The Jazz Age

1. Chapter 8 The Jazz Age

2. Learning Targets • Students will be able to describe the political development of post World War I America • Students will be able to explain the factors in the rise of the American economy in the 1920’s

3. Presidential Politics • The Harding Administration • President Warren G. Harding • Product of the Ohio Republican political machine • Ran campaign on concept of Normalcy – a return to normal life after the war • Gave several government jobs his friends known as the Ohio Gang – many used their positions for corrupt purposes

4. Presidential Politics • Teapot Dome Scandal • Harding administration became known for scandals • Most important – Teapot Dome • Albert Fall – Secretary of the Interior • Leased US Navy oil reserves at Teapot Dome and other locations for kickbacks

5. Presidential Politics • The Coolidge Administration • President Harding died in office • Succeeded by Calvin Coolidge aka “Silent Cal” • Cleaned up government and let business be business • Coolidge easily won reelection in 1924 • Progressive Party candidate – Robert M. La Follette

6. A Growing Economy • New Industry • Increased worker earnings • More leisure time • Mass Production – large-scale manufacturing usually done by machinery, created more supply and cut consumer costs • Assembly Line – divided operations into simple tasks that unskilled workers could do and cut unnecessary motion to a minimum

7. A Growing Economy • Henry Ford first to adopt assembly line • Cut production time from 12 hours per car to 93 minutes • First product was Model T or “Tin Lizzie” • Cut prices from $850 (1908) to $295 (1924) • Lower cost of car = higher volume of sales • Paid workers $5 a day – build loyalty and keep unions out

8. A Growing Economy • Workers had to maintain high moral standards – were investigated • Growing market for cars brought in competitors such as General Motors and Chrysler • Auto industry spurred growth in supporting industries that made car parts

9. A Growing Economy • Cars revolutionized American life – mobility brought changes to where and how we lived • Other products were introduced in 1920’s • Electric irons, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, refrigerators, mouthwash, deodorants • Indoor plumbing became more commonplace

10. A Growing Economy • The Airline Industry • Aviation developed rapidly after flight of Wright Bros. at Kitty Hawk • Glenn Curtiss – invented ailerons (still used today), first flying boat, and made warplanes for US • Airline industry received boost when US government authorized air mail service Don’t ask who the mother is

11. A Growing Economy • Charles Lindbergh – first to fly solo non-stop across Atlantic in Spirit of St. Louis • Amelia Earhart female pilot attempted flight around the world – disappeared on third leg • Bessie Coleman – black female pilot – helped open doors to black aviators

12. A Growing Economy • Radio Industry • Radio broadcasting to public began in 1920 • 1926 National Broadcasting Company (NBC) • 1928 Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) • Consumer Society • Shift from saving to consumerism – spurred by prosperity of 1920’s • Consumer credit • Mass advertising

13. A Growing Economy • Managerial Revolution • Growth of businesses resulted in need for mid-level managers • New labor market – rise of business schools to fill demand • Welfare Capitalism – Companies allowed workers to buy stock, share in profits, gave benefits such as medical care and pensions • Open Shop – a workplace where workers did not have to join a union (promoted by management)

14. A Growing Economy • Rising Farm Crisis • Farmers did not share in prosperity of 1920’s • Advances in agriculture allowed more output but it was accompanied by lower prices • Farmers had borrowed heavily to produce for WWI • Congress also raised tariffs and European markets retaliated • A bill to protect farmers was passed by Congress twice but vetoed twice by Coolidge

15. Policies of Prosperity • Mellon Program • Established Bureau of the Budget and General Accounting Office • Reduced national debt through budget cuts and refinancing • Reduced taxes • Hoover’s Cooperative Individualism • Encouraged manufacturers to form trade associations that would voluntarily share information w/government • Believed this would reduce costs and promote efficiency

16. Policies of Prosperity • By 1920’s, US most dominant economic power in world • Isolationism – people did not want to be involved in world affairs • Dawes Plan – restructured Germany’s reparations payments, and European loan payments to US

17. Policies of Prosperity • Washington Conference • Arms limitation talks • Four-Power Treaty • US, GB, FR, and JP • All agreed to respect territories in Pacific • Negotiate differences • Five-Power Treaty • US, GB, FR, JP, IT • Freeze naval production / quotas • Nine-Power Treaty • US, GB, FR, JP, IT, BE, CH, NE, PO • Reasserted Open Door Policy in China & Chinese independence

18. Policies of Prosperity Hey everybody! Let’s toast marshmallows! • Abolishing War? • Pacifism on rise in US • Kellogg-Briand Pact – all nations signing document agreed to abandon war and settle disputes by peaceful means Kumbaya my Lord, kumbaya… Oh wow…the world is going to be, like, so full of peace and brotherhood!

