Transcript The Roaring 1920’s - Ms. Stattenfield's History Page

1920s:
From the
Assembly Line to
the Bread Line
SOCIETY,
CULTURE &
VALUES
“Boom to Bust”
Prohibition
Urbanization
Popular Entertainment
Harlem Renaissance
Rural America
Technology
Women of the ‘20s
Culture Clash/Tension
Prohibition
• Prohibition
• The noble experiment
• “wets and dries”
• Al Capone
Government agents breaking up an illegal bar
during Prohibition
Alphonse
“Scarface” Capone
URBANIZATION
Farm vs. Nonfarm Population, 1880-1980
1920 CENSUS:
First time
majority of
U.S.
population in
urban areas
(towns 2500 or
greater)
1920: More
workers in
factories than on
farms
POPULAR
ENTERTAINMENT:
Movies
• Movie “palaces”
• “talkies” (1927)
(Billy Rose Theatre Collection, The New York Public Library)
80 million tickets sold per week by 1930
(population: 100 million)
MASS CULTURE:
Radio
• New mass
medium
– 1920: First
commercial radio
station
– By 1930: over 800
stations & 10
million radios
• Networks: NBC
(1924), CBS (1927)
The Spread of
Radio, to 1939
Celebrities
Babe Ruth &Ty Cobb
Jack Dempsey
Why were we
so obsessed
with
heroes??
Charles Lindbergh
The Spirit of St. Louis
CONSUMERISM
(Escapism?)
•
•
•
•
•
Electric appliances
automobiles
advertising
buying on credit (Installment)
chain stores
Consumer Debt, 1920–1931
General Electric ad
(Picture Research Consultants & Archives)
Automobiles &
Consumerism
Dodge advertisement photo, 1933
< Ford ad: “Every family -- with even the most
modest income, can now afford a car of their own."
“Every family should have their own
car. . .You live but once and the
years roll by quickly. Why wait for
tomorrow for things that you
rightfully should enjoy today?"
(Library of Congress)
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved
Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance was a flowering of
African American social thought which was
expressed through
– Paintings
– Music
– Dance
– Theater
– Literature
The Negro Speaks of Rivers
(1919)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cKDOGhghMU
I've known rivers:
I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the
flow of human blood in human veins.
My soul has grown deep like the rivers.
I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.
I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.
I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.
I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln
went down to New Orleans, and I've seen its muddy
bosom turn all golden in the sunset.
I've known rivers:
Ancient, dusky rivers.
My soul has grown deep like the rivers.
RURAL AMERICA:
PROBLEMS FOR FARMERS
Women of the ‘20s
• 1920 - 19th Amendment
• Women didn't want to
sacrifice wartime gains amounted to a social revolt
• After 1920, more women
worked outside the home
• More women went to
college and hoped to join
professional community
• ‘20s woman characterized
by the FLAPPER/ "new
woman"
– (bobbed hair, short
dresses, smoked in
public...)
The 20’s is The Jazz
Age
The
Charleston=THE
dance craze of
the ‘20s
http://www.youtu
be.com/watch?v=
yNAOHtmy4j0
Musicians
Louis Armstrong
Duke Ellington
Jazz link:
https://www.youtub
e.com/watch?v=4
wbNZFS3MDA
Culture
Clash and
Tension
Religion
• “modernists”
• “fundamentalism”
• Scopes Trial
• Clarence Darrow
• William Jennings Bryan
Essay Question
The 1920’s were a period of tension
between new and changing attitudes
on the one hand and traditional
values and nostalgia on the other.
What led to the tension between the
old and new AND in what ways was
the tension manifested?
1920s:
From the
Assembly Line to
the Bread Line
How Did We Get From Unprecedented
Growth to Total Collapse?
Politics of the 1920’s—
Business Friendly Government
– “Return to normalcy” with “Uncle
Warren”
– Appointed his friends and Ohio buddies to
cabinet positions—Andrew Mellon,
Herbert Hoover
– Handsome, well-liked, played
poker… & that’s about it . . .did
raise tariff rates, which hurt
international trade . . .
