Intolerance Flashcards
What was life like for women before WW1 and 1920s rural women?
- They were expected to lead restricted lives
- They had to behave politely
- They wore plain clothes
- They didn’t wear makeup
- They had their relationships controlled
- They had chaperones
- There was no sport
- There was no public smoking
- They didn’t have the vote
- They were mainly housewives (there were few paid jobs for women e.g. Cleaning, dress making and secretaries.
How did the church’s attitude affect women?
The church’s attitude restricted women and told them how to behave in a Christian way.
What industries were some women taken into in 1917?
What did women gain from being in these industries?
War industries
They gained skilled experience
When did women gain the vote?
In 1920
Why did women gain the vote?
Due to their war contribution
What increased the freedom of younger urban women?
The car
How did electric goods benefit women?
It meant that less time as needed for housework - giving women more spare time.
What was life like for younger urban women?
- They wore more daring clothes
- They drank and smoked in public
- They wore makeup
- They went out without chaperones
What was a chaperone?
A woman’s family member who went with them everywhere to check that they were not up to no good.
How many female workers were there by 1929?
10 million
What percentage increase was there of female workers from 1920 to 1929?
A 24% increase (24% more female workers in 1929 than there was in 1920)
How were a Model T Fords changed to attract women buyers?
They were made in different colours (blue, green, burgundy etc.)
Why were Model T Fords made in different colours?
To attract women buyers
Why did women have more spare time in the 1920s?
Electric goods meant that they spent less time doing housework - giving them more spare time
What did women gain due to their war contribution?
The vote
In what year were women taken into war industries?
1917
How did the divorce are change from 1914 to 1929?
By 1929 the divorce rate was double that of the divorce rate in 1914
What did films and morals expose women to?
New role models
Who is an example of an actress who played a daring heroine in films?
Theda Bara
What did sex sell well in?
Newspapers, magazines and films
What was the 1920s meaning of sex?
Talking about relationships
In the 1920s women could see themselves in roles other than housewives. Who was an actress who inspired women?
Gloria Swanson
What were some limitations for women in the 1920s?
Women were still paid less did they same jobs as men.
- Employment levels only rose because women were cheaper to employ than men. In 1927 United Textile Workers Union went on strike in Elizabeth Town, Tennessee as the girls had to work 56 hour weeks for only 18 cents an hour. In 1928 there was a strike in North Carolina because male workers were only paid $18 and women $9 for a 70 hour week.
- Women achieved the vote but were not given access to power.
- Women were considered unelectable and there were few female politicians.
- Immigrant families especially Italians particularly believed in traditional roles.
Why did employment levels rise in women?
They were cheaper to employ than men (they were paid less for doing the same jobs as men.)
How did many women feel about the Sexual Revolution in films?
Many felt outraged and although they did watch films they did not always copy what they saw.
Which women did the church influence more than others?
The church influenced rural women more than urban ones.
Where did the majority of immigrants come from?
Europe (they were mostly white)
What did the future hold for immigrants?
The American Dream
Why did/do people suffer prejudice and intolerance?
- Jobs
- Background
- Religion (beliefs)
- Criminals
- Race
- Gender
- Disability
- Divorce
- Connections
- Class (upper, middle, working, lower)
- Sexuality
Why were immigrants fleeing to the USA?
- To escape poverty in Italy
- To escape persecution in Eastern Europe (e.g. Jews)
- To start a new life and to find hope and prosperity
What was the melting pot theory?
That all immigrants would forget their culture, customs and religious beliefs and become Americans. They would symbolically all be lit in a pot, melted down and reformed as Americans.
What happened in reality about the Melting Pot theory?
Most immigrants were proud of their cultures and customs and did not want to forget them. This sometimes caused tension with white Americans and more established immigrants who didn’t want immigrants coming to the USA.
Was racism just between whites and non-white people?
No
How was racism not just between whites and non-white people?
- Blacks from the Caribbean looked down on blacks from Africa.
- White peoples looked down on black people.
- Immigrants from Northern Europe looked down on Southern and Eastern European immigrants.
- Mexicans looked down on black people.
Why were many Americans concerned by immigrants?
They thought that immigrants were bringing radical political views with them such as Communism from Russia and Anarchism from Italy which would threaten America.
How many immigrants came from Great Britain to America?
5 million
How many immigrants came from Germany to America?
4.4 million
How many immigrants came from Russia to America?
2.7 million
How many immigrants came from Italy to America?
3.2 million
How many immigrants came from Ireland to America?
2 million
What was the red scare?
When many Americans were scared that recent immigrants to America were bringing radical beliefs with them such as Communism/Bolshevism or Anarchism.
