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African American Identities: Marcus Garvey
Creator of the UNIA, Marcus Garvey was a Jamaican immigrant who advocated for black nationalism, and individual and racial pride among this group of individuals. -
African American Identities: United Negro Improvement Association
Brought to the United States by Marcus Garvey, this organization strives to for the separation of African American people, economic self-sufficiency, and a "back-to-Africa" movement. -
Cultural Shifts: Education
There had become a widespread belief in how valuable education was in society. This then caused the government to enact school laws, those of which involving Universal High School Education being a goal across the nation. -
Immigration: Quota Laws
These laws passed by Congress put severe restrictions on immigration within the United States. Wherein, immigrants were required to meet a certain quota based on their nationality, particularly who were considered "undesirable" by nativists. These acts then halted the unlimited immigration ideals that the United States had. -
Politics: Calvin Coolidge
Shortly after Warren Harding, Coolidge succeed the position of president of the United States. During his time, he broke the Boston police strike in Massachusetts, and he strongly believed that there was an importance in silence within politics. This was then translated in his actions towards separated a solitary government from business affairs, and his support from the Republican party was notable overwhelming. -
Politics: Republican Control
A majority of the executive branch throughout the 1920's was dominated by Republican control. During this time, there was an increase in business affairs, and a decrease in farmer and union utilization. -
African American Identities: Poets and Musicians
The main poets during this time consisted of Langston Hughes, James Weldon Johnson, and Claude McKay; wherein, they would discuss topics involving African American heritage. They would describe stories arousing hope, resentment, and joy. -
New Culture: City Living
By 1920's, it was found that over half of the American population had lived in urban areas. Thus displaying more open and popular tastes, morals, etc., which allowed cities to greater distinguish themselves from rural areas. -
New Culture: Popular Heroes
Although politicians were frequently praised in the past, the U.S. drew their attention towards popular sports stars and other celebrities. This also caused great attention to be payed towards sports such as baseball, golf, football, etc. -
Cultural Shifts: Gender Roles
As time went on, it is surprising to believe that women chose to often stay in their "place at home." This was due to technological advances such as the washing machine and vacuum cleaner, which were able to make home life easier for women. However, many women living in urban areas were in the workforce, which was revolutionary in terms of changing these set "places" in society that women were said to have. -
Economy: Energy Technologies
A major aspect of industrialization was the increased use of electricity and oil; even though coal still was the primary energy source used to heat homes. As time went on, however, electricity and oil proved to be the major energy source in America. -
Economy: Government Policy
The government in the 1920's began favoring business production and expansion in order to benefit its economy. They also, however, were reluctant to enforce antitrust laws throughout the Progressive Era, in order to avoid possibly hurting these big industries. In addition, market skepticism increased and imbalanced incomes. -
Economy: Farming
As industrialization increased, the use of farming decreased significantly. The only time that farming proved to be significant were during wartime demands. Farmers were forced to heavily rely on these war needs, which would often times put them in debt when their crops were not in high demand. The technological advances in the 1920's farming industry helped production, but did not help with their ongoing debt. -
Literature: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Much of the literature in the 1920's consisted of themes such as scorning religion and claiming that war sacrifices were all money related. However, F. Scott Fitzgerald mainly focused on the fame and glamour associated with the Jazz Age, as he most famously did in his novel "The Great Gatsby." -
Literature: Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway was a famous literary artist during this time, his works involved themes such as depression, death, and love.He wrote several stories and poems during his time, his most famous being "The Old Man and the Sea." -
Literature: Sinclair Lewis
Known as a satirist, Sinclair Lewis typically found joy in making fun of modern affairs during his time. This quickly gained the attention of several people within the United States, his work was so valued that he went on to become the first American to win a Nobel Prize. -
New Deal Programs: National Labor Relations Act
Otherwise known as the Wagner Act, the creation of this group of people enabled supervision among union officials, and monitor companies in order to prevent them from treating their workers unfairly. Thus making more steps towards healthier work environments within the United States. -
Harlem Renaissance: African American Identity
In northern Manhattan, there was a neighborhood, Harlem, created with the intention of it being for upper-class whites, however, the over development of this area led to several empty houses that needed to be filled. This would eventually lead to many African Americans moving from the south to occupy these spaces, wherein, they established a unique culture within this area, known as the Harlem Renaissance. -
African American Identities: Jazz
African American jazz artists, such as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, were extremely influential throughout this "Jazz Age." Although their music was popular, their audiences were still very integrated. -
