Jazz Age Flashcards
Radical Political Philosophy
Advocated for drastic revolutionary changes in society and in the government. Communists, Anarchists, and Socialists.
Conservative Political Philosophy
Advocated for preserving the existing form of government, and not changing. Tends to be pro-business.
Reactionary Political Philosophy
Advocated for moving society back to a past society, groups like the KKK.
Liberal Political Philosophy
Advocated for changes in society’s institutions to reflect the changes in society.
Red Scare
Fear of radicalism, led to strikes, bombings, street violence, and government investigation of suspected radicals. Two communists parties formed during this period (totaling 70,000 people), and anti-German hatred transferred to immigrants.
Seattle General Strike
Happened in January 1919, the most famous U.S. strike. 35,000 shipyard workers went on strike after being denied pay raises to counter inflation. Conservatives feared a labor takeover similar to Europe, and the Seattle mayor called the strikers the anarchy of Russia, asking federal troops to shut it down, then bragged about stopping a Bolshevik uprising.
Boston Police Strike
Happened in 1919, over 70% of Boston’s 1500 police officers went on strike, demanding better pay and the right to unionize. Governor Calvin Coolidge called the National Guard to respond, saying nobody had the right to strike against public safety. This resulted in 37 other cities having police strikes, Americans fearing anarchy, and the striking police officers being fired and replaced by the National Guard.
Calvin Coolidge
Governor of Boston, he stopped the Boston Police Strike by calling the National Guard. This made him a national hero, and he was elected Vice President 2 years later, stating that the primary business of American was business.
Steel Strike
Happened in 1919, occurred due to the AFL trying to organize the steel industry. They wanted 8 hour work days, 6 hour work weeks, and no more 24 hour swing shifts. Elbert Gary refused to negotiate with AFL representatives, and after much violence/ use of state/federal troops, the strike was ended January 1920, hardening many Americans to Unions due to the failure.
Elbert Gary
Leader of United States Steel, refused to negotiate with AFL representatives, saying that they were not his employees.
AFL
American Federation of Labor, attempted to organize the steel industry to try and get 8 hour work days, 6 hour work weeks, and no more 24 hour swing shifts.
United Mine Workers Strike
Happened in 1919, John J. Lewis and Gompers demanded shorter working hours and higher wages. A. Mitchel Palmer got an injunction ending the strike, and later an arbitration board gave mine workers a pay raise.
John J Louis
Part of CIO, involved in the United Mine Workers Strike, wanted shorter working hours and higher wages.
A. Mitchel Palmer (Involving Strikes)
Received an injunction preventing the Union from walking out, ending the United Mine Workers Strike.
Woodrow Wilson
After the United Mine Workers Strike, he used WW1 legislation to outlaw strikes in war related markets.
Palmer Raids/Red Scare
Attorney General A. Mitchel Palmer was given 500,000 dollars to find who was responsible for bombings. Radicals were blamed for the bombings, and radicals were deported to Russia. 5000 suspected communists were detained without food/heat/or restrooms, and some were starting to question palmer’s tactics. The Red Scare ended in May of 1920, when suspected May Day strikes didn’t happen, resulting in Palmer being discredited.
May Day Violence/Bombings
During the Red Scare, there was much violence. Several bombings, threats, and May Day violence against socialists all occurred during the Red Scare.
Sacco and Vanzetti
Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were convicted of killing 2 people in an armed robbery. Despite there not being conclusive evidence, they were charged and sentenced to death due to their Italian origin. This sparks protests in Paris, Buenos Aires, Japan, and Warsaw, as well as getting protests from distinguished people such as Albert Einstein.
Ku Klux Klan
The KKK started to rise again, especially in the Midwest, due to the film Birth of a Nation. They were more similar to the Know Nothings now, being anti-Italian and German. They were extremist and narrow-minded. The Indiana Klan started to fall when the leader David Stephenson was convicted for kidnapping and killing a woman. He also provided evidence of what other Klan officials were doing, causing it to collapse.
D. W. Griffith
Created “Birth of a Nation,” a silent film inspired by The Clansman: An Historical Romance of the KKK by Thomas Dixon.
Nativism
Anti-Immigration beliefs, led to Anti-immigration laws.
Immigration Act
Passed in 1921, ended open immigration by adding a quota and limit. 350,000 total immigrants per year, and no more than 3% of the American population according to the 1910 census.
