jazz Music & its impact • Pre-WWI popular in African American culture influence by old slave spirituals and folk music • New Orleans Dixieland Jazz— “modern jazz”; faster tempos • Louis Armstrong • Center moved from N.O. then Chicago • Jazz clubs popped up in American cities

36. Harlem Renaissance • Development • Came out of NYC neighborhood of Harlem • Significance: HR produced a wealth of A-A poetry, literature, art, & music that expressed the pain, sorrow, and discrimination blacks felt at this time • Poets & writers: Langston Hughes, Claude McKay, Zora Neale Hurston • Jazz: Duke Ellington & the Cotton Club • Marcus Garvey & “Back to Africa Movement”

37. Need to know also: • Impact of the airplane • Impact of the movie industry • Flapper Revolution • Changes in working conditions • 1920s Literature & the “Lost Generation” • Architecture: Frank Lloyd Wright, Art Deco

38. Essay Questions for Review: • Analyze the factors that led to a rise of “Americanism” in the U.S. during the first thee decades of the 20th century. • How did Americanism play out in American society during the 1920s? • Analyze the issues that brought modernists and traditionalists into conflict during the 1920s. • How did the booming economy of the 1920s alter American society? • How did culture (e.g. radio, movies, music & literature) reflect American society in the 1920s?