What is Anarchism/Anarchy?
When there is not one government, no-one is in charge.
What is Bolshevism?
The party that supported communism (Bolshevics).
When did the Red Scare happen?
In 1919
What did Americans at the time consider as evidence of Communism/Bolshevism or Anarchism (the Red Scare)?
- 400,000 workers went on strike even the police in Boston. Looters and thieves roamed the streets.
- There was a wave of disturbances. There were race riots in 25 towns.
In 1919 how many towns had race riots in them?
25
How many workers went on strike in 1919 in Boston?
400,000
What do modern historians think about the Red Scare?
That the strikes were due to economic hardship and not Communism. Wartime production levels had fallen and less demand meant that workers were sacked. Some workers were immigrants and were complaining of low pay and long hours combined with terrible working conditions.
What did contemporary Americans think about the Red Scare?
They thought that it was Communist interference which meant that the workers might take control of industry and agriculture from owners. Republicans and big business friends were scared.
Why were the fears of contemporary Americans about the Red Scare justified?
- Many immigrants had radical political views.
- Anarchists published pamphlets and posters calling for the overthrow of the Government.
- In April 1919 a bomb killed 10 people in a Milwaukee church.
- In May 1919 bombs were posted to 36 prominent Americans.
- In June 1919 Mitchell Palmer the US Attorney General was nearly killed.
What did Anarchists publish about their beliefs?
Pamphlets and posters calling for the overthrow of the Government.
What happened in April 1919?
A bomb killed 10 people in a Milwaukee church.
How many people were killed by the bomb in a Milwaukee church in April 1919?
10
Where were 10 people killed by a bomb in April 1919?
A Milwaukee church
What happened in May 1919?
Bombs were posted to 36 prominent Americans.
How many prominent Americans were bombs posted to in May 1919?
36
Who were bombs posted to in May 1919?
36 prominent Americans
What happened in June 1919?
Mitchell Palmer the US Attorney General was nearly killed.
Who was Mitchell Palmer?
The US Attorney General in 1919.
What happened to the people who had radical political beliefs in the Red Scare?
- Flimsy evidence was used to round them up.
* They were nearly always immigrants.
Who was responsible for rounding up the people with radical political beliefs in the Red Scare?
J Edgar Hoover
Who was J Edgar Hoover?
A young clerk appointed by Mitchell Palmer. He was responsible for rounding up people with radical political beliefs.
What did J Edgar Hoover do to round up people with radical political beliefs?
- Hoover built up files on 60,000 suspects.
* In 1919 there were 10,000 people told they were going to be deported from the USA.
How many files did J Edgar Hoover build up on suspects of having radical political beliefs?
Files on 60,000 people
In 1919 how many people were told that they were going to be deported from the USA?
10,000
What happened to Mitchell Palmer after the Red Scare?
- He tried to use fear to build up his own support to run for president.
- He predicted a Red Revolution would begin in May 1920. When it didn’t he looked stupid and papers and politicians began to undermine him.
- Louis Post examined the files and found that only 556 of the 60,000 files had any basis of truth.
- Mitchell Palmer was discredited (respect for him and his reputation was damaged.)
What did Mitchell Palmer use to get support to run for president?
Fear of Communism and Anarchism.
What did Mitchell Palmer predict would begin in May 1920?
A Red Revolution
When did Mitchell Palmer predict that a Red Revolution would begin?
May 1920
Who examined the files J Edgar Hoover had built up on suspects on the Red Scare?
Louis Post
What was found out when the files J Edgar Hoover had built up were examined?
That only 556 of the 60,000 has any basis of truth
How many files of the 60,000 built up by J Edgar Hoover during the Red Scare had any basis of truth?
556
Who were two high-profile victims of the Red Scare?
Italian Americans Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti.
Who nationality were Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti?
Italian American
Who were Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti?
Two high-profile victims of the Red Scare and self-confessed Anarchists.
When were Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti arrested?
In 1920
Why were Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti arrested?
On suspicion of armed robbery and murder.
What did the persecution against Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti heavily rely on?
Racist slurs about their Italian origins and on stirring up fears about their radical beliefs.
What did the judge at the trial of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti say?
That although Vanzetti “may not actually have committed the crime attributed to him he is nevertheless morally culpable [to blame] because he is the enemy of our existing institutions”.
After the trial of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti what did the judge refer to them as?
“Those anarchist bastards”.
Explaining the verdict of the trial of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti what did a leading lawyer of the time say?
“Judge Thayer is narrow minded… unintelligent… full of prejudice. He has been carried away by fear of Reds which has captured about 90% of the American people.”
