How far did US Society Change in the 1920s | History for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

How Widespread was Intolerance in US Society?

Introduction

• The 1920s in the USA was a period characterized by contradictions and stark differences.
• For instance, job opportunities were extended at Ford factories, and visa applications were accommodated.

Black Americans

• Discrimination: Black Americans migrated northwards to engage in the low-wage sector, particularly in factories witnessing heightened production.
• Segregation: Black individuals were forced into segregated areas like Harlem in New York, reflecting a disturbing level of intolerance prevalent during the 1920s.
• JIM CROW Laws: These laws were implemented to enforce the segregation of black individuals.
  • Event 1: A significant portion of the black population resided in poverty, enduring a constant fear of public lynchings by mobs.
• Native Americans - Red Indians
  • Residing in reservations: The federal government mandated Native Americans to inhabit reservations. However, the land provided was infertile, resulting in widespread poverty, inadequate education, and poor health conditions among many Native Americans. This situation hindered their agricultural prospects and overall well-being.

Communists (Red Scare) 1919-21

• Immigrants from South and Eastern Europe raised concerns about importing communist and anarchist ideologies, particularly from Russia.
• The outbreak of strikes in 1919 intensified these fears.
• A series of bomb attacks in 1919 indicated a potential conspiracy against the government, including an explosion at the residence of the Attorney General, Mitchell Palmer.
• Strikes led to lock-outs, and numerous suspected anarchists and communists were detained and deported.

Religious Intolerance (Catholics and Jews)

• WASPs (White Anglo-Saxon Protestants) were fundamentalists who only accepted their own religion and were intolerant of others. They adhered strictly to literal interpretations of their faith, often clashing with the Constitution.
• WASPs viewed Blacks, Jews, and Catholics as inferior.
• In Tennessee, biology teacher John Scopes defied a law prohibiting the teaching of human evolution, specifically Charles Darwin's theory. His trial, known as the Monkey Trial, featured Clarence Darrow for the defense and fundamentalist William Jennings Bryan for the prosecution. It was the first trial broadcast on the radio.
• The Anglo-Saxon race was believed to be superior.
• The theory of eugenics held that the human race could be improved through selective breeding.
• Light-skinned, blond-haired, and blue-eyed individuals were considered superior.

History of the Ku Klux Klan

• The Ku Klux Klan's animosity extended beyond black people to include Catholics, Jews, foreigners, liberals, and homosexuals.
• Established in 1864, the Klan believed that foreigners were negatively impacting American culture. By the 1920s, membership soared to 5 million individuals, including numerous politicians and government figures.
• The Klan's most severe actions included hanging, mutilation, and lynching as forms of extreme punishment.
• In 1925, the Klan's membership dwindled notably after one of its leaders was convicted of raping and murdering a woman on a train.

Immigration Policy

• The Emergency Quota Act of 1921 restricted immigration to 357,000 individuals.
• The National Origins Act of 1924 further limited immigration to 150,000 people and completely excluded immigrants from China and Japan.
• The preference was for immigrants from Western Europe rather than Southern or Eastern Europe, shaping America as an immigrant society.

Sacco and Vanzetti

• Italian-Americans, Sacco and Vanzetti, were arrested in 1927 on charges of armed robbery and suspected murder in Massachusetts. They identified as self-centered anarchists.
• Their case sparked international outrage and protests aimed at preventing their execution.

Why was Prohibition introduced and then later repealed?

Introduction

• A period of time in the history of the USA between 1920 and 1933 when alcohol was banned.
• On January 16, 1918, the eighteenth amendment to the USA's constitution made it illegal to manufacture, sell, and transport alcohol in the country.
• Over half of the states in the USA had some form of ban on alcohol, with 13 states being completely dry.
• The Volstead Act of 1919 defined what prohibition entailed and outlined the penalties for violating the law.
• Beverages with over 0.5 per cent alcohol content were prohibited.
• The aim of Prohibition, also known as "the noble experiment," was to halt the alcohol trade.

Why was Prohibition Introduced?

Social and Political Reasons

• Temperance groups
• Anti-saloon League (ASL)
• Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) Religious groups
• Methodists
• Baptists

They joined the crusade to campaign for Prohibition

Why?

• Liquor was responsible for crime and violence.
• With the breakup of families, men waste wages on drinks and abuse wives and kids.
• Affects people's health
• Seen against God's will
• Fundamentalist preacher - Billy Sunday persuaded conservatives alcohol was evil

Economic Reasons

• Industrialist Henry Ford supported Prohibition, believing that alcohol reduced worker efficiency.
• Brewers and distillers differed in their views: brewers claimed beer was healthy. The lack of unity between brewers and distillers meant the liquor industry could not present a united front against Prohibition.
• Patriotism played a role, as consuming products from big liquor manufacturers like Budweiser was seen as unpatriotic.
• Anti-immigrant sentiment was strong among Americans, who disapproved of immigrant communities, such as the Irish, Germans, and Eastern Europeans, due to their drinking habits, linking it to broader anti-immigrant hatred.
• Politicians often supported Prohibition publicly, despite drinking privately, to avoid losing votes.
• The government expected that revenue from the new income tax would offset the loss of alcohol tax revenue.
• Attitudes towards Prohibition varied:
  • "Dries" supported Prohibition, believing alcohol severely damaged family life.
  • "Wets" opposed Prohibition, seeing drinking as a popular pastime and integral to community culture, arguing that the government should not interfere.
• Alcohol production was a significant source of employment and supported farmers by using their surplus grains.