National Origins Act
Passed in 1924, it was more harsh than the Immigration Act. Lowered limit to 152,000 people, made the percent 2%, and used the 1890 Census. Banned Asians entirely, and made Canadians/Latin Americans immune to the law.
Scopes Monkey Trial
Tennessee created a law prohibiting the teaching of evolution, and the ACLU wanted to fight it. They ran an advertisement in the New York Times, asking a teacher to break the law. John Scopes volunteered and did so. The trial was broadcasted on national radio. The case ended with John Scopes being convicted, fined $100, but the fine was discarded due to a technicality.
Butler Law
Law passed in Tennessee making it illegal to teach evolution.
John Scopes
Teacher in Tennessee who volunteered to break the Butler Law.
Clarence Darrow
Very skilled lawyer who defended John Scopes. Even managed to get William Jennings Bryan to take the stand.
Willian Jennings Bryan
Prosecuted John Scopes, was convinced to take the stand and defend his interpretation of the Bible. Due to his contradictions, he died a week after the trial due to a stress induced stroke.
Volstead Act
Passed in 1919, it implemented the 18th amendment.
18th Amendment
Prohibited the sale, consumption, manufacturing, and distribution of alcoholic beverages.
Prohibition
Outlawed alcohol, supported by women and churches. However, Prohibition didn’t work as people continued to drink/sell alcohol, now for greater prices.
Gangsters
During prohibition, gangsters such as Al Capone made lots of money selling alcohol to people. The estimated income of underworld bosses was $12-18 million.
John Dillinger
Gang leader who rose to become the FBI’s most wanted criminal due to bootlegging alcohol.
Speakeasies
Speakeasies were secret bars that were ran by bootleggers during Prohibition. Middle class people went there, and women were also allowed to enter.
1920 National Election
Warren Harding won the election with 60% of the vote.
Emergency Tariff Act
Passed in 1921, it increased tariff rates on goods such as wheat, sugar, meat, wool, and other domestic goods to protect local farmers.
“The Man Nobody Knows”
Book written by Bruce Barton, it was the best selling book in 1925-1926. The book said Jesus was the first businessman, saying he picked 12 people from the bottom of society, forged an organization, and conquered the world.
New Industrial Technology
Industrial innovations such as the Assembly Line and Electric Motors made the manufacturing of goods more efficient.
Automobile Industry
Led by Henry Ford, replaced steel as King of Industries, impacted several industries.
Impacted industries were:
-Steel
-Rubber
-Glass
-Oil
-Machine Tools
-Leather
-Road Construction
Motels
-Drive-In Movies
and more.
The industry also caused the nations standard of living to go up, as well as causing over one million Americans to die in a car crash.
Destroyed the railroad industry, helped the agriculture industry, and caused highways to be built.
Henry Ford
King of the automobile industry.
Model T
Also called Tin Lizzie, this was the staple car of America. It was accessible to the average American, causing many Americans to take to the open road, transforming the countryside.
Medical Breakthroughs
Medical breakthroughs in the 1920’s made the average lifespan go from 49 in 1910 to 59 in 1930.
Iron Lung
One of the medical innovations in the 1920’s, it was a respirator.
Cures
New cures were found for TB and Small Pox, one of the medical innovations of the 1920’s.
Skyscrapers
Skyscrapers started to be built during the 1920’s/1930’s, changing the horizon and offering many jobs.
Empire State Building
Tallest building at the time, was standing at 102 stories tall. Constructed in 1930.
Chrysler Building
Skyscraper constructed in 1928.
Rockefeller Center
Skyscraper constructed in 1931.
Chemical Industry
The Chemical Industry in America took off after World War 1, as America acquired thousands of German patents. This led to several companies taking off.
Johnson & Johnson
One of the companies that took off due to the creation of the chemical industry.
DuPont
One of the companies that took off due to the creation of the chemical industry.
Light Metals
One of the new industries that took off during the 20’s, Aluminum and Synthetics were created by this industry.
Golden Age of Sports
The 20’s was seen as the Golden Age of Sports. People showed up to see sports in record breaking numbers. Huge, modern stadiums were created for the spectators.
George Herman “Babe Ruth”
Great baseball player during the Golden Age of Sports, still seen as one of the greats to this day.
Red Grange
Great college football player during the Golden Age of Sports, still seen as one of the greats to this day.
Jack Dempsy
Great boxer during the Golden Age of Sports, still seen as one of the greats to this day.
Bill Tilden
Great tennis player during the Golden Age of Sports, still seen as one of the greats to this day.
