Chapter 23Chapter 23Affluence and Affluence and AnxietyAnxiety

The American PeopleThe American People, 6, 6thth ed. ed.

I. Postwar ProblemsI. Postwar Problems

The Red ScareThe Red Scare As a result of the Russian Revolution, As a result of the Russian Revolution,

Americans imagined Communists as the Americans imagined Communists as the worst possible threat to their way of lifeworst possible threat to their way of life

The ideals of Socialism and Communism The ideals of Socialism and Communism were tied, often erroneously, to the were tied, often erroneously, to the American labor movementAmerican labor movement

Strikes increased and the government Strikes increased and the government responded with a series of raids by a responded with a series of raids by a young J. Edgar Hoover to round up young J. Edgar Hoover to round up suspected subversives and radicalssuspected subversives and radicals

The Ku Klux KlanThe Ku Klux Klan Organized in Georgia by William J. SimmonsOrganized in Georgia by William J. Simmons Original Klan accepted almost anyone, 1919’s Original Klan accepted almost anyone, 1919’s

Klan was thoroughly anti-foreign, anti-Semitic, Klan was thoroughly anti-foreign, anti-Semitic, and anti-Catholicand anti-Catholic

Opposed evolution, endorsed religion, Opposed evolution, endorsed religion, immigration restrictions, short skirts and “demon immigration restrictions, short skirts and “demon rum”rum”

Especially motivated to keep black Americans Especially motivated to keep black Americans “in their place”“in their place”

II. A Prospering EconomyII. A Prospering Economy

The Rising Standard The Rising Standard of Livingof Living Americans of the post-war years had Americans of the post-war years had

more leisure time and a shorter work more leisure time and a shorter work weekweek

Educational opportunities expanded for Educational opportunities expanded for the “right” demographicthe “right” demographic

Corporate mergers began to increase Corporate mergers began to increase again, with an emphasis on professional again, with an emphasis on professional management and employee caremanagement and employee care

The Automobile CultureThe Automobile Culture The manufacture of the automobile The manufacture of the automobile

underwent enormous growth in the underwent enormous growth in the postwar years, stimulating the rubber, postwar years, stimulating the rubber, steel, and petroleum industriessteel, and petroleum industries

The growing affordability of the auto The growing affordability of the auto forced governments to pave more streets forced governments to pave more streets with federal assistancewith federal assistance

The auto contributed to the creation of The auto contributed to the creation of city suburbs and rampant pollutioncity suburbs and rampant pollution

A Communications A Communications RevolutionRevolution

During the 1920s, the number of homes During the 1920s, the number of homes with telephones increased from 9 to 13 with telephones increased from 9 to 13 millionmillion

Radio and motion pictures began to Radio and motion pictures began to solidify a shared identity of Americans solidify a shared identity of Americans through entertainment, news, and sportsthrough entertainment, news, and sports

III.III. Hopes Raised, Hopes Raised, Promises DeferredPromises Deferred

Religious FundamentalismReligious Fundamentalism

Many of the religious faithful saw a major Many of the religious faithful saw a major spiritual crisis in the sweeping changes of the spiritual crisis in the sweeping changes of the 1920s1920s

Fundamentalism survived the era of Fundamentalism survived the era of sophistication, modernization, and changesophistication, modernization, and change

Radio spread the message of the fundamentalist Radio spread the message of the fundamentalist preachers and attracted numerous converts to preachers and attracted numerous converts to those ministers who could readily adapt to the those ministers who could readily adapt to the new communications technologynew communications technology

Rural America in the 1920sRural America in the 1920s American farmers, as a rule, did not share American farmers, as a rule, did not share

in the prosperity of the 1920s.in the prosperity of the 1920s. A vicious cycle of overproduction to meet A vicious cycle of overproduction to meet

demands continually lowered market demands continually lowered market prices of produce, forcing many farmers prices of produce, forcing many farmers into the poorhouseinto the poorhouse

Advancements in agriculture (pesticides Advancements in agriculture (pesticides and advanced fertilizers) increased yield and advanced fertilizers) increased yield per acre and put many farmers out of per acre and put many farmers out of businessbusiness

IV.IV. The Business of The Business of PoliticsPolitics

Global ExpansionGlobal Expansion The 1920s was a decade of dramatic The 1920s was a decade of dramatic

expansion in business, finance, and trade expansion in business, finance, and trade for the United Statesfor the United States

Territorial expansion was also endorsed Territorial expansion was also endorsed by the American government; continued by the American government; continued involvement in the affairs of Central and involvement in the affairs of Central and South America inconsistently promoted South America inconsistently promoted peace, stability, and trade in the peace, stability, and trade in the hemispherehemisphere

Progressivism SurvivesProgressivism Survives The Sheppard-Towner Maternity Act of The Sheppard-Towner Maternity Act of

1921 allotted 1 million dollars a year to 1921 allotted 1 million dollars a year to educate expectant mothers on proper educate expectant mothers on proper self-health issues and child careself-health issues and child care

In 1919, Congress passed the Volstead In 1919, Congress passed the Volstead Act which banned the brewing and selling Act which banned the brewing and selling of most alcoholic beverages; this became of most alcoholic beverages; this became the Eighteenth Amendment of Prohibitionthe Eighteenth Amendment of Prohibition

Stock Market CrashStock Market Crash The prosperity of the decade came to a The prosperity of the decade came to a

screeching halt in 1929 with the collapse screeching halt in 1929 with the collapse of the nation’s stock marketof the nation’s stock market

Many investors had responded to the Many investors had responded to the booming economy by buying stocks on booming economy by buying stocks on margin (borrowing to invest).margin (borrowing to invest).

An overextension of the market caused a An overextension of the market caused a crash with a represented loss of over $26 crash with a represented loss of over $26 million on papermillion on paper