Impact of Prohibition

The prohibition era had far-reaching consequences on various aspects of society and the economy:

• Crime and Illegal Activities - Prohibition fueled a significant rise in organized crime, bootlegging, and speakeasies that operated clandestinely to supply alcohol, leading to increased criminal activities and law enforcement challenges.
• Public Health - Despite the intention to promote healthier lifestyles, Prohibition resulted in the production and consumption of illicit and poorly regulated alcohol, leading to health risks and fatalities due to contaminated or unsafe beverages.
• Economic Impact - The ban on alcohol production and sales disrupted the economy, causing job losses in the alcohol industry, a decline in tax revenues, and the emergence of underground markets, impacting overall economic stability.
• Social Changes - Prohibition altered social norms and behaviors related to alcohol consumption, sparking debates on personal freedoms, government intervention, and the role of alcohol in society, leading to cultural shifts that persisted beyond the Prohibition era.
• Illegal activities emerged with the rise of unlawfully produced moonshine in establishments known as speakeasies, which were bars selling alcoholic beverages against the law.
• The number of speakeasies surpassed that of regular bars, with New York alone having 32,000 such establishments by 1929.
• Various illicit activities flourished including bootlegging (illegal trade in goods), moonshining (the illicit brewing of alcohol), and rum running (the illegal smuggling or transportation of alcohol).
• Alcohol-related fatalities surged from 98 in 1920 to 760 in 1926. Deaths were caused by homemade moonshine, either due to its excessive potency or contamination. Industrial alcohol was poisoned to deter consumption, leading to theft and resale for drinking purposes.
• Individuals shifted from beer to stronger spirits during this period.
• Corruption escalated, with common practices of bribing law enforcement officials, judges, and politicians.
• Respect for the law diminished significantly due to Prohibition.
• Between 1926 and 1927, 130 gang-related murders in Chicago were attributed to Al Capone.
• Organized crime, exemplified by groups like the mafia, experienced a notable expansion.
• The Prohibition era caused a division within the Democratic Party, separating the "dry" advocates from the rural south and west, and the "wet" supporters from the urban north and east.
• Spending patterns shifted towards other commodities such as firearms and automobiles.

Why did the Prohibition Fail?

• Enforcing the Volstead Act was impossible.
• There was a lack of public support, as many were "wets" who couldn't be persuaded to change their drinking habits. Non-WASPs resented government interference with their freedoms.
• Alcohol remained readily available, supplied by bootleggers, moonshiners, and rum runners. By 1929, New York had around 30,000 speakeasies, and 280,000 illegal stills were seized.
• Government efforts to enforce Prohibition were highly ineffective. Patrolling thousands of miles of US borders with Canada and Mexico, both major smuggling routes, was impossible. Blocking 29,000 km of coastline was equally challenging. Rum continued to come from the West Indies, with rum runners' boats being faster than government vessels.
• The Prohibition Bureau appointed 2,300 special agents, but they were too few in number and poorly paid ($2,500 per year), making them susceptible to corruption.
• One in twelve agents was dismissed for accepting bribes.
• Judges and politicians often accepted bribes as well. Only Elliot Ness and his Untouchables, a group of US federal agents assigned to combat bootlegging, were above corruption.
• Prohibition led to the rise of organized crime gangs.

Crime, Violence, and Corruption

• Organized crime:
  • Mafia families capitalized on Prohibition to amass fortunes.
  • They fought each other for control over cities.
  • In New York, the Castella Marese war led to Salvatore Maranzano's dominance; he became the "boss of bosses" and established a mafia code of conduct.
• Gangsters operated in every city:
  • In Chicago, Dion O'Bannion controlled the bootlegging business in the south, while John Torrio controlled the north.
• Al Capone:
  • The most infamous gangster was Al "Scarface" Capone.
  • He ran extensive bootlegging, prostitution, and gambling operations in Chicago in the late 1920s.
  • He dominated various ethnic gangs, including Italians, Irish, Jews, and Black Americans.
  • Capone controlled city officials, such as judges, through bribery or intimidation. He even placed gunmen on rooftops during elections.
  • Notable events: the "St. Valentine's Day Massacre" in 1920, when he ordered the killing of seven rivals, and "The Last Supper" in 1929, when he personally killed three Sicilians with a baseball bat.
  • In 1931, Capone was arrested for tax evasion.
• Corruption in government:
  • Warren Harding was known for appointing his political friends and cabinet members to influential posts.
  • This group, known as the "Ohio Gang," held significant power.
  • In early 1924, after Harding's death, Congress began investigating corruption and bribery during his administration.
  • Several members of the Ohio Gang were charged and imprisoned for corruption.