Bobby Jones
Great golf player during the Golden Age of Sports, still seen as one of the greats to this day.
Entertainment Industry
Movies, sports, and radio all became more popular during the 20’s.
Airplane Industry
Planes were used in WW1, but after the war the industry started to take off.
Impacts were:
Civilization more closely linked
Railroad industry was negatively impacted even more
Airplanes devastated cities in WWII
Warren Harding
Had the slogan “Return to Normalcy,” saying he wanted to make society back to how it was before the war. This slogan helped him win the 1920 election with 60% of the vote.
Fordney McCumber Tariff
Passed in 1922, highest tariff passed at the time, once again trying to protect American economy. This was bad for American farmers as their goods were now being taxed when exported in response to the tariffs.
“The Jazz Singer”
First talking movie ever made.
Al Jolson
Star of the movie “The Jazz Singer”
“The Great Train Robbery”
First real moving picture movie, released in 1903. Was shown in “nickelodeons” (theaters that cost 5 cents to watch), and attracted a working class audience.
Earnest Hemmingway
Author of the Lost Generation, wrote books that featured dialogue similar to how people actually talked instead of the norm of formal writing. He was in the war fighting Italy, and was reported with several pieces of shrapnel in his leg carrying someone out.
Harlem Renaissance
Period from 1920 to 1930, unprecedented creativity from African Americans.
“The Sun Always Rises”
Written in 1926 by Earnest Hemingway, was a shocking expression of post-war disillusionment.
“A Farewell To Arms”
Written in 1929 by Earnest Hemingway, inspired by his experiences in WWI.
Langston Hughes
Poet during the Harlem Renaissance who wrote “I, too, sing America.” In this poem he challenged white Americans to accept African Americans.
Marcus Garvey
Founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association, encouraged African Americans to move to Africa and start their own nation. His ideas helped the Harlem Renaissance take place.
W. E. B. DuBois
Editor of the Crisis magazine, his ideas helped the Harlem Renaissance take place.
The Blues
Style of music reflecting themes of worker-class protest and resisting racism. This form of music became more popular during the Harlem Renaissance.
Bessie Smith
One of the blues musicians.
Ma Rainey
One of the Blues musicians.
Ethel Waters
Blues musician who wrote “I’m No Man’s Mama Now,” where she sung about divorce in celebration.
The Agrarians
Also called Fugitive Poets, 12 southerners who felt industrialism and modernism was harmful to southern culture, and fought against the spread of such ideals. Most were faculty or students at Vanderbilt University.
“I’ll Take My Stand”
A defense of the south written by the Agrarians in 1930.
Donald Davidson
One of the Agrarians.
Alan Tate
One of the Agrarians.
Robert Penn Warren
Agrarian poet and author of “All the King’s Men,” wins a Nobel Peace Prize in Poetry and becomes the United States Poet Laureate.
John Crowe Ransom
Leader of the Agrarians.
Radios & Impact of the Industry
First built by Guglielmo Marconi in 1890, radios were used in WWI for long range communications.
Impacts of the radio:
Improved advertisements
Added to American Life due to people listening during free time
Made the nation more close knit
Gave millions the news
Used by politicians
Used by sports industry
KDKA
In Pittsburg, it became the first radio channel to carry a voice in 1920, announcing the victor of the 1920 election, Warren Harding
NBC
National Broadcasting Company, Radio channel that started in 1926.
CBS
Columbia Broadcasting Company, radio network founded in 1927.
Flappers
Styles that expressed the new freedom of women. One piece bathing suits were created, and women were allowed to smoke and socialize in public more freely.
Sigmund Freud
His theories led Americans to believe that sexual repression was causing negative emotions in society.
Billy Sunday
Former baseball player for the Chicago White Stockings, pushed for prohibition. One of his most famous sermons was “Booze, or, get on the Water Wagon, “ which convinced many listeners to stop drinking. He gave his last sermon in October of 1935.
Wright Brothers
Oliver and Wilbur flew a gas powered plane for 12 seconds in Kitty Hawk NC, starting the Air Age.
Charles Lindbergh
Flew the Spirit of St. Louis across the Atlantic Ocean, from New York to Paris, in 39 hours. He became a worldwide hero.
Charlie Chaplain
Major movie star who emerged due to the creation of films.
Cecil B. de Mille
Helped found Paramount Pictures in 1914, produced/directed more than 70 films over 40 years.