– Presidency marked by scandal &
corruption
– Died of a heart attack in San Francisco in
August 1923
Harding: 1920-1924
Politics of the 1920’s
Calvin Coolidge (Silent Cal)
1924-1928
• VP to Harding
• From VT, lived in Northampton,
Gov. of MA
• Supporter of business & limited
government intervention
• Believed in:
– Hands off government &
economy
“The business of America is
business!”
With Gov’t Out of the Way . . . An Age of
Prosperity
• Economic expansion
• Mass Production/Assembly Line
• Age of the Automobile
BUSINESS
PROSPERITY
ECONOMIC PROSPERITY:
• productivity: up 50%
• unemployment: ave. 4%
• real income: up 25%
• standard of living:
Gross
National
Product,
1920-1930
Unemployment, 1920-1930
– indoor plumbing
– central heating
– electricity (2/3 by 1930)
CAUSES OF BUSINESS PROSPERITY:
 Increased productivity (scientific management, machinery)
 Increased use of oil and electricity
 Favorable government policy (tax breaks, antitrust)
How Did We Get From Unprecedented
Growth to Total Collapse?
•Uneven Distribution of Wealth
•Wealthiest 1% saw 60% rise in
income.
•Majority of population saw an
8% increase.
•Buying on Credit
•People began to live beyond
their means.
•Savings rates declined
significantly.
How Did We Get From Unprecedented
Growth to Total Collapse?
•Over production (Industry
and Agriculture)
•As people reached their
credit limits, surplus items
piled up.
•Lack of government
regulation
•Allowed to go unchecked,
unprecedented growth
an unstable economy.
Stock Market Speculation
•1920: 318 million people
owned shares of stock
•1929: More than a billion
people owned stock
•Many people were buying
stock on margin (on credit)
Global Economic Problems
•High U.S. tariffs and Post-War
problems made Europe unable
to pay back war debt—and after
the crash, U.S. RAISED tariffs
(Hawley-Smoot).
THE CRASH
-Black Thursday,
Oct. 24, 1929
--amid rumors that big investors
were about to pull their money out
of the market, stocks plunged.
--bankers bought millions of $$ in
stock to attempt to stabilize the
market
-Black Tuesday, Oct. 29, 1929
--selling frenzy, virtually no buyers
-16 million shares of stock were sold
-In that October, stock market lost $16
Billion in value
-Crash represented the beginning of a 10year economic slump
“A Wise Economist Asks a Question”
Photo
Analysis
http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=eih67rlG
NhU
Republican Leadership in the 1920s
Warren G. Harding(R)
“Return to Normalcy”
Calvin Coolidge(R)
“The business of America is
business”
Herbert Hoover’ Philosophy and
Response (23.4)
•Hoover believed in “Rugged Individualism”
•opposed to direct aid—believed gov’t
should not provide direct aid, as it would
“dim the spirit of the
American people.”
•Provided federal loans for public works
projects (Hoover Dam), but this was not
enough to combat crisis. (Still,
unprecedented level of federal spending)
•Urged companies to avoid lay-offs and
wage cuts—but he was ignored and
depression worsened.
“We shall soon . . .
be in sight of the day
when poverty shall
be banished from
this nation. “
(8/1928)
1929—1932:
The Depression Worsens
•Despite Hoover’s promise
that “Prosperity is ‘round the
corner:”
•9,000 (20%) banks
closed in the few years
following the depression
•$2.5 billion deposits
were ultimately lost
•By 1932, unemployment
reached 25%
•farm income declined by
60% 1929-1932 (Dust
Bowl)
•private charities unable
to meet demands
•Hoover Finally Takes Direct Action
•Reconstruction Finance Corp
•Gave emergency loans to
stabilize key businesses (ie.
banks)
•EXTREMELY unpopular—
gave to banks and businesses,
not hungry people!
