Chapter 12: The Roaring 20s Flashcards
Red Scare
• started in 1919, when Vladimir I. Lenin + followers established Communism in Russia
• a Communist Party of 70,000 ppl formed in the US
• bombs sent to gov + business leaders
? public became fearful that communists were taking over country
Sacco and Vanzetti
• Italian immigrants that had been arrested and charged w robbery and murder
• no official evidence proved them guilty, but they were still convicted and sentenced to death
? showed US’s prejudice beliefs on foreigners and how it affected everyone
Quota System
• Congress limited immigration from Southern/Eastern Europe by establishing a max # of ppl that could enter US from a specific country
• originally limited immigration to 2% based on 1890 pop, but base year gradually moved to 1927 causing the # of immigrants let in to decline
? dropped immigration #’s from Eastern Hemisphere dramatically, but had virtually no impact on North America
Strikes of 1919 (coal, police, steel)
• war effort had interfered w strikes so number of strikes peaked after war
• Boston Police went on strike for raise, which interfered w public safety; everyone fired, new police hired
• Steelworkers wanted higher wages, shorter working hrs, and union
• John L. Lewis led Coal Miners strike for higher wages/shorter workday
? all major strikes of 1920s and won wage/hr/union rights for workers
Warren Harding
• became Pres (R) in 1920 election against Cox
• cabinet included “Ohio gang” - poker playing cronies that used office to become wealthy through graft
• Teapot Dome Scandal - Albert B. Fall got $ from oil reserves
? was a good President w good ideals, but was just overall inexperienced
Calvin Coolidge
• became Pres (R) after Harding’s heart attack in 1923
• was pro-business, favored gov policies that would keep taxes down and business profits up (laissez faire - no gov involvement)
? wanted to keep gov involvement in businesses to minimum to allow business to flourish
Impact of Automobile
• since ppl could drive where they wanted, they didn’t have to live in the city, resulting in urban sprawl
• gas stations, repair shops, public garages, motels, shopping centers, etc created bc of ppl’s increased mobility
? symbolized success of free enterprise system and Coolidge era
Installment Plan
• allowed ppl to buy goods over an extended period of time, instead of paying the whole cost at once
• gave consumers idea it was easier to pay something, causing ppl to increased their buying, even if they couldn’t afford it
? is thought to be one of the major factors that promoted the start of the Great Depression
Prohibition
• 18th Amendment prohibited the production, sale, and transportation of alcohol
• eventually failed bc gov couldn’t afford to enforce law due to other things going on - Great Depression
? caused ppl to retrieve alcohol secretly and led to speakeasies, bootleggers, and crime
Speakeasies and Bootleggers
• Speakeasies were places that offered alcohol in secret and ppl had to be cautious to keep it a secret
• Bootlegers smuggled alcohol in from other countries (Canada, Cuba, West Indies)
? were examples of ppl’s acts of rebellion and disrespect of law and gave rise to gangs/violence
Scopes Trial
• TN gov passed law stating it was illegal to teach evolution, but John Scopes challenged this
• trial became more abt whether teaching evolution was ok but Scopes still found guilty
• William Jennings Bryan received strong interrogation from Darrow (lawyer) abt Bible and his beliefs
? wa evidence that changes and conflicts were occurring in 1920s
Flapper
• a young women that was intent on enjoying herself and flouted the conventional standards
• acted more assertive/rebellious/scandalous by drinking, smoking, change of clothing, etc
? showed that times were changing along society
Harlem Renaissance
• a literary and artistic movement celebrating African-American culture • led by educated, middle class AA who took pride in their ethnicity (WEB DuBois, Langston Hughes, etc) ? big movement when blacks started to embrace themselves and be proud, represented portion of social/cultural change during 20s
Jazz
• Louis Armstrong (trumpet) became star in jazz word, incorporated person expression, improv into jazz
• Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington became one of the most renowned composers in 20-30s
? one of the many cultural changes that occurred throughout the Harlem Renaissance
