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Rural Response to the New Urban Culture of the 1920s. Cultural Conflict. 1. With Farmers going to cities, Blacks leaving the South, and immigrants coming to America, more people begin to live in cities than in the country by the 1920s. 2. Cultural changes—hedonism, flappers, etc.
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Cultural Conflict • 1. With Farmers going to cities, Blacks leaving the South, and immigrants coming to America, more people begin to live in cities than in the country by the 1920s. • 2. Cultural changes—hedonism, flappers, etc. • 1 & 2 cause a backlash from rural (small-town) white Protestants who prefer conservative “traditional” values. • They feel anxiety (their way of life/values are under attack). • North East vs. The South & West.
The Rise of the “New” KKK • A 2nd version of the KKK emerges. • New version is not just in South and aimed at keeping blacks down. • “New” KKK seeks to preserve traditional White Protestant Values. • Besides blacks, now against Catholics, Jews, immigrants, modernism, and people deemed immoral. • Spreads outside the South to all states. • Elects politicians.
Prohibition • Progressive were for it because of the negative effects on families. • Many rural Americans for it because they associate drinking with immigrants (Irish and German), the rich & city people. • 18th Amendment (1919) • Volstead Act (1920)—Calls for enforcement of prohibition.
Impact of Prohibition • Impossible to enforce--People still wanted to drink. • Bootleggers—people who made sold and/or transported illegal liquor. • Speakeasies—Clubs where liquor was sold. • Some illegal alcohol is harmful. • Rise of organized crime.
Gangs • Gangsters existed before prohibition, but selling illegal booze is what made them rich and powerful. • Violence—gang wars. • Also involved in drugs and prostitution. • Most famous is “Scarface” Al Capone of Chicago.
Restrictions on Immigration • New Immigration Law is passed in 1921. • Aimed at keeping out “New “ immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe. • Quota system based on 3% of those already in US. • 1924 National Origins Act—Reduced the number of immigrants again and excluded Asians altogether. • By the end of the decade, there were fewer immigrants coming to the US then ever before.
Rural Religion • Fundamentalism—belief in the literal truth of the Bible was popular in small town America. • They felt that their beliefs were under attack by the new urban culture. • They denounce Darwin’s Theory and Modernism • Modern evangelists begin using show business techniques & radio to reach large audiences. • Aimee Semple McPherson raised over $1.5 million in just 2-years.
The Scopes Trial • 1925—Tennessee state law prohibits teaching anything other than creationism (i.e.- no evolution). • ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union—an organization created to defend people’s constitutional rights in response to the red scare) gets John Scopes to challenge law by teaching evolution. • Sets up a court showdown. • Clarence Darrow, one of the most famous lawyers of the time, is the lawyer for Scopes. • Former Populist William Jennings Bryan testifies for the prosecution as an expert on the Bible. • Trial is broadcast on Radio. • Trial shows the cultural tension that existed in the 1920s between modernism and traditional values.
Review • What were the author’s of the 20’s known a and what were the characteristics of their work? • What accounted for the cultural tension that existed in the 1920s? Who didn’t like the modern culture that was emerging and why? How was this tension reflected geographically? • What accounted for the rise of the “new” KKK and how were they different than the “old” KKK? • What was the impact of prohibition on America? • What was the Scopes Trial and how was it emblematic of the cultural tension that existed in the 1920s?
