Marcus Garvey and Black Nationalism

Marcus Garvey's Ideas in the 1920s

• Garvey's black nationalism included unity, pride in African heritage, and autonomy.
• People of African descent, according to Garvey, could build an independent nation in Africa.

Pan-Africanism

• The unity of all people of African descent globally was strongly supported by Garvey.
• He promoted a shared identity and heritage among people of African descent.

Racial Separatism

• Garvey advocated for separating Black people from white society.
• He believed true equality required an independent nation in Africa.

Black Pride and Self-Reliance

• Garvey emphasized celebrating African culture and history.
• He encouraged Black people to take pride in their identity.
• It was important, according to Garvey, for Black people to become economically self-sufficient.

Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA)

• Garvey founded the UNIA to spread black nationalism.
• UNIA was a platform to organize African Americans to achieve their goals.

Black Star Line

• Garvey established this shipping company to transport African Americans back to Africa.

Organized Labor and the New Deal

• New Deal legislation, especially the Wagner Act, bolstered the power of labor unions.
• Workers gained greater rights to organize, bargain, and strike.
• Union membership significantly increased during the Great Depression.

The Wagner Act (1935)

• A cornerstone of the New Deal, guaranteeing workers the right to unionize and bargain collectively.
• The Wagner Act established the legal framework for organized labor in the US.
• The Wagner Act led to a surge in union membership.
• Workers felt empowered to organize without fear of employer retaliation.

New Deal Programs and Labor

• New Deal initiatives, such as the Public Works Administration (PWA) and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), contributed to labor mobilization.
• Employment opportunities and creating a pool of potential union members thanks to these programs.

Opposition to Labor Unions

• Some employers and business groups resisted unionization.
• Tactics included company unions and anti-union propaganda.

New Deal Legislation

• National Industrial Recovery Act (1933) encouraged cooperation between labor, management, and consumers to create fair prices, working conditions, and profits
• Fair Labor Standards Act (1938) established a national minimum wage, a 40-hour work week, and prohibited child labor
• National Labor Relations Act (1935) guaranteed workers the right to unionize, bargain collectively, and strike

Labor Union Growth

• The number of union members grew significantly during the New Deal.
• The Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) and the American Federation of Labor (AFL) both grew in size.
• The International Ladies' Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) saw its membership quadruple in one year.

Arguments Against Immigration in the 1920s

• Arguments against immigration in the 1920s stemmed from social, economic, and cultural impacts.

Economic Concerns

• Immigrants were seen as potential competitors for jobs, particularly during economic uncertainty or recession.
• Concerns were raised about immigrants driving down wages or displacing native-born workers.
• A growing immigrant population would strain public resources like schools, hospitals, and social services.

Social and Cultural Concerns

• Nativism: A strong undercurrent (the belief that native-born citizens are superior to immigrants)
• Immigrants were viewed with suspicion due to differences in language, customs, and religious beliefs.
• There were fears that these differences would undermine American culture and values.
• Some argued that immigrants were resistant to assimilating into American society.
• Social cohesion was undermined by the formation of ethnic enclaves.

Political Radicalism

• Concerns were raised that immigrants might bring radical political ideas and destabilize American democracy.
• This fear was heightened by events like the Russian Revolution and the "Red Scare".

Health and Social Problems

• Immigrants were blamed for bringing diseases into the country.
• There were unsubstantiated claims that immigrants were more prone to crime and would contribute to social disorder.

The Internment of Japanese Americans

• Internment

Lessons Learned

• America did not always live up to the ideals they fought for in WWII.
• American Indians in the latter half of the 19th century faced comparable levels of intrusion on their rights.

Effects of The Great Depression

• The Great Depression had effects of widespread unemployment, business closures, bank failures, plummeting agricultural prices, reduced consumer spending, widespread poverty, social unrest, and significant political shifts

High Unemployment

• Millions of people lost their jobs as factories shut down.
• Unemployment rates were unprecedented across the nation.