When were Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti executed?
In July 1927 after six years of legal appeals.
How many years of legal appeals happened before the execution of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti?
Six years
What happened following the execution of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti?
A storm of protest erupted around the world from both moderates and radicals who saw how unjustly the trial had been conducted.
What Act was passed by Congress in 1924?
The Johnson-Reid Act
What did the Johnson-Reid Act do?
The Johnson-Reid Act fixed a quota of 150000 immigrants per year, almost all of whom would be from Northern Europe because Asian immigrants was halted immediately.
What was the quota of immigrants allowed into America per year due to the Johnson-Reid Act?
150000
Where would the majority of immigrants allowed into America be from?
Northern Europe because Asian immigration was halted immediately.
Why were black people treated badly before 1919?
- The first black people were taken to America as slaves by white settlers in the 17th century. They worked on cotton plantations in the southern states and were treated very badly.
- In 1861 eleven southern states decided that they were leaving the union as President Lincoln had decided to abolish slavery. Lincoln declared war on the states and for 5 years the USA was in civil war.
- The Union and Lincoln finally won and abolished slavery. Despite this, many southern states continued to restrict the freedom of the blacks and formed gangs such as the Ku Klux Klan to intimidate and use violence against black people.
- In 1870 the amnesty Act gave southern states more freedom which led to increased intimidation against blacks. Although the Ku Klux Klan declined by the end of the 19th century by 1915 it had started up again after the release of the racist film “Birth of a Nation”.
- In 1876 Jim Crow laws were passed which made blacks “separate but equal”, so whites and blacks were kept apart in many public places (segregation) e.g. schools, trains, parks, prisons etc…
- During the 1920s immigration to the USA increased and the KKK grew to 5 million members by 1928 under the leadership of Imperial Grand Wizard Hiram Wesley Evans.
In which century were the first black people taken to America as slaves?
17th century
In which year did eleven states leave the union?
1861
How many states left the union in 1861?
11
Why did 11 states leave the union in 1861?
President Lincoln had decided to abolish slavery
How many years was the USA in civil war?
5 years
Why was the USA in civil war for 5 years?
President Lincoln declared war on the 11 states which left the union after President Lincoln decided to abolish slavery.
Who won the civil war?
The Union and President Lincoln.
Why was the Ku Klux Klan formed?
To intimidate and use violence against black people and to keep whites in control.
What does KKK stand for?
Ku Klux Klan
When did the KKK decline?
By the end of the 19th century
By what year had the KKK started up again?
1915
Why did the KKK start up again in 1915?
Because a racist film was released called “Birth of a Nation”.
What was the name of the racist film released in 1915 which led to the KKK starting up again?
“Birth if a Nation”.
What laws were passed in 1876?
Jim Crow Laws
In what year were Jim Crow Laws passed?
1876
What did Jim Crow Laws do?
They made blacks “separate but equal”, so segregation occurred.
What started segregation?
Jim Crow Laws in 1876
By 1928 how many members did the KKK have?
5 million
By what year did the KKK have 5 million members?
1928
Who was the leader of the KKK by 1928?
Imperial Grand Wizard Hiram Wesley Evans
When was the KKK formed?
In the 1860s.
What was formed in the 1860s?
The KKK
Who was the KKK formed by?
Former soldiers after the American Civil War.
What methods did the KKK use to intimidate black people?
Parades, beatings, lynchings and other violent methods.
What other groups did the KKK attack other than black people?
Jews, Catholics and foreign immigrants.
Where was the KKK strongest?
In the Midwest and rural south where working-class whites competed with black people for unskilled jobs.
When did the KKK spread rapidly?
What did this lead to?
In the 1920s
This led to Klansmen getting elected into positions of political power.
By what year did the KKK have 4.5 million members?
1924
How many members did the KKK have by 1924?
4.5 million
Which states had governors who belonged to the Klan?
Oregon and Oklahoma
In which state was the Klan particularly dominant?
Indiana
What was the aim of tarring and feathering people?
To inflict enough pain and humiliation on a person to cause him to either reform his behaviour or leave town.
What would happen in a typical tar-and-feathers attack?
The subject of a crowd’s anger would be stripped to his waist then hit tar would either be poured or painted onto the person while he was immobilised. Then the victim either had feathers thrown at him or would be rolled around on a pile of feathers so that they stuck to the tar. Often the victim was then paraded around town on a cart or rail.
Why did people join the KKK?
- Religion
- Economic intimidation
- Legacy of slavery
- Feared the potential power and numbers in the Southern States
What are some improvements in the lives of Black Americans in the 1920s?
