Henretta Hinderaker Edwards Self America s History Eighth Edition CHAPTER 22 Cultural Conflict, Bubble, and Burst, 1919-1932
Ch. 22: Cultural Conflict, Bubble, and Bust 1920-1932 The Big Question: What conflicts in culture and politics arose in the 1920s, and how did economic developments in that decade help cause the Great Depression?
Chapter 22: Cultural Conflict, Bubble, and Bust 1920-1932 1. Conflicted Legacies of World War I A. Racial Strife B. Erosion of Labor Rights C. The Red Scare 2. Politics in the 1920s A. Women in Politics B. Republicans in Business C. Dollar Diplomacy D. Culture Wars 3. Intellectual Modernism A. Harlem Vogue B. Critiquing American Life 4. From Boom to Bust A. The Postwar Economy B. Consumer Culture C. The Coming of the Great Depression
Part 1: Conflicted Legacies of World War I 1A: Racial Strife Great Migration and WWI service spurred blacks to fight for rights Increased lynchings and race riots demonstrated white backlash
Part 1: Conflicted Legacies of World War I 4 million wage laborers (20%) went on strike during 1919 Union membership dropped to 10% of non-farm work force Supreme Court struck down child labor, women s minimum wage, and union rights 1B: Erosion of Labor Rights Some companies instituted welfare capitalism with pensions and health care (5% covered)
Part 1: Conflicted Legacies of World War I 1C: The Red Scare Economic anxieties, strikes, European communism, immigration and a series of bombings led to a red scare resulting in Palmer raids, the creation of the FBI and new immigration legislation The Sacco and Vanzetti trial illustrated the tensions of the era
Part 2: Politics in the 1920s Section 2A: Women in Politics During the 1920s, limited government replaced progressive reform The potential of a women s voting bloc prompted many initial reforms such as the Sheppard-Towner Federal Maternity and Infancy Act but by the end of the decade hopes faded
Part 2: Politics in the 1920s Section 2B: Republicans and Business Harding won the 1920 election by promising a return to normalcy Commerce Secretary Hoover promoted an associated state of voluntary business cooperation instead of government regulation By 1923, Harding was engulfed in scandals (e.g. Teapot Dome) Coolidge was elected in 1924 on a pro-business platform of low taxes and limited regulation
Part 1: The Business-Government Partnership Section 2C: Dollar Diplomacy The US government encouraged banks to loan to foreign countries as a means of stimulating the economy and spreading US influence US militarily intervened in Haiti, the Dominican, Nicaragua, and more Dollar diplomacy profited US banks, strengthened corrupt, local elites and created dictatorships while failing to bring prosperity
Part 1: The Business-Government Partnership Section 2D: Culture Wars #1 By 1920, most lived in cities; by 1929, 93 cities exceeded 100,000 Prohibition (18 th amendment) was passed as a WWI temperance, anti-german measure leading to widespread bootlegging, speakeasies, and the growth of organized crime Scopes Trial represented tensions between fundamentalists and science over the issue of teaching evolution in public schools
Part 1: The Business-Government Partnership Section 2D: Culture Wars #2 24 million immigrants (1880-1920) led to 1921 Emergency Quota Act and 1924 National Origins Act limiting European immigration KKK rose to 4 million members as it targeted conservative cultural tensions (nativism, temperance, atheism, science, etc.) Hoover easily won 1928 election as Republicans made inroads into the Solid South while Democrats won some New England states
Part 3: Intellectual Modernism Section 3A: Harlem in Vogue The Harlem Renaissance was a flowering of black art, literature, jazz and cultural pride made possible by the Great Migration Marcus Garvey and the UNIA encouraged black separatism and a return to Africa ; Garvey was deported after wire fraud conviction UNIA, WWI contributed to pan-africanism and black consciousness
Part 3: Intellectual Modernism Section 3B: Critiquing American Life The lost generation of writers (e.g. Hemmingway, Steinbeck, Faulkner) wrote of disillusionment after WWI while others (e.g. Lewis, Fitzgerald) condemned the conformity and materialism of the 1920s
Part 4: From Boom to Bust Section 4A: The Postwar Economy After the post-wwi recession, per capita income rose 24% by 1929 Farming, coal and textiles struggled throughout 1920s
Part 4: From Boom to Bust Section 4B: Consumer Culture #1 Americans spent heavily on movies, cars, radios, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, stoves, etc. Consumption was fueled by mass production, advertising, credit Auto production (aided by the assembly line) greatly stimulated the economy and changed society
Part 4: From Boom to Bust Section 4B: Consumer Culture #2 Mass media (magazines, radio, movies) helped standardize culture Flappers signified young women s new spirit of independence Shorter work weeks and higher pay led to growth of leisure activities
Part 4: From Boom to Bust Section 4C: The Coming of the Great Depression Causes: consumer overspending, stock market speculation, growing income inequality, overproduction, and farm and mining troubles Consequences: stock market crash, bank failures, social impact, worldwide depression