Bank Failures

• Many banks collapsed due to panic withdrawals, causing people to lose their life savings.

Decreased Consumer Spending

• Reduced income meant reduced spending, impacting businesses and fueling the economic downturn.

Farm Foreclosures

• Falling agricultural prices led to widespread farm foreclosures, devastating rural communities.

Homelessness and Poverty

• Many people lost their homes due to the inability to pay mortgages.
• Poverty and homelessness became widespread.

Social Impacts

• The Depression caused significant social distress.
• Family tensions, malnutrition, and a decline in mental health increased

Political Consequences

• The economic crisis contributed to the rise of extremist political ideologies like fascism and communism.
• People sought radical solutions to their problems.

International Trade Decline

• The Great Depression led to a significant drop in international trade due to protectionist policies like the Smoot-Hawley Tariff.
• Exacerbated the economic crisis globally

The Rise of Mass Media

• Mass media refers to the historical development of communication technologies.
• Newspapers, radio, television, and the internet allowed information to be disseminated on a large scale to a wide audience.
• Public opinion was impacted and cultural norms across society were shaped.

Early Stages

• The printing press, invented by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th century, marked the first major development in mass communication.
• Printed materials like newspapers and books saw widespread distribution.

Radio's Impact

• In the early 20th century, radio broadcasting emerged.
• Real-time news was disseminated and a shared listening experience was created across large populations.

Television Revolution

• Television further expanded the reach of mass media in the mid-20th century.
• Visual storytelling became a dominant form of communication.

Digital Age

• The internet and social media platforms have revolutionized mass media in recent decades.
• Individuals can create and share information rapidly.
• Lines between traditional media outlets and citizen journalism are blurring.

Important Aspects of Mass Media

• Gatekeeping: Media organizations decide what news stories to cover and how to present them, influencing public perception.
• Agenda setting: The media can determine which issues are considered important by the public.
• Framing: The media presents a story, often with a particular perspective/bias, which shapes public understanding of an issue.
• Media concentration: A small number of corporations own multiple media outlets, raising concerns about diversity of content.

American Mobilization During World War II

• American Mobilization included a massive shift of the nation's industrial capacity towards war production.
• Millions of Americans entered the workforce, particularly women.
• Significant migration to industrial centers.
• The Selective Service Act was implemented to draft soldiers.
• Essentially transforming the US into the "Arsenal of Democracy" by dedicating nearly all resources to the war effort.

Industrial Conversion

• Factories rapidly transitioned from producing consumer goods to producing military equipment.
• Massive government funding for new manufacturing facilities.

Selective Service Act

• The implementation of the draft in 1940 allowed the government to mobilize large numbers of men for military service.

Women in the Workforce

• With men joining the military, millions of women entered the workforce.
• Women filled jobs in factories and other essential industries.
• The social landscape was significantly changed.

Migration Patterns

• Large population movement occurred as people migrated from rural areas to urban centers with booming defense industries.
• Migration focused particularly in the North and West.

"Rosie the Riveter"

• This iconic symbol represented the American woman working in factories during the war, encouraging female participation in the workforce.

War Bond Drives

• The government heavily promoted the purchase of war bonds to finance the war effort.

Rationing

• To ensure equitable distribution of essential goods like food and gasoline, rationing systems were implemented.

Propaganda and Public Morale

• Extensive propaganda campaigns were used to maintain public support for the war effort and encourage patriotism.

Impact on the Great Depression

• Mobilization for World War II effectively ended the Great Depression.
• Millions of new jobs were created, and the economy was stimulated.

Racial Segregation

• Despite the mobilization effort, racial segregation persisted in the military and workplaces.

Japanese Internment

• The US government implemented the controversial internment of Japanese Americans during the war.

This lesson explores Marcus Garvey's ideas in the 1920s, including black nationalism, Pan-Africanism, and racial separatism. It emphasizes black pride, self-reliance, and the role of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in promoting these ideals. Garvey advocated for unity, pride in African heritage and autonomy.