•Smoot-Hawley Tariff
•Raised import taxes to
historically high levels . . . but
ultimately crippled
international trade.
 The nation was increasingly
frustrated by Hoover’s unwillingness
to give direct aid . . .
Growing Protest & Hoover’s Downfall
•Summer 1932: WWI Vets wanted bonuses promised to them paid
early—march to D.C.
•After police skirmish at “Bonus Army” camp, Hoover ordered army
to clear out the camp of 20,000.
•MacArthur pursed fleeing vets, burned camp. 4 died (including an
infant) and many more injured.
Hoover didn’t stand a chance in 1932
election . . .
end of
Republican
control of
gov’t
“We’d Like to Thank You Herbert Hoover”
Election 1932
Who is FDR??
• 1882
Born in Hyde Park, NY
• 1890
Enrolled in Groton Academy
• 1903
Graduated from Harvard  Columbia Law
• 1905
Married Eleanor (5th cousin, once removed--TRs niece)
• 1910
Elected to NY State Senate
• 1913
Sworn in as Asst. Sec. to the Navy
• 1920
Democratic VP candidate (lost to Harding)
• 1921
Stricken w/ polio—would never walk (unassisted)
again
• 1928
Elected Gov. of NY
• 1932
Elected President of the United States
FDR’s Personal Qualities
• He was a practical politician
who practiced the art of the
possible.
• He was a charismatic
person who exhibited a
warmth and understanding
of people.
• He knew how to handle
press by focusing attention
on Washington.
• He provided dynamic
leadership in a time of crisis.
• He was willing to experiment
•FDR promised a “New
Deal” — said so in person
at Democratic National
Convention
•Won 60% of the popular
vote
•FDR declined Hoover’s
offer to help during “lame
duck” period
•Consulted with his “brain
trust” of university
professors to plan his
attack on the Depression
Sources of New Deal Ideas
• Brains Trust: specialists and
experts, mostly college
professors, idea men
• New Economists: government
spending, deficit spending and
public works, government
should prime economic pump
• Roosevelt Cabinet: included
conservatives, liberals,
Democrats, Republicans,
inflationists, anti-inflationists -often conflicting,
compromising, blending ideas
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/fdrfirstinaugural.html
Action/
Experimentation
FDR Takes Action
• After being sworn in, FDR called
Congress into a 100-day long session
• Congress passed every law FDR requested “Alphabet
Agencies” to combat the Depression
• FDR’s three primary goals were:
– Relief (immediate—for people out of work)
– Recovery (for business and the economy—to get it back on track)
– Reform (of American economic institutions—long-term change)
• Made good on a campaign promise to end Prohibition
• First major focus was the banking system in the U.S., and
he ordered all banks closed on March 6, 1933 . . .
Banking Reform
• Perhaps more than anything else, the
crippled banking system prevented
economic recovery
• March 12, 1933, FDR delivered his first
fireside chat to explain his plan:
– Emergency Banking Relief Act: allowed gov’t to
examine banks closed during the “bank holiday” and
reopen ONLY the safe banks
– Urged public to dig up their jars of money and return to
the banks!
– March 13, there were lines outside most as people reopened savings accounts
• Glass-Steagall Act: Authorized the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation to provide
insurance for bank deposits.
CCC
AAA
NIRA/
NRA
TVA
The New Deal Under
Attack
Criticisms of Conservative Opponents
• Conservative opponents said the New Deal went too
far:
– It was socialism (killed individualism)
– It added to the national debt ($35 billion)
– It wasted money on relief and encouraged
idleness
– It violated the constitution & states rights
– It increased the power of the
Presidency (FDR was reaching
toward dictatorship, Congress a
rubber stamp, independence
of judiciary threatened,
separation of powers shattered)
The Supreme Court Responds
• In 1935, the NIRA
and AAA were
declared
unconstitutional:
– The NIRA gave fed.
gov’t too much power
within states and
“illegally restrained
trade.”