The End of Prohibition

• The twenty-first amendment to the Constitution in 1933 marked the conclusion of the Prohibition era, where regulations on alcohol were to be controlled at a state, rather than federal, level.

Reasons for the Termination of Prohibition (Financial and Practical)

• The Wickersham Commission's Findings:
  • The National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement, also known as the Wickersham Commission, established by President Hoover, concluded that Prohibition was practically impossible to enforce.
• Health and Safety Concerns:
  • Unregulated alcohol production resulted in numerous fatalities, highlighting the dangers of illicit alcohol consumption.
• Social and Political Pressures:
  • Groups like the Women's Organization for National Prohibition Reform actively lobbied for the repeal of Prohibition due to its association with increased criminal activities.
• Economic Implications:
  • Enforcement costs soared to 13.4 million, straining government resources.
  • Government revenue suffered a significant decline of 11 billion due to reduced taxes on alcohol sales.
  • The economic downturn of the late 1920s intensified the need for jobs, with the alcohol industry offering a potential solution to rising unemployment rates.
• Industry Influence:
  • Prominent figures like JD Rockefeller Junior advocated for the end of Prohibition, recognizing the economic and social benefits of a regulated alcohol industry.

What were the 'Roaring Twenties'?

• Wealthy American families during the Roaring Twenties often directed their resources towards entertainment.
• Women hailing from affluent backgrounds enjoyed improved living standards and increased leisure time due to the introduction of labor-saving devices.
• The era saw a rise in women's independence, marked by the granting of women's suffrage rights.
• Flappers, representing emancipated young women, embraced new trends and urban lifestyles.
• The workforce saw an influx of women, notably in professions like nursing and librarianship.
• Modern women challenged traditional roles, moving beyond solely child-rearing responsibilities, leading to a decline in birth rates. In contrast, traditional women, such as WASPs, associated religiosity with having more children.
• The Roaring Twenties brought forth various cultural shifts, with innovations like automobiles enabling easier access to jazz performances and cinemas.

Cinema

Cinema provides various advantages and disadvantages to society.

• Movies offer a means to break away from the monotony of everyday life.
• Fashion trends depicted in films often influence people's attire choices.
• However, some films have been criticized for promoting negative or corrupting content.
• The 1920s marked a significant era for Hollywood and Walt Disney, and in 1927, the introduction of 'Talkies' revolutionized the film industry.

Music and Jazz

The convergence of music and jazz played vital cultural roles in the 20th century.

• Tin Pan Alley, a vibrant hub in New York, served as a creative melting pot for musicians, fostering collaborative music creation.
• Jazz, originating from African American communities, notably during the Harlem Renaissance, contributed richly to American music heritage.

Radio

The emergence of radio transformed entertainment and communication landscapes.

• With the decline of vaudeville and variety theaters, radio emerged as a popular alternative, eventually evolving into a nationwide broadcasting network.

How far did the roles of women change during the 1920s?

Before the World War

• Traditional women - WASPs believed the more children, the more religious you are.
• Most women couldn't vote, and any paid work was limited to occupations such as domestic service, secretarial work, and teaching.
• Restrictive dresses - corsets and full-length skirts along with dresses with tight waists.
• Controlled public behavior - modest, polite, and discrete. No drinking or smoking, and if unmarried, no male company without a chaperone.

During the First World War

• Women's roles underwent significant changes during the First World War.
• With men away at war, women took on traditionally male roles in various industries, such as factories and farms.
• Women began to challenge societal norms, demanding the right to vote and more opportunities for employment.
• The war led to a shift in perceptions of women's capabilities and their contributions to society.
• During wartime, women took on roles in the war industries traditionally held by men, as men were serving in the armed forces.

After the First World War

• Women gained more independence and the right to vote, constituting 50% of the electorate.
• Many women began working in professions such as nursing and librarianship, contributing to a 25% increase in employment figures to 10 million by 1929.
• Modern women rejected the notion that their sole purpose was child-rearing, leading to a decline in birth rates.
• Flappers emerged as a symbol of emancipated young women, spanning various social classes, who embraced new fashions and urban attitudes. They discarded corsets in favor of shorter, sleeveless dresses that allowed for greater movement and self-expression.
• Flapper - This term referred to liberated young women from affluent, middle, and upper-class backgrounds who embraced modern fashions and urban attitudes. They discarded corsets in favor of shorter, lighter skirts and sleeveless dresses, allowing for increased freedom of movement and self-expression.

Lifestyle

• Women belonging to wealthier families experienced improved living standards and more leisure time due to the introduction of labor-saving devices. 
• They began engaging in public activities such as smoking, drinking, and kissing without the need for chaperones. 
• These women also took up driving, with Henry Ford specifically introducing colored cars in 1925 for them. 
• Short haircuts and makeup emerged as symbols of newfound liberation, showcasing a shift towards greater independence in their actions.

The Role of the Average American Woman in the 1920s

• The role of the typical American woman remained relatively unchanged throughout the 1920s.
• This stability was primarily notable among upper-middle-class women, a demographic representing a small fraction of the female populace in the United States.