The Red Scare and the New KKK

• The Red Scare was a period of intense anti-communism in the United States. It was driven by fears of communist infiltration and revolution following World War I and the Russian Revolution

Palmer Raids

• Raids conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice in 1919 and 1920 in an attempt to arrest foreign anarchists, communists, and radical leftists, many of whom were subsequently deported
• The fear came from the rise of communism and labor unrest in the US and Europe

Unions

• Unions were made to seem part of the Communist movement due to the association of radical labor activists with socialist and communist ideologies

Sacco-Vanzetti Case

• The controversial conviction and execution of two Italian immigrants, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, in the 1920s, highlighted nativist and anti-radical sentiments

The New KKK

• The second KKK emerged in the 1910s, starting in Georgia
• Expanded targets included immigrants, Catholics, Jews, and African Americans, reflecting broader nativist and discriminatory attitudes

Quota Act and Immigration Act

• Laws enacted in the 1920s to restrict immigration based on national origin
• They aimed to limit immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe, favoring Northern and Western European countries

Prohibition

• A nationwide constitutional ban on the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages that remained in place from 1920 to 1933
• It Was driven by moral and social reform movements
• Prohibition's weaknesses included widespread disregard for the law, leading to the rise of organized crime and illegal alcohol production
• Resulted in the rise of speakeasies, bootlegging, and gangsterism

Speakeasies, Bootleggers, and The Gangster Era

• Speakeasies: Illegal bars that sold alcohol during Prohibition
• Bootleggers: Individuals who illegally produced and smuggled alcohol
• The Gangster Era: A period of increased organized crime, with figures like Al Capone gaining notoriety through illegal alcohol trade

"Monkey Trial"

• A 1925 legal case in Dayton, Tennessee, in which a substitute high school teacher, John Scopes, was accused of violating Tennessee's Butler Act, which made it unlawful to teach human evolution in any state-funded school
• Symbolized the clash between religious fundamentalism and modern science

Major Spectator Sports and Their Stars

• Baseball: Babe Ruth
• Boxing: Jack Dempsey
• Football: Red Grange
• These sports and athletes gained immense popularity, reflecting the growing leisure culture

Automobile and Radio

• The growth of the automobile industry stimulated economic growth and transformed American lifestyles, enabling greater mobility and suburbanization
• Paid for through mass production and installment plans
• The radio became a major source of entertainment and information, creating a shared national culture
• Henry Ford's contribution was the assembly line, which made cars affordable

Airplane

• Expanded passenger travel
• Charles Lindbergh: First person to fly solo across the Atlantic, becoming a national hero

First "Moving Picture Shows"

• Early movie theaters that showcased silent films, providing a new form of mass entertainment

Independence of Women

• The Flapper: Symbolized the changing role of women, with shorter dresses, bobbed hair, and a more assertive attitude
• Music: Jazz music became popular, reflecting the era's rebellious spirit
• The Charleston: A popular dance that epitomized the energy and freedom of the era

Literature of the 1920s

• The Great Gatsby (by F. Scott Fitzgerald): Explored themes of wealth, class, and the American Dream
• The Sun Also Rises, Farewell to Arms (By Ernest Hemingway): Reflected the disillusionment and loss of the "Lost Generation"

Langston Hughes

• An American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist from Joplin, Missouri
• Innovator of the jazz poetry art form
• One of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form called jazz poetry
• Best known as a leader, innovator, and promoter of the Harlem Renaissance

Louis Armstrong

• An American trumpeter, composer, vocalist, and actor who was among the most influential figures in jazz

Harlem Renaissance

• A cultural and artistic movement in the 1920s and 1930s centered in Harlem, New York City
• Promoted African American literature, art, and music
• Kind of Music: Jazz music became a defining element of the Harlem Renaissance

Bank Failures

• Bank Failures from 1930-1933: Thousands of banks failed, leading to a collapse of the banking system

"ABC" Programs

• SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission): Regulates the stock market
• FHA (Federal Housing Administration): Insures mortgages
• Social Security Act: Provides old-age pensions, unemployment insurance, and aid to the disabled
• REA (Rural Electrification Administration): Brought electricity to rural areas

Dust Bowl

• A period of severe dust storms that greatly damaged the ecology and agriculture of the American and Canadian prairies during the 1930s
• Caused by drought, poor farming practices, and wind erosion

Unemployment During the Depression

• Unemployment During the Depression Reached as high as 25%

John Maynard Keynes

• A British economist whose theories influenced FDR's policies
• "Prime the Pump": Government spending to stimulate the economy
• His theories encouraged FDR to use government spending to stimulate the economy

1st and 2nd New Deal

• The 1st New Deal (1933-1934): Focused on relief and recovery with programs
• The 2nd New Deal (1935-1938): Emphasized social and economic reform with programs like Social Security

FDR's Court Packing Scheme

• FDR's proposal to add more justices to the Supreme Court to overcome opposition to his New Deal programs
• Faced significant opposition and was ultimately unsuccessful

Culture of the Great Depression

• Movies: Provided escapism and entertainment
• Books: Reflected the hardship and struggles of the era
• The Grapes of Wrath (by John Steinbeck): Depicted the plight of farmers during the Dust Bowl

Success of the New Deal

• The New Deal: While it did not completely end the Great Depression, it provided relief, reform, and recovery
• Changed America by expanding the role of the government in the economy and society
• Government Programs: Created numerous government programs and agencies that continue to exist today

Without the New Deal

• Without the New Deal, the economic and social consequences of the Great Depression could have been much worse, potentially leading to greater instability and hardship

Consumerism

• The increasing focus on purchasing goods and services
• People were buying automobiles, radios, appliances, and other consumer goods

Business Policies of Republican Presidents

• Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover: Favored laissez-faire economics, lower taxes, and limited government regulation

Tariffs in the 1920s

• Tariffs were raised to protect American industries
• The effect of the tariffs: Damaged international trade and contributed to the global economic downturn

Teapot Dome Scandal

• A bribery scandal involving the lease of naval oil reserves to private companies during the Harding administration

Lure of the Stock Market

• The stock market was attractive due to rising stock prices and the opportunity for quick profits
• "Buying on Margin": Purchasing stocks with borrowed money, increasing risk

Herbert Hoover

• 31st President of the United States

Farmers After World War I

• Farmers: Faced declining prices, overproduction, and debt

Great Crash of 1929

• A stock market crash that started in late September 1929 and ended on Black Tuesday, October 29, 1929, when share prices on the New York Stock Exchange collapsed
• "Black Tuesday": October 29, 1929, the day the stock market crashed

Hawley-Smoot Tariff

• A law enacted in 1930 that raised tariffs on thousands of imported goods
• Detrimental because it damaged international trade and worsened the Great Depression

Causes of the Great Depression

• Stock market crash, overproduction, unequal distribution of wealth, and international economic problems
• Lasted from 1929 to 1939

Hoover's Actions

• Hoover's Actions: Initially relied on voluntary measures, but later implemented some government programs

Franklin D. Roosevelt

• 32nd President of the United States

Election of 1933

• Franklin D. Roosevelt won the election of 1933

The New Deal

• A group of U.S. domestic programs enacted in the United States between 1933 and 1939
• The three R’s: Relief, Recovery, and Reform

Bank Holiday

• A day on which banks are officially closed, observed as a public holiday
• Called on by the FDR Administration to stabilize the banking system and restore confidence

First 100 Days

• FDR's administration focused on passing legislation to address the economic crisis and implement New Deal programs