Alain LeRoy Locke
Sociologist and critic who coined the term “The New Negro” in 1925.
Duke Ellington
Jazz musician during the Harlem Renaissance.
Louis Armstrong
Jazz musician during the Harlem Renaissance.
Fletcher Henderson
Jazz musician during the Harlem Renaissance.
Jelly Roll Morton
Jazz musician during the Harlem Renaissance.
Jazz
Music that became popular during the Harlem Renaissance.
Gertrude Stein
American poet who coined the term “Lost Generation” when talking to Ernest Hemingway. Met Alice B. Toklas in Paris who became her partner, and the relationship gave Gertrude Stein material for her writing.
Autobiography Alice Toklas
Book written by Gertrude Stein, inspired by her lesbian relationship.
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Known as the portrayer of the spirit of the Jazz Age. He glamourized, criticized, and embodied the status seeking and giddy nightlife during this time period. He wrote books and toured the world, and married Zelda Sayre. However, eventually when they returned to Baltimore F. Scott Fitzgerald was an alcoholic and Zelda was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
“This Side of Paradise”
Book written by F. Scott Fitzgerald that was the most influential college novel in America at the time. It heralded a younger generation with new values and aspirations.
“The Great Gatsby”
Book written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, telling the story of a bootlegger who’s morality is contrasted with the hypocritical associates. The book did poorly when it was released, but is now considered one of the best American novels.
John Dos Passos
Author of the Lost Generation, he wrote “Manhattan Transfer,” which revealed his pessimism after experiencing the war and questioning the purpose of life.
James Weldon Johnson
Part of the Harlem Renaissance, he wrote the song “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which became the Black National Anthem.
Countee Cullen
Part of the Harlem Renaissance.
Zora Neale Hurston
Part of the Harlem Renaissance, she wrote “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” which is considered to be one of the classics of the Harlem Renaissance.
T. S. Eliot
Nobel Prize winning poet of the Lost Generation who wrote “The Wasteland,” a poem about brokenness and loss, which alluded to WWI. Also known as the father of modern poetry.
Thomas Wolfe
Author of the Lost Generation, he mixed poetic writing with autobiographies. His first novel “Look Homeward, Angel,” is considered an American coming-of-age story.
John Steinbeck
Author of Lost Generation, wrote “The Grapes of Wrath,” which described how life was like during the Great Depression.
Lost Generation
Term referring to a generation of authors who were disillusioned after the wart and started to turn away from consumerism.
Teapot Dome Scandal
After Harding transferred naval oil lands from the navy to the Secretary of Interiors, Albert B. Fall secretly granted access to the Teapot Dome oil fields to certain people. However, the government found out that Albert B. Fall received over $300,000 from people benefitting from the lease. The Supreme Court then ruled the transfer of the oil field illegal.
Albert B. Fall
Harding’s Secretary of the Interior, accepted bribes to give people such as Harry F. Sinclair and Edward L Doheny access to the Teapot Dome fields. He was arrested for accepting bribes.
Al Smith
Governor of New York for 4 terms, was the Democratic candidate in the 1928 election.
Herbert Hoover
Republican candidate for the 1928 National Election, he won. He was in office during the start of the Great Depression but didn’t do much to stop the effects.
1928 National Election
Republican candidate: Herbert Hoover
Democratic candidate: Al Smith
Herbert Hoover won.
“Architect of 1920’s Prosperity”
Title given to Hoover as his election campaign seemed to promise prosperity.
Calvin Cooldige with Warren Harding
Vice president to Harding, he said that “the chief business of the American people is business.” He became president in 1923 after Harding’s death.
Aggressive Government Inactivity
This is what some people called Coolidge’s presidential policies.
Mass Consumer Economy
A system where the majority of families enjoy the benefits of an increased economy as opposed to just the wealthy elite.
Foursquare Church
Church founded by Aimee Semple McPherson.
Aimee Semple McPherson
A Canadian-American Pentecostal evangelist, she was a pioneer of modern media, using radios to reach more people. She conducted public faith healing demonstrations, and her teachings are still used in churches to this day.
Sinclair Lewis
Author of the Lost Generation, he was the first American to win a Nobel Prize for literature.
Main Street
Book written by Sinclair Lewis depicting American life during WWI, after the WWI, and at the start of prohibition.
Babbitt
Satirical novel written by Sinclair Lewis criticizing the empty-minded middle class and social pressure towards conformity. This book awarded Sinclair Lewis a Nobel Prize.