- Education and job opportunities were better in the North (e.g. Howard University for blacks).
- The Black Capitalist Movement encouraged blacks to set up their own businesses. They also boycotted Chicago’s chain stores until they employed black people.
- High profile blacks emerged e.g. actor Paul Robeson, writer Zora Hurston and poets Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen. Harlem became a centre of black pride and creativity with the Apollo theatre. This was called the Harlem Renaissance.
- The NAACP (The National Assocation for the Advancement of Coloured People) was set up to campaign for an end to racial segregation and lynching. It has 300 branches and 90000 members by 1919. It also provided legal help (e.g. pay for lawyers if you couldn’t afford them.)
- Marcus Garvey founded the UNIA (Universal Negro Improvement Association). He encouraged blacks to be proud of their race and helped set up businesses e.g. grocers, launderettes etc… Also he wanted to help blacks move to Africa to escape persecution. In 1921 it had over 1 million members.
What are some continuing problems in the lives of black Americans in the 1920s?
- Slavery had caused a lot of hatret between blacks and whites.
- Blacks could vote but many didn’t because of intimidation.
- No good jobs or education.
- Suffered great poverty
- They were persecuted by extremists groups such as the KKK who lynched, tar and feathered and branded blacks with acid. Many Government officials were members of the KKK. There were around 50 lynchings per year.
- Many blacks moved to northern cities to escape persecution e.g. New York’s black population rose from 150000 to 330000.
- Blacks life expectancy was 48 compared to 59 for whites in 1930
- They lived in great poverty in Harlem and paid higher rents for poorer housing than whites.
- Athletic clubs which were groups of Polish and Irish immigrants attacked blacks in Chicago if they went into parks, playgrounds or other public places.
Where was education and jobs better for black people?
In the north
What was a university specifically for black people?
Howard University
What does BCM stand for?
Black Capitalist Movement
What did the Black Capitalist Movement do?
They encouraged blacks to set up their own businesses. They also boycotted Chicago’s chain stores until they employed black people.
What did the Black Capitalist Movement boycott?
Why?
Chicago chain stores
So they would employ black people.
Who were some high profile black people?
Paul Robeson
Zora Hurston
Langston Hughes
Countee Cullen
Who was Paul Robeson?
A high profile black actor
Who was Zora Hurston?
A high profile black writer
Who was Langston Hughes?
A high profile black poet
Who was Countee Cullen?
A high profile black poet
What was the centre of black pride and creativity?
Harlem with the Apollo Theatre
What was the name of the theatre in Harlem?
The Apollo Theatre
What was the Harlem Renaissance?
An explosion of black pride, culture, creativity and sociability which took place in Harlem.
What does NAACP stand for?
The National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People.
Why was the NAACP set up?
To campaign for an end to racial segregation and lynching.
What did the NAACP do?
They campaigned for an end to racial segregation and lynching and also provided legal help (paying for lawyers etc.) to blacks who needed it.
How many branches did the NAACP have by 1919?
300
How many members did the NAACP have by 1919?
90,000
By what year did the NAACP have 300 branches and 90,000 members?
1919
Who founded the UNIA?
Marcus Garvey
What does UNIA stand for?
Universal Negro Improvement Association.
What did Marcus Garvey do in the UNIA?
He encouraged blacks to be proud of their race and helped them to set up businesses (e.g. grocers, launderettes etc…)
He also wanted to help blacks move to Africa to escape persecution
Where did Marcus Garvey want blacks to move to escape persecution?
Africa
How many members did the UNIA have in 1921?
Over 1 million
In what year did the UNIA have over 1 million members?
1921
What had caused a lot of hatred between blacks and whites?
Slavery
Why did many blacks not vote?
Due to intimidation
How many lynchings were there per year?
Around 50
Where did many blacks move to to escape persecution?
Northern cities,
Especially New York as that is where their role models rose to fame and where they felt the most comfortable.
How did New York’s black population increase?
From 150,000 to 330,000
What was the life expectancy of black people in 1930?
48
What was the life expectancy of white people in 1930?
59
What were Athletic clubs?
What did this show about blacks?
Groups of Polish and Irish immigrants who attacked blacks in Chicago if they went to public places.
That they were still at the bottom of the hierarchy as even immigrants would discriminate against them.
What immigrants were in Athletic clubs?
Polish and Irish immigrants
In which city did Athletic clubs attack blacks if they went to public places?
Chicago
Was Howard University cheap or expensive?
What did this mean?
Expensive
Many blacks couldn’t afford to go to it even though it was specifically for blacks.
How did states prevent blacks from voting?
What did this mean?
They created rules purposely set up to stop blacks from voting. For example, they would have to sign their name (most blacks couldn’t read or write).
