chapter 25 postwar society and culture. closing the gates to new immigrants world war i caused...
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 25
Postwar Society and Culture
Closing the Gates to New Immigrants
• World War I caused immigration to dramatically increase
• Congress passed a quota system that closed the gates to Southern Europeans and Jews
• The National Origins Act caused foreign-born percentage of population to fall
• Jews subjected to increasing anti-Semitism
New Urban Social Patterns
• By 1920, more Americans lived in urban areas rather than rural ones
• Urban environment changed family patterns- marriage a partnership where women were equal
• Emergence of child experts- ranged from rigid training to permissiveness
• Urbanization loosened constraints on sexuality
The Younger Generation
• Disillusionment over the Great War and prudery of elders caused to more liberal expression
• Advent of dating versus courting
• Relations between the sexes becoming more relaxed / uninhibited
• Fashion and public behavior impacted
The New Woman
• After 1920 – more openness about sex but contraception concern of married women
• Margaret Sanger – Bohemian – leader of birth control movement
• Birth control not constitutionally protected until 1960s
• More women worked outside the home but most work menial – disparity in wages
• The passage of the 19th Amendment caused rift in women’s movement as some saw more work needed while others saw the job as done
Popular Culture: Movies and Radio
• The film industry became the 4th largest in capital investment
• Films became new art: lighting, camera angles, new methods of narrative
• New celebrities – American royalty?• Impact of radio on common population
Immediate communicationAdvertising
• 1934- FCC established to revoke licenses that failed to operate in the public interest
The Golden Age of Sports
• People had more money to spend and more time to fill
• Sports superstars and the rise of professional sports
• Rise of school team sports
Jim Thorp
Urban-Rural Conflicts
• Changes mostly in urban areas
• Changes resented by rural areas – seen as sinful, overly materialistic, and unhealthy
• Radio and movies caused rural areas to want new ways at same time they spoke out against new ways
• Manifested in resurgence of religious fundamentalism - conservatism
Urban-Rural Conflicts
• Conflict illustrated by Scopes “Monkey” Trial Darwin’s theories banned William Jennings Bryan
versus Clarence Darrow Biology teacher – John
Scopes – Dayton Test case for ACLU Conviction
Prohibition
• Rural versus urban conflict – alcohol
• 18th Amendment – Prohibition
• Alcohol related crimes dropped
• Total abstinence caused many to violate law Smuggling Bootleggers Speakeasies Bathtub gin Alcohol “prescriptions” Hypocrisy of officials Gangsterism
The Ku Klux Klan
• Revival in 1920’s• New Klan founded in 1915 by
William J. Simmons• Targeted Blacks, Catholics,
and Jews• Very little appeal in NE and
cities – most popular in mid-west and west
• Success caused factionalism and squabbling over power and money
• Conviction of leader, David Stephenson, for rape and death of young woman caused dramatic decline
Sacco and Vanzetti
• Crime: 1921 robbery and murder of shoe factory paymaster and guard
• Accused: Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti – Italian immigrants and anarchists
• Convicted & sentenced to death
• Cause celebre• Executed 1927 –
disillusioned intellectuals
The New Negro
• Disappointment after WWI gains Segregation Labor issues
• Marcus Garvey Separatism Back to Africa
• The Ghetto Concentrated political power Built self-confidence & brought
opportunity
• Culture Jazz Harlem Renaissance
Marcus Garvey
Economic Expansion
• Little government interference
• Federal Reserve kept interest rates low
• Post-war demand for products
• Increased mechanization• Increased use of
electricity• Assembly line• “Taylorism”
Age of the Consumer
• Rise of advertising• The installment plan• The automobile
Million+ cars produced per year – cars cheaper
New industries to supply parts for cars
New road building Changes in family life and
recreational patterns Sense of freedom
The Airplane
• Internal combustion engine made airplane possible
• Wright Brothers• Most planes built before
1920 intended for military use
• Charles Lindbergh – solo flight across Atlantic