American Society in the 1920s (5)

Question 1

Why were the 1920s called the roaring twenties?

Answer 1

It was a time when many conservative social customs changed and people seemed to be determined to enjoy life,

Question 2

The 1920s was a decade when ___ entertainment began. The radio became an affordable ____ item- by the end of the decade, almost ____ of American homes owned one.

Answer 2

mass
radio
half

Question 3

What was happening in Hollywood at the time?

Answer 3

The film industry

Question 4

The 1920s were also called the __ age.

Answer 4

Jazz

Question 5

Explain how the economic freedom of the capitalist system is not matched by the freedom of living in a democratic system.

Answer 5

When people live in capitalism, they assume democracy is part of that, but that is not always the case, like for example apartheid South Africa, where capitalism existed but without democracy.

Question 6

What is Democracy?

Answer 6

Being able to live without fear of harassment or prejudice, as an equal and respected citizen.

Question 7

What position were women in, during the 1920s?

Answer 7

More women had been employed in factories and offices and this gave them greater independence, especially after they won the right to vote.

Question 8

How did the lives of middle-class women differ compared to rural and working-class women?

Answer 8

Many middle-class women adopted new fashions and social behavior and led to more independent lives. Whereas for rural and working-class women, there was no change nor greater equality.

Question 9

The 1920s were also a time of continuing poverty and ____ for ___ groups.

Answer 9

inequality

minority

Question 10

Which minority groups did not experience the same benefits of the economic boom (although there were limited improvements)? (2)

Answer 10

African Americans (formers slaves and their descendants) 
Native Americans (American Indians)

Question 11

Why did hundreds of thousands of African Americans move from Southern states to the north, like New York and Chicago?

Answer 11

They would have a better chance of finding good jobs in industry and a better education.

Question 12

Who started the black capitalist movement? And what was its aim?

Answer 12

The black middle class and it was to encourage black people to set up their own businesses.

Question 13

Conditions for the vast majority of African Americans remained poor and they suffered from various forms of _____.

Answer 13

Discrimination

Question 14

When were African Americans granted American citizenship and the right to vote for the first time?

Answer 14

1924

Question 15

However, conditions for Native Americans who lived on special _____ were poor. They were on or near traditional land, but far from ____ centers.

Answer 15

reservations

economic

Question 16

What were the reservations?

Answer 16

Land set aside for Native American communities.

Question 17

Why was there an increase in crime during the 1920s?

Answer 17

Due to the introduction of Prohibition in 1919.

Question 18

What was the Prohibition law?

Answer 18

It made it illegal to sell or make alcohol.

Question 19

What was the result of this law?

Answer 19

It resulted in a black market for alcohol which was smuggled into the country by gangs, mainly Mafia.

Question 20

Which Mafia bosses made huge profits?

Answer 20

Al Capone

Question 21

How did gangsters avoid arrest?

Answer 21

Bribing police and judges

Question 22

Prohibition was hard to enforce, and competition between ____ led to an increase in ____ and crime, which continued after Prohibition ended in the early 1930s

Answer 22

gang

violence

Question 23

How did immigrants help the economic boom?

Answer 23

By providing labor for industry and markets for manufactured products.

Question 24

What was the Red Scare?

Answer 24

Americans became suspicious of immigrants because they were suspected of being communists. Immigrants were treated with suspicion and resentment. Thousands were deported and arrested. After the successful Bolshevik revolution, many Americans feared that the spread of communism would threaten their capitalist system.

Question 25

There was also a general distrust of foreigners (____).

Answer 25

Xenophobia

Question 26

What was another sign of intolerance in the 1920s and who was this organization?

Answer 26

The growth of the Ku Klux Klan. This was a violently racist organization that had been formed after the American Civil War to terrorize African Americans, who had been freed from slavery during that war.

Question 27

Which other minorities did the KKK attack?

Answer 27

Jews, Catholics, and Socialists.

Question 28

By 1928, the KKK had ___ million members and was suspected of having strong influence in ___ circles.

Answer 28

five

government

Question 29

What did support for the KKK show?

Answer 29

It showed while Americans valued economic freedom, they did not support all political freedom. It also showed that capitalism and democracy were not always the same thing.

Question 30

The Klan was made up of ____ families and only cost ____ to join.

Answer 30

Protestant

$10