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Volstead Act
Also known as the "National Prohibition Act". Was passed on this date but actually went into effect on February 1, 1920. Went along with the 18th amendment saying that no alcohol was to be sold unless for medical reasons. Although it was allowed in private homes as long as the alcohol was legally acquired. -
Palmer Raids
Basically were raids on Russian Unions. Palmer joined up with J. Edgar Hoover and thier agents to hunt down suspected communists, socialists, and anarchists (people who opposed government). They'd kill people's rights, run into people's homes and offices, and jailed suspects without trials. His raids never showed the evidence of a revolutionary conspiracy he was looking for which led people to believe he had no idea what he was talking about. -
Lenin and the Communist State/Red Scare
Communism was a political system based on a single-party government ruled by a dictatorship. Russia overthrew Vladimir I. Lenin and his followers and then established a new communist state. This led to communists crying out for capitalism to be abolished everywhere. They got the name Red Scare because communists are also known as "reds" and they were waving their red flags. Red Scare was the anti-communist panic that swept the nation. -
18th Amendment
This amendment came about during the Prohibition era. It stated that any manufacture, sale, or transportation of alcoholic beverages was illegal. Caused a clash between small-town and big-city Americans. -
Sacco and Vanzetti Trial
Both were Italian immigrants and anarchists whose reputations and lives were ruined. They were both arrested and charged with the robbery and murder of a factory paymaster and his guard. Eventually sentenced to death. This trial led to many feuds between the people whether they were truly innocent or not? -
19th Amendment Ratified
Gave women the right to vote. It took a total of 72 years for this law to get ratified from when women had first started to demand for their right to vote. -
Teapot Dome Affair
The government had set aside oil-rich public lands at Teapot Dome, Wyoming and Elk Hills, California. This way the U.S. Navy could use it. Albert B. Fall then transferred the oil from the navy to the interior department. After that he leased the land to two private oil companies which led him to receiving more than $400,000 worth of loans, bonds, and cash. -
National Origins Act
This act excluded Asian Americans and made it even more difficult for others to immigrate into the U.S. It set a quota of about 150,000 people annually. -
Scopes Trial
A man by the name of John T. Scopes, a biology teacher in Dayton, challenged the new law against teaching evolution. In his class he discussed humans being one-celled forms which got him arrested. He was then sent to trial with Clarence Darrow as his lawyer. It was a fight over evolution and the role of science and religion in schools and society. They fought and fought but in the end Scopes was found guilty with a $100 fine. -
Charles Lindbergh crosses the Atlantic
Charles Linbergh flies across the Atlantic constantly within a record time of 33 hours and 29 minutes. The total trip mileage was 3,614 and he accomplished this by himself. Became America's most beloved hero of the time. -
The Jazz Singer
Very first major movie ever created with sound. It was a national pastime offering viewers romance and comedy. -
Herbert Hoover Elected President
Was a Republican who beat opponent Democrat Alfred E. Smith. What helped him win was his prosperity under Republican administrations since 1920, making him very believable. -
Stock Market Crash
(Oct 29) Is known as Black Tuesday which is the day when the stock market hit rock bottom. Stocks were starting to peak but then drastically dropped. Resulted in a total loss of 16.4 million shares, a new record.
