Innovation, Materialism, Fear, and

Scandal

Most of all an Era of

Experimentation

• First Presidential Election where women could vote (increased votes cast by 8.2 million)

• Warren G. Harding was elected on “return to normalcy” campaign

• Most famous for three scandals:

- “Ohio Gang” - Teapot Dome Scandal - Mysterious death in S.F at the Palace Hotel in 1923

“Return to Normalcy” is challenged by the legacy of

the Progressive Movement and challenges of the modern world!

Fear motivated many political actions

• Fear of another World War• Led to isolationism

• Fear of Change• Rise of Nativism (leads to immigration reform)• First Red Scare (leads to Palmer Raids &

Sedition Laws)• Rise in popularity of KKK (leads to increase in

religious and racial persecution)• Debate over role of religion in politics (leads to

Scopes Trial & Prohibition)

• Mitchell Palmer (U.S. Attorney General) started the “First Red

Scare”

• Laws passed limiting civil liberties

• He deported immigrants during the “Palmer Raids”

• In 1921 & 1924 limits were placed on immigrants from

Italy, Russia, and Slavic nations.

• Fear and discrimination against immigrants & minority

ethnic groups spread throughout the U.S.

Ex: Sacco & Vanzetti Trial

Question: Why would Americans

dislike immigrants?

• The 18th Amendment prohibited the manufacturing, sale, and transportation of alcohol

• It was hard to enforce & unpopular

• Led to the rise of bootleggers, speakeasies, & the mob

• The 21st Amendment ended Prohibition in 1933

• Harding’s Vice President

• Became President in 1923 (after Harding’s death)

• Elected in 1924 with slogan “Coolidge or Chaos”

• Republican elected in 1928

• Believed in the individual & a small federal government

Both Coolidge & Hoover focused on the economy

Industrialization led to new innovations, mass production ,

and the birth of American materialism.

• Companies focused on inventing & producing consumer goods

Examples: radios, automobiles, icebox, washing machine, vacuum cleaner

• People buying goods using “credit”

• mass production of goods = cheaper products

• increased use of advertisingto sell products

• Car ownership grew 18 million from 1920 to 1930

Experiments in new style, culture, entertainment, and societal norms

• Increase in popularity of Civil Rights Organizations (NAACP, ACLU, Anti-Defamation League)

• Women begin to challenge traditional roles & expectations

Questions: 1. Why do you think Civil Rights organizations

would be increasing their popularity in the 1920s?

2. What do you think empowered womento challenge their traditional roles as wives/

mothers?

• Radio - provides instantaneous access to news, entertainment, and sports

• Sports – increase in popularity and athletesbecome heroes in society

• Movies – first talking movies debut “talkies”

• Cars– increase in availability & affordability of cars creates access to new entertainment opportunities

Question: How might the sense of prosperity impact the

changes with entertainment?

“The Jazz Age”The new music of the era set the stage for a unique era of cultural

history

• Literature – some of the most famous authors/books/poems written in 1920s

• Harlem Renaissance – African American artistic movement that influenced American culture

• Flapper – new style of fashion that represented the “new woman”

• Dance – new trends & styles of dance challenged tradition

Question: How might a

national culture help change

society?