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History > 1920s Notes > Flashcards

1920s Notes Flashcards

1
Q

What were the major trends of the 1920’s (6)?

A

A. Isolationism - America avoids involvement in world affairs
B. Nativism - Many Americans hate immigrants and want 100% Americanism
C. Politicians are “Hands Off” - Stay out of peoples’ (and business’) lives
D. Newfound Freedoms for women
E. Carefree Spending
F. African-American Culture thrives

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2
Q

Isolationism

A

America avoids involvement in world affairs

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3
Q

Nativism

A

Many Americans hate immigrants and want 100% Americanism

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4
Q

Why is it called the roaring 20’s?

A

Social changes make life in the 20’s appear to be one huge party “Roaring”

exuberant, energetic, and rebellious spirit that characterized this period

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5
Q

What were examples of women’s new freedoms?

A
  1. Flappers - the image of rebellious youth.
    a. fashion: Short knee length dresses replace long ankle dresses, cloche hats, beads, bobbed hair
  2. Social activities and attitudes change
    a. compete in sports, tennis ice skating
    b. smoking and drinking and other public behavior changed
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6
Q

Pop Culture: Film and Stage examples

A

W.C. Fields- comedian,
Harry Houdini- magician,
Al Jolsen- actor
The Marx Brothers-comedians,
Will Rogers- Humorist,
Mae West- comedian

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7
Q

Pop Culture: Slang

A

Sheik: handsome man
Sheba: attractive woman
Joe College: good male student
Joe Zilch: A loser
cats’ meow, cat’s pajamas, bee’s knees: really special, cool
Bunk, Banana Oil: not true
Nifty, Swell, Ritzy, Swanky: really cool
“It”: attractive qualities to the other sex

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8
Q

What was the “Noble Experiment”?

A

Prohibition in America began on January 16, 1920,
18th Amendment and Volstead Act

the sale and consumption of alcohol are illegal.

Ends 1933

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9
Q

18th Amendment

A

Prohibition - can’t sell or consume alcohol

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10
Q

Prohibition

A

Illegal to sell or consume alcohol
1920-1932
Prohibition lasted less than 14 years before the 21st Amendment repealed it in 1933

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11
Q

What did people think of prohibition?

A

Most Americans don’t believe in this law and people like policemen and judges often “look the other way”, take bribes

Bootleggers, speakeasies, organized crime

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12
Q

Bootleggers

A

“Bootleggers” sell or make illegal alcohol “bathtub gin”, “moonshine”

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13
Q

Speakeasies

A

“Speakeasies” illegal night clubs serving alcohol and using secret passwords

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14
Q

Organized Crime in Prohibition

A

Organized Crime strengthens, high profit, low risk
a. Al Capone “I am simply a businessman providing a service to a thirsty public” uses force to make people buy his illegal liquor

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15
Q

Al Capone

A

Al Capone “I am simply a businessman providing a service to a thirsty public” uses force to make people buy his illegal liquor

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16
Q

What ended prohibition?

A

The Great Depression comes along, people will pressure congress to overturn the 18th amendment which they will eventually do in 1933 with the 21st amendment

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17
Q

21st Amendment

A

repealed the 18th amendment

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18
Q

How was the Economy?

A

Tremendous prosperity and spending. Mass media, catalogs and radio start advertising to a spend happy public. People begin buying on credit. BAD for the economy! Nobody cares and people have a good time, CAREFREE SPENDING!

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19
Q

Teapot Dome Scandal

A

corruption in politics

accepting bribes from oil companies in exchange for exclusive rights to drill for oil on federal land.

20
Q

Stock Market - Bull Market

A

Millions of people “play” the stock market, makes the market a strong or “Bull” market

Too many investors buy on margin, pay for part of a stock and borrow the rest

21
Q

Stock Market Crash - Black Tuesday

A

October 29, 1929 “Black Tuesday” investors panic, stock values collapse

Too many investors buy on margin, pay for part of a stock and borrow the rest

The beginning of the Great Depression

22
Q

Scopes “Monkey” Trial

A

teaching evolution vs. creationism

23
Q

Racism in the 20s

A

KKK and discrimination increase
Jim Crow laws membership reaches over 4.5 million in 1924 -
use religion to target different races

24
Q

Red Scare

A

people were afraid communists were going to take over the country

25
Q

Sacco and Vanzetti

A

Sacco and Vanzetti are anarchists accused of murder and executed in 1927 (part of Red Scare)

26
Q

Who was the first $1m movie star

A

Charlie Chaplin

27
Q

What were popular dances

A

Charleston, Foxtrot, Waltz

28
Q

Baseball star

A

Babe Ruth

29
Q

Harlem Renaissance

A

Literary and artistic movement celebrating African American Culture

30
Q

Who were the Presidents in the 1920s?

A

Harding – crooked – Friends known as the Ohio Gang were corrupt - Teapot Dome Scandal

Calvin Coolidge – Laissez Faire “ The business of America IS business”

Herbert Hoover – President during the stock market crash

All 3 Republican presidents, de-regulated the economy and pushed for expansion of business

31
Q

Warren Harding

A

29th president

Died in office

Coolage became president

32
Q

19th Amendment

A

Women’s right to vote

Can’t discriminate because of sex

33
Q

Scopes Monkey Trial

A

A high school teacher, John T. Scopes, was accused of violating Tennessee’s Butler Act, which had made it illegal for teachers to teach human evolution in any state-funded school

The trial was deliberately staged in order to attract publicity to the small town of Dayton, Tennessee, where it was held. Scopes was unsure whether he had ever actually taught evolution, but he incriminated himself deliberately so the case could have a defendant.[2][3]

Scopes was found guilty and was fined $100 (equivalent to $1,700 in 2023), but the verdict was overturned on a technicality.

34
Q

Albert B. Fall

A

Secretary of the Interior under President Warren G. Harding
Dome Teapot - bribes

35
Q

Ohio Gang

A

A gang of politicians and industry leaders closely surrounding
Warren G. Harding, the 29th president of the United States

Teapot Dome

36
Q

Kellogg-Briand Pact

A

outlawed war as an instrument of national policy and the second called upon signatories to settle their disputes by peaceful means

37
Q

F. Scott Fitzgerald

A

Novelist - Great Gatsby

38
Q

The Great Gatsby

A

“the great American novel.

Set in Jazz Age New York, it tells the story of Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire, and his pursuit of Daisy Buchanan, a wealthy young woman whom he loved in his youth.

39
Q

Earnest Hemmingway

A

Writer/journalist

40
Q

The “Great Bambino”

A

Babe Ruth was called Bambino because bambino means baby (specifically, a boy baby) in Italian.

41
Q

The “Manassa Mauler”

A

Jack Dempsey - Boxer

because of his brawler-like fighting.

42
Q

Gertrude Ederle

A

American swimmer who was the first woman to swim (1926) the English Channel

43
Q

St. Valentine’s Day Massacre

A

Seven men associated with the Irish gangster George “Bugs” Moran, one of Capone’s longtime enemies, were shot to death by several men dressed as policemen.

The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, as it was known, remains an unsolved crime and was never officially linked to Capone, but he was generally considered to have been responsible for the murders.

44
Q

Harry Houdini

A

Magician, illusionist - escape acts

Straight jacket trick

Chinese Water Torture Cell

able to hold his breath for 3.5 minutes

45
Q

Louis Armstrong

A

Jazz musician - trumpet

46
Q

J. Edgar Hoover

A

Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

47
Q

Amelia Earhart

A

Pilot - disappeared over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to become the first female pilot to circumnavigate the world

History (6 decks)

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