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Soldiers Return Home From War
The troops coming out of the war were now unemployed. Some had nowhere to go. -
Urbanization
More and more people started moving to the cities rather than staying in rural areas. People found that cities were much better for industrial revolution, immigration, and they had better jobs. These urban cities were characterized by diversity, consumerism, freedom, and entertainment. The rural cities were characterized by religious fundamentalism, nativism, and their traditions. -
Labor Unrest
In 1919, there were 3,000 strikes, with a participation of about 4 million workers. The laborers almost always lost but that didn't stop them from trying again. President Wilson didn't pay any attention to these strikes because he was too busy promoting his peace plan. -
Red Scare
The American Red Scare was the fear that America would turn into a communist country. They didn’t want to turn out like Russia. It really came around when the Sedition Act was put in place because it controlled what people said and prevented people talking bad about their government. -
18th Amendment
Declared the production, transportation, and sale of intoxicating liquors illegal. -
Paris Peace Conference
The United States rejected the Treaty of Versailles and never actually joined the League of Nations. Many people thought the United States were pressured into joining World War 1 and to become committed to being neutral between all countries. -
Volstead Act
This act enforced the 18th Amendment, however it was difficult to enforce in cities. -
Pro Business policies
Pro business policies were adopted to try and help America "return to normal". These policies include low taxes so Americans could actually spend their money, the government couldn't interfere as much with private businesses so they would have the opportunity to grow, and no progressive reforms. As workers wages rose, the less hours they worked, and the more money they spent. -
Consumerism
A lot of people started spending more and more money. There was a mass production which led to a bunch of new products. This resulted in an increase of advertising which convinced consumers to keep buying products. Companies then came out with ways people could buy these items on credit, where you pay for the item through monthly installments. -
Harlem Renaissance
The idea that African Americans should be able to freely express themselves, embrace their culture, and to strive for racial equality. -
The Changing Role of Women
Woman saw many new changes and opportunities. They saw much more freedom with new fashion trends, job opportunities, and the 19 Amendment was passed which allowed women the right to vote. Young, unmarried women who embraced themselves were considered to be “flappers”. They work their hair in bobs and hats, smoked, drank alcohol, wore makeup, danced, etc. There behaviors were very shocking to men and traditional women. -
Literature
Some of the most important authors at this time were F. Scott Gerald and Sinclair Lewis. They both criticized the 1920s consumerism and conformity. Others wrote about the “Lost Generation” who rejected war and didn’t approve of the new American society. -
Sports mania
Baseball, boxing, and football were all newly introduced and became very popular. Radio stations broadcasted games to help bring about a crowd. Baseball was segregated and Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson became Negro League heroes. Babe Ruth played for the New York Yankees and became the biggest sports hero of 1920. Heavyweight boxer, Jack Dempsey, became so popular that his prize fights set financial and attendance records. -
New Inventions and Innovations
Refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, radio, and passenger airlines are just a few examples of some of the new products that came around in the 1920s. It is said that 4 in 10 homes had a radio in them by the end of the 1920s. -
Schools and Mass Media Changing Culture
Schools integrated as a way to "Americanize" the immigrants. This resulted in school attendances to increase as well as culture to spread. In addition to that, magazines and radios allowed different groups of people to talk about their cultures. -
Great Migration
The Great Migration was when over 6 million African Americans moved from the rural South to cities in the North. Many of these African Americans were in debt and saw no hope in site. They wanted a chance in the cities to grow business or to get noticed. -
Palmer Raids
These raids were an attempt by the United States Department of Justice to targeted Italian immigrants and Eastern European Jewish immigrants who had ties with Italian anarchist and labor activists. -
Senate Rejected the League of Nations
The Senate didn't pass the Treaty of Versailles. The other countries decided to go on anyway with the treaty without the United States. -
Sacco and Vanzetti
Sacco and Vanzetti were charged with committing a robbery as well as murdering a security guard. The two men were eventually executed. This was an important case because it showed the flaws in America's legal system at the time. -
Garvey Conference
Marcus Garvey organized the United States first Black nationalist movement. His goal was to get Black Americans to show off their identities loud and proud. -
19th Amendment
Granted women the right to vote. -
Election of 1920
Republicans showed a lack of leadership, whereas democrats were unpopular because of the chaotic ending of Wilson's term. Harding won due to his promise to return back to normal. His plan was to avoid taking positions on issues, and have a pro-business approach: "less government in business and more business in government". Harding passed away before his term ended so Coolidge took over. He kept similar policies and he decided to keep the taxes down and the business profits up. -
Movies and Radio
There were over 500 stations across the nation that would play music, broadcast sporting events, inform listeners about the news, preach religion, tell comedy, or even put on dramatic programs. Movies with sound became popular and helped Hollywood and actors/actresses grow. Irving Berlin was the most popular composer of the 1920s. Tin Pan Alley produced 90% of the popular music in the 20s. He focused on ragtime, dance music, and jazz. -
Emergency Quota Act of 1921
This limited the number of immigrants allowed to enter the United States. -
Ford Motor Company
Henry Ford invented the car. His company took off and was responsible for the creations of the moving assembly line, glass factories, steel mills, and auto production. -
National Origin Act of 1924
This reduced quota to 2% of number living in the United States in 1890. It discriminated against eastern and Southern Europeans. It excluded immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe and Asia. -
Great Gatsby Published
The novel "Great Gatsby" was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. -
Revival of K.K.K.
Due to economic and social turmoil, the United States consisted ff nativists who returned to isolationism. They would shut everyone out and focus on America itself to try and remember what it is like to be American again. This resulted in the return of the Klu Klux Klan. 40,000 members marched on Washington Pennsylvania Avenue to try and make their point across. -
Lindbergh's First Solo Transatlantic Flight
Charles A. Lindbergh completed the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight. He flew from Long Island, New York to Paris, France. -
"Jazz Singer" premires
The "Jazz Singer" was the first motion picture with sound. -
Kellogg-Briand Act
This act was an agreement signed to outlaw war. It had very little impact because it was almost impossible to enforce. -
Mickey Mouse is Born
Walt Disney created Mickey Mouse in the animation "Steamboat Willie". -
Stock Market Collapse
The stock market collapsed and sent the country into the Great Depression. 15 million Americans were unemployed and about half the country's banks failed. Personal income, tax revenue, profits, and prices dropped, while international trade plunged. -
Chicago Mob
The Saint Valentine's Day Massacre was the bloodiest incident of the decade. Chicago mobsters fought to control the bootlegging trade. Al Capone's gang murdered 6 of their rivals from the Bugs Moran.
