1. The 1920’sThe 1920’s
A Time of ChangeA Time of Change

2. Calvin CoolidgeCalvin Coolidge
 Vice President under HardingVice President under Harding
 President in 1923 after Harding diesPresident in 1923 after Harding dies
 Reelected in 1924Reelected in 1924
 Changes back to a Laissez-faireChanges back to a Laissez-faire
approach to economyapproach to economy
 Return to IsolationReturn to Isolation

3. Political ScandalPolitical Scandal
 The Teapot Dome Scandal 1924The Teapot Dome Scandal 1924
 Secretary of Interior indicted for briberySecretary of Interior indicted for bribery
 Gave leases to government oil to companiesGave leases to government oil to companies
for moneyfor money
 Oil reserves in Teapot Dome, WyomingOil reserves in Teapot Dome, Wyoming

4. RecessionRecession
 Economy suffersEconomy suffers
 Caused by shift from wartime toCaused by shift from wartime to
peacetime economiespeacetime economies
– No longer producing for warNo longer producing for war
 Production, farm income, exportsProduction, farm income, exports
declinedecline
 Unemployment increases (12% inUnemployment increases (12% in
1921)1921)

5. RecoveryRecovery
 Coolidge ProsperityCoolidge Prosperity
– Gross National Product up 40% by 1923Gross National Product up 40% by 1923
– Standard of living increasesStandard of living increases

6. Pro-Business PoliciesPro-Business Policies
 Decreased corporate income taxesDecreased corporate income taxes
 Decreased national debtDecreased national debt
 Raised tariffsRaised tariffs
 Demanded repayment of war debtsDemanded repayment of war debts

7. LaborLabor
 During war, strikes decreaseDuring war, strikes decrease
 Post-war strikes failPost-war strikes fail
– Troops and court orders used to endTroops and court orders used to end
strikesstrikes
 Union membership decreasesUnion membership decreases
 Supreme Court rules against childSupreme Court rules against child
labor lawslabor laws

9. FarmingFarming
 Policies favor large commercial farmsPolicies favor large commercial farms
 Small farms sufferSmall farms suffer
– Production increased during warProduction increased during war
– After war they are producing too muchAfter war they are producing too much
 Prices dropPrices drop

10. The Stock MarketThe Stock Market
 Investments increaseInvestments increase
 Buying “on margin”Buying “on margin”
– Small down payments in cashSmall down payments in cash
– Borrow the restBorrow the rest
– People could pay off the loans as long asPeople could pay off the loans as long as
stocks did wellstocks did well

11. Mass ConsumptionMass Consumption
 New TechnologyNew Technology
– AutomobilesAutomobiles
– Mass production, assembly lineMass production, assembly line
 Lower pricesLower prices
 Cultural HomogenizationCultural Homogenization
– Everyone can buy the same productsEveryone can buy the same products
 Brand namesBrand names

13. MORE THAN JUST AMORE THAN JUST A
CARCAR
 Nations biggest manufacturing industryNations biggest manufacturing industry
 Businesses to service cars and travel growBusinesses to service cars and travel grow
– garages, car dealerships, motels,garages, car dealerships, motels,
campgrounds, gas stations, restaurantscampgrounds, gas stations, restaurants
 3.7 million people employed directly or3.7 million people employed directly or
indirectly by industry in 1929indirectly by industry in 1929
 $2 billion to build roads$2 billion to build roads
 Growth of suburbsGrowth of suburbs

16. New ValuesNew Values
 Emphasis on wealth, possessions, funEmphasis on wealth, possessions, fun
 LeisureLeisure
– Movies, sports, gamesMovies, sports, games
– FlappersFlappers
 Young womenYoung women
 Drank, smokedDrank, smoked
 More in movies than real lifeMore in movies than real life

18. Growth of ElectricityGrowth of Electricity
 New ways to shopNew ways to shop
– Kansas City first shopping mall 1923Kansas City first shopping mall 1923
 Growth of electricityGrowth of electricity
– 1913 16% people with electric lights1913 16% people with electric lights
– 1927 63% people with electric lights1927 63% people with electric lights
– only 4% farms with electricityonly 4% farms with electricity

19. Unified AmericaUnified America
 Until 1920’s America divided intoUntil 1920’s America divided into
regional economies and culturesregional economies and cultures
 Growth ofGrowth of Mass MediaMass Media creates acreates a
more connected Americamore connected America
– RadioRadio
– MoviesMovies

20. ProhibitionProhibition
 Illegal to buy, sell, or consume alcoholIllegal to buy, sell, or consume alcohol
 1818thth
Amendment in 1919Amendment in 1919
 Hard to enforceHard to enforce
– Bootlegging- illegally making and sellingBootlegging- illegally making and selling
alcoholalcohol
 Ended in 1933Ended in 1933

21. Red ScareRed Scare
 Fear of spread of communism afterFear of spread of communism after
Russian RevolutionRussian Revolution
 Leads to race riots, bombings, policeLeads to race riots, bombings, police
raids, and deportationsraids, and deportations

22. Sacco and VanzettiSacco and Vanzetti
 Italian immigrants Nicola Sacco andItalian immigrants Nicola Sacco and
Bartolomeo Vanzetti convicted ofBartolomeo Vanzetti convicted of
murdermurder
– Little evidence against themLittle evidence against them
– Both anarchistsBoth anarchists
– executedexecuted

23. Ku Klux KlanKu Klux Klan
 Reorganized due to anti-foreignReorganized due to anti-foreign
attitudesattitudes
 Targeted African Americans,Targeted African Americans,
Catholics, Jews, and immigrantsCatholics, Jews, and immigrants

24. ImmigrationImmigration
 Immigration Act of 1924Immigration Act of 1924
– Established quotas- limited number ofEstablished quotas- limited number of
allowed immigrantsallowed immigrants
– Kept out immigrants from Eastern andKept out immigrants from Eastern and
Southern Europe and AsiaSouthern Europe and Asia

25. Women’s RolesWomen’s Roles
 More women workingMore women working
 1920’s Women’s Bureau1920’s Women’s Bureau
– Part of Department of LaborPart of Department of Labor
– Improved working conditionsImproved working conditions
 1919thth
AmendmentAmendment
– Women get right to voteWomen get right to vote

26. Harlem RenaissanceHarlem Renaissance
 African American movement basedAfrican American movement based
out of Harlem, NYCout of Harlem, NYC
 Called for action against bigotryCalled for action against bigotry
 Pride in African American culturePride in African American culture
 WritersWriters
– W.E.B. Du Bois, Langston HughesW.E.B. Du Bois, Langston Hughes
 Artists, musiciansArtists, musicians
– jazzjazz

28. Great MigrationGreat Migration
 Starting in World War One AfricanStarting in World War One African
Americans began moving fromAmericans began moving from
South to NorthSouth to North
 1914 14,000 African Americans in1914 14,000 African Americans in
NYCNYC
 1930 200,000 African Americans in1930 200,000 African Americans in
NYCNYC

30. Jazz AgeJazz Age
 Combination of Ragtime and Blues =Combination of Ragtime and Blues =
JazzJazz
 Began in New OrleansBegan in New Orleans
 Grew to dominate radioGrew to dominate radio
 500 Jazz Clubs in Harlem500 Jazz Clubs in Harlem