This meant that blacks couldn’t vote to change their circumstances.
When did the Monkey Trial happen?
In July 1925
What happened in July 1925?
The Monkey Trial
What types of people would have believed in Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution?
Urban people
What were people who believed in the Bible and that God made man called?
Fundamentalists
Who were Fundamentalists?
People who believed in the Bible and that God made man (mainly rural people).
Where were Fundamentalists particularly strong?
In the Bible Belt states (such as Tennessee)
In how many states was evolution banned?
6
Who led the Fundamentalists?
William Jennings Bryan
Why were Fundamentalists against the teaching of evolution?
They felt that it was undermining their religion.
Who was the biology teacher who deliberately broke the law which banned the teaching of evolution to put his case against Fundamentalism in the courts?
John Scopes
What type of teacher was John Scopes?
A biology teacher
Who was John Scopes?
A biology teacher who deliberately broke the law which banned the teaching of evolution so he could be arrested and put his case against Fundamentalism in the courts.
What lost the Monkey Trial?
Fundamentalism
What happened drew the Monkey Trial?
The Fundamentalists lost and were subjected to great mockery. Their arguments were publicly ridiculed and their spokesman William Jennings Bryan was shown to be ignorant and confused.
What were people who were against evolution called?
Fundamentalists/anti-evolutionists/ the anti-evolution lobby
Who was Mr Darrow?
The lawyer for the defendant (John Scopes)
What did Mr Darrow do to Mr Bryan during the Monkey Trial?
How long did this go on for?
He goaded (fought) him and asked Mr Bryan many questions about his beliefs and if he really thought that Eve was made from Adam’s rib etc.
Nearly 2 hours
How did Mr Bryan respond to the questions Mr Darrows asked him that he didn’t know how to answer?
He either refused to answer directly or said “The Bible states it; it must be so.”
When do William Jennings Bryan die?
What happened when he died?
5 days after the trial
The law was overturned a year later after his death (the law banning the teaching of evolution)
What were Native Americans nicknamed?
The Vanishing Americans
Why were Native Americans nicknamed the Vanishing Americans?
Their numbers declined very quickly
How did the lives of Native Americans improve during the 1920s?
- 12,000 served in WW1 which changed attitudes towards them and allowed them to vote for the first time.
- Indian Citizenship Act on 2nd June 1924
- In 1928 the Meriam Report proposed widespread improvements for them including changes in the law so that children would stay with their families.
- Films like the Vanishing American starred a Native thus raising their profile.
How were Native Americans discriminated against in the 1920s?
- Most disappeared as an ethnic group.
- Their numbers declined from 1.5 million to 250,000 by 1920.
- Most lived in poverty.
- Much lower life expectancy than whites.
- Worse health and education.
- Poorly paid jobs
- Lost land to white mining companies who could legally seize their land
- Lost their culture when children were sent to special boarding schools to be assimilated into white culture
- Traditional beliefs disappeared e.g. dances and language
- Referred to as the Vanishing Americans
How many Native Americans served in WW1?
12,000
In which state was the Monkey Trial held?
Tennessee
When was the Indian Citizenship Act?
June 2nd 1924
When was the Meriam report written?
In 1928
What was written in 1928?
The Meriam report
What did the Meriam report do?
It proposed improvements for Native Americans including changes in the law so that children would stay with their families.
What was the name of the film which helped raise the profile of Native Americans as it starred one?
The Vanishing American
How did the number of Native Americans decline by 1920?
From 1.5 million to 250,000
How many Native Americans were left by 1920?
250,000
Who did Native Americans lose their land to?
White mining companies
How did Native Americans lose their culture?
Their children were sent to special boarding schools to be assimilated (to fully understand and be absorbed) into white culture
Where were immigrants processed?
On Ellis Island
What was Ellis Island?
Where immigrants were processed.
How many years did immigrants have to train before they could join the war (WW1)?
2 years
How many immigrants moved to America from 1900-1918?
8 million
Between what years did 8 million immigrants move to America?
1900-1918
How many immigrants moved to America between 1918-1924?
1 million
Between what years did 1 million immigrants move to America?
1918-1924
What did immigrants have to do upon arriving in the USA?
They had to fill in lots of forms and answer lots of questions.
Between what years did America start to filter immigrants?
1918-1924
What fraction of produce did many black Americans receive (from their own farm)?
What happened to the rest of the produce?
One third
Even though they rented the land they had to give two thirds of their produce to the land owner.
What fraction of their produce did many black farmers have to give to their land owner?
Two thirds
what years did Intolerance take place in?
1919-1929