19. Learning Targets • Students will understand the impact of immigration and new political ideas on American society • Students will understand the conflict between American rural and urban societies • Students will be familiar with changes in American culture including the contributions of African-American culture

20. A Clash of Values • Disillusionment over WWI caused resurgence of nativism • War caused new wave of immigration • More Americans turned against immigrants due to unemployment and fear of radicals • Rising anti-Semitism

21. A Clash of Values • Sacco-Vanzetti Case • Two Italian / anarchist immigrants put on trial for robbery / murder • Prosecution acted unfairly • Convicted and condemned to death • Cause Celebre • Guilty?

22. A Clash of Values • Pseudo-Scientific Racism • Nativism reinforced by “scientific” studies of Eugenics • Eugenics – belief one could improve hereditary traits • Inferiority inherited • Belief that whites of northern European stock superior • Idea gave authority to racist theories

23. A Clash of Values • Revival of Ku Klux Klan • New Klan against immigrants, Catholics, and Jews as well as blacks • New methods of recruitment resulted in largest numbers of Klan • Klan strongest in Mid-West • Klan declined due to power struggles and scandals • Last major impact on politics

24. A Clash of Values • Controlling Immigration • 1921 Emergency Quota Act – established temporary quota system • Ethnic identity and national origin determined immigration • 1924 National Origins Act – made immigration restriction national policy • Newlands Reclamation Act helped immigrants from Mexico come to US as cheap labor • Quotas exempted immigrants from Western Hemisphere

25. A Clash of Values • New Morality • Ideals of marriage and family promoted by magazines and other media • Women became more independent – careers & college • Flapper – young, dramatic, stylish, and unconventional women • More occupations opened up to women • Birth Control – family planning advocated by Margaret Sanger • Margaret Mead – first woman anthropologist

26. A Clash of Values • Fundamentalist Movement • Many Americans believed country losing its values (mostly rural) • Religious movement spread – mostly rural South and Mid-West • Fundamentalists Creationists and anti-Evolution • Popular preachers included Billy Sunday and Aimee Semple McPherson

27. A Clash of Values • The Scopes “Monkey” Trial • 1925 Butler Act - Tennessee outlawed teaching evolution • ACLU wanted to challenge law • John Scopes, biology teacher in Dayton TN, taught evolution and arrested • Trial pit William Jennings Bryan (Prosecution) against Clarence Darrow (Defense) • Scopes guilty but Fundamentalism now in retreat

28. A Clash of Values • Prohibition • Many believed alcohol source of several social problems including crime • 18th Amendment – prohibition of alcohol • 1920 Volstead Act – enforced laws against production and consumption of alcohol • Speakeasies – secret bars • Caused rise of organized crime

29. What Happened in the 1920’s? • Lifesavers, Oreos, Wheaties, Kool-Aid, Milk Duds, and Moon Pies were introduced • John Gruelle made the Raggedy Ann doll for his daughter – it later became a character in a book • Baseball cards appeared for the first time • Mickey Mouse appeared in his first film • Lincoln Logs were invented • A. A. Milne wrote Winnie the Pooh

30. Cultural Innovations • Centers of culture: Greenwich Village New York and Chicago’s South Side • Bohemian – unconventional lifestyle of young artists • Art: Edwards Hopper – realism • Writers: Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald “Nighthawks” by Edwards Hopper

31. Cultural Innovations • Popular Culture • Baseball – Babe Ruth “Sultan of Swing” • Boxing – Jack Dempsey • Football – Red Grange “Galloping Ghost” • Hollywood – silent films • First “Talking” film – The Jazz Singer • Radio – music, drama, comedy, etc.

32. African-American Culture • Harlem Renaissance – the flowering of African-American arts • Writers: Claude McKay, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston • Music: Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Bessie Smith • Jazz – music influenced by Dixieland and ragtime • Blues – soulful style of music • Cotton Club – most prominent Harlem nightspot

33. African-American Culture • African-American Politics • Concentrations of blacks created voting blocs • Oscar DePriest- first black congressman from a northern state • NAACP fought against segregation and lynching • Defeated nomination of racist Supreme Court justice • Marcus Garvey – advocated separation and independence from whites; Back-to-Africa movement

34. Inventions of the 1920’s • Push-button Elevators • Neon Signs • Oven Thermostats • Electric Razors • Tissues • Spiral-Bound Notebooks • Motels • Dry Ice • Zippers • Pop-Up Toasters • Car Radios • Adhesive Tape • Food Disposals • Water Skiing • Automatic Potato Peeler • Self-Winding Wristwatch