– The AAA was struck
down for similar
reasons.
Rise of the
Demagogues
Demagogue:
1. political leader who seeks support by
appealing to popular desires and prejudices
rather than by using rational argument.
These personalities believed the New Deal was
not doing enough . . .
Father Charles E. Coughlin
• Father Charles Coughlin was a
rabble-rousing radio priest from
Detroit. His broadcasts were
called the “Golden Hour of the
Little Flower.” He claimed there
was an international bankers
conspiracy and Jews were
responsible.
• He advocated nationalization of
banking and currency and
national resources and
demanded a “living wage.”
• Finally forced off the air by the
Vatican!
Senator Huey Long (LA)
• Senator Huey Long citicized
“the wealthy parasites who
preyed on the poor.”
• Claimed New Deal relief
measures were mere crumbs
and advocated a “Share Our
Wealth” plan that guaranteed
an annual income of at least
$5,000 for every American,
financed by confiscating wealth
of people who made over $1
million per year.
• Became Gov. of LA and had his
own private police force before
being assassinated.
Dr. Francis E. Townsend
• Dr. Francis E. Townsend was an
elderly physician from CA. He
had a plan for the federal
government to pay $200 per
month to unemployed people
over 60. The program would be
financed by a 2% national sales
tax and each retiree would be
required to spend the money in
30 days. This would stimulate the
economy/open jobs for the youth.
• Helped inspire the Social Security
Act, although Townsend believed
the program was inadequate.
Election of 1936
FDR vs. Alfred Landon (Kan)
FDR had the support of:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Organized labor
Midwestern farmers
African Americans (esp. N)
Middle class families (grew
during this period)
Elderly (SSA)
Jews
Intellectuals
Progressive republicans
White southerners

One of the biggest
landslides in U.S.
History
FDR’s “Court-Packing Plan”
• FDR believed his victory
gave him a mandate to
continue his New Deal
policies . . . Despite recent
Supreme Court opposition.
• FDR proposed adding a
judge for every member of
the court over 70 years old,
changing the # of judges
changed from 9 15.
•  GREAT
oppositionFDR withdrew
this proposal
• BUT judges retired & FDR
got to appoint new ones 
they approved nearly all
New Deal legislation.
Court Packing
The Legacy of
the New Deal
Rehabilitation of the Land
• Attacked soil erosion
• Built dams and planted
trees to prevent floods
• Reclaimed the grasslands
of the Great Plains
• Developed water power
resources
• Encouraged regional
reconstruction projects like
the TVA and Columbia
River project
Human Rehabilitation
• Established the principle
that government has
responsibility for the health,
welfare, and security, as
well as the protection and
education of its citizens
• Redefined the concept of
democracy so that it
included not only political
rights but economic
security and social justice
as well.
Revitalization of Politics
• Strengthened executive
branch/reasserted
presidential leadership
Side note: Signaled shift of
African American vote
from (Civil War-era)
Republicans to (New
Deal) Democrats
Maintenance of a Democratic
System
• The New Deal maintained a
democratic system of government
and society in a world threatened
by totalitarianism.
– Increased size and scope of
government to meet needs of
the depression
– Provided the leadership that
enabled Congress to put
through the necessary relief,
recovery, and reform measures.
– Sponsored moderate legislation
to neutralize the popularity of
radical opponents
Government Expenditures
Figures in parentheses have been adjusted for inflation:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Louisiana Purchase: Cost: $15 million ($217 billion)
Race to the Moon: Cost: $36.4 billion ($237 billion)
Korean War: Cost: $54 billion ($454 billion)
The New Deal: Cost: $32 billion est.($500 billion est.)
Invasion of Iraq: Cost: $551 billion ($597 billion)
Vietnam War: Cost: $111 billion ($698 billion)
*At the end of the day, the New Deal did not actually
end the Great Depression . . .
So—Where do you
stand?