Rural Response to the New Urban Culture of the 1920s

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Transcript Rural Response to the New Urban Culture of the 1920s

Rural Response to the New Urban Culture of the 1920s

Cultural Conflict

► 1. With Farmers going to cities, Blacks leaving the South, and immigrants coming to America, more people begin to live in cities than in the country by the 1920s.

► 2. Cultural changes—hedonism, flappers, etc. ► 1 & 2 cause a backlash from rural (small-town) white Protestants who prefer conservative “traditional” values.

► They feel anxiety (their way of life/values are under attack).

► North East vs. The South & West.

The Rise of the “New” KKK

► A 2 nd version of the KKK emerges.

► New version is not just in South and aimed at keeping blacks down.

► “New” KKK seeks to preserve traditional White Protestant Values.

► Besides blacks, now against Catholics, Jews, immigrants, modernism, and people deemed immoral. ► Spreads outside the South to all states.

► Elects politicians.

Prohibition

► Progressive were for it because of the negative effects on families.

► Many rural Americans for it because they associate drinking with immigrants (Irish and German), the rich & city people.

► 18 th Amendment (1919) ► Volstead Act (1920)—Calls for enforcement of prohibition.

Impact of Prohibition

► Impossible to enforce--People still wanted to drink.

► Bootleggers —people who made sold and/or transported illegal liquor.

► Speakeasies —Clubs where liquor was sold.

► Some illegal alcohol is harmful.

► Rise of organized crime.

Gangs

► Gangsters existed before prohibition, but selling illegal booze is what made them rich and powerful.

► Violence—gang wars.

► Also involved in drugs and prostitution.

► Most famous is “Scarface” Al Capone of Chicago.

Restrictions on Immigration

► New Immigration Law is passed in 1921.

► Aimed at keeping out “New “ immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe.

► Quota system based on 3% of those already in US.

► 1924 National Origins Act—Reduced the number of immigrants again and excluded Asians altogether.

► By the end of the decade, there were fewer immigrants coming to the US then ever before.

Rural Religion

► Fundamentalism—belief in the literal truth of the Bible was popular in small town America.

► They felt that their beliefs were under attack by the new urban culture.

► They denounce Darwin’s Theory and Modernism ► Modern evangelists begin using show business techniques & radio to reach large audiences.

► Aimee Semple McPherson raised over $1.5 million in just 2-years.

The Scopes Trial

► 1925—Tennessee state law prohibits teaching anything other than creationism (i.e.- no evolution).

► ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union—an organization created to defend people’s constitutional rights in response to the red scare ) gets John Scopes to challenge law by teaching evolution.

► Sets up a court showdown.

► Clarence Darrow, one of the most famous lawyers of the time, is the lawyer for Scopes.

► Former Populist William Jennings Bryan testifies for the prosecution as an expert on the Bible.

► Trial is broadcast on Radio.

► Trial shows the cultural tension that existed in the 1920s between modernism and traditional values.

Clarence Darrow & William Jennings Bryan

Review

► What were the author’s of the 20’s known a and what were the characteristics of their work?

► What accounted for the cultural tension that existed in the 1920s? Who didn’t like the modern culture that was emerging and why? How was this tension reflected geographically?

► What accounted for the rise of the “new” KKK and how were they different than the “old” KKK?

► What was the impact of prohibition on America?

► What was the Scopes Trial and how was it emblematic of the cultural tension that existed in the 1920s?

Aimee Semple McPherson