Culture Changes: Entertainment
As Americans began moving away from Newspapers, their attention was instantly drawn towards radios. This technological advancement allowed for individuals to be connected with the world in a more revolutionary way, without the hassle of having to read. More attention was also payed towards Hollywood movies and stars. -
Prohibition: Defying the Law
Despite Prohibition prohibiting the sale and consumption of alcohol, many people within the United States still went out of their way to break this law. They would often attend urban "speakeasies" where smuggled alcohol would be. This would eventually lead to the formation of gangsters, who would fight against one another in attempt to control this alcohol smuggling. -
Prohibition: Political Discord and Repeal
Many Republicans were big supporters of the ban of alcohol within the United States, while Democrats strongly disagreed, considering crime rates within the U.S. rose after the passing of the 18th Amendment. This would eventually cause the government to repeal the 18th Amendment in 1933. -
Religion: Modernism
Modernism focused on the history behind certain passages in the Bible, while also believing in Darwin's Theory of Evolution without leaving their religious beliefs behind. They also believed in the change roles of women and scientific numbers. -
Religion: Fundamentalism
Protestant preachers advocated that modernists were incorrect, and that the Bible's every word should be strictly accepted. They also believed in the idea in creationalism, or the idea that God created the universe in seven days. -
Economy: Increased Productivity
Companies began using more time-and-motion studies and principals of scientific management. Then, in 1914, Henry Ford introduced the assembly line, thus revolutionizing means of production. Many other factories and companies would go on to adopt this production style. -
Economy: Automobile
By the end of the decade, it was estimated that so many cars were manufactured and bought that every family in the United States typically had a car of their own. This new form of transportation was then able to replace the use of railroads economically, and many other industries, such as rubber, steel, etc., depended on automobile sales. -
Literature: Ezra Pound
This poet would often incorporate themes such as imagism, wherein, he stressed ideals of clarity and precision in his use of language. This then allowed him to contribute revolutionary works to the early modernist movement. -
Literature: Eugene O'Neill
Being raised in a drug addicted and alcoholic family, O'Neill would often express the harsh truths in reality in his plays. His compelling stories would display a kind of realism in his shows, and show what horrors lie in reality. -
Politics: Warren Harding
Among the Republican party, President Warren Harding was well liked, however his abilities as a leader were faulty. In an attempt to make his presidency more stable, he appointed able men to his cabinet such as Charles Evans and former president William Howard Taft; many of these "able men" would go on to be dishonest and contribute to the downfalls of Harding's presidency. -
New Deal Programs: Ending Prohibition
During the Great Depression, Theodore Roosevelt was determined to end the repeal on alcohol within the United States. He was successful in doing so, and people were allowed to buy alcohol, rather than smuggle it into the U.S. The ratification of the 21st amendment allowed for this new law to be official. -
New Deal Programs: Tennessee Valley Authority Act
After Theodore Roosevelt created the TVA, he was able to advocate for the government to build dams along the Tennessee River. These dams controlled flooding and provided inexpensive hydroelectric power for the people who lived in that area. -
New Deal Programs: June’s National Industrial Recovery Act
This act guaranteed workers the right to unionize and collectively advocate for higher wages and better work hours. This act also allowed for there to be limited antitrust laws, and it established the federally funded Public Works Association. -
New Deal Programs: Agricultural Adjustment Act
Passed the same month as the Tennessee Valley Authority Act, this bill paid farmers who sold commodities such as dairy, wheat, etc. to leave their fields unsown. This was formed in an attempt to avoid agricultural surpluses, boost prices, and keep more farmers out of debt. -
Politics: Business Doctrine
President Theodore Roosevelt's death, combined with the downfalls of war, compounded into this fear of "what comes next"; which allowed for there to be a return of traditional Republicans. This then allowed for there to be an enforced idea of governmental affairs being separate from business affairs. -
New Deal Programs: Works Progress Administration (WPA)
Despite Roosevelt's efforts, unemployment rates were still skyrocketing within the United States. This administration was created in an attempt to provide jobs to those who did not have one, and they focused on building structures such as post offices, schools, etc. They would also provide employment to struggling artists. -
Immigration: Case of Sacco and Vanzetti
After two italian immigrants, Nicola Sacco
and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, were charged for robbery and murder, several nativists demanded that the two of them serve the death penalty. Despite many of Liberals strongly believing that the two were innocent, and that they were only convicted of this because they were minorities. However, the liberal efforts were not enough, and the two men were executed. -
Politics: Election of 1928
After Calvin Coolidge refused to run for president a second time, candidates Herbert Hoover and Al Smith quickly jumped on the opportunity to become president. After many debates and campaigns, Herbert Hoover earned the position of President of the United States, wherein he would hold office throughout the onset of the Great Depression. -
Herbert Hoover's Policies: Laissez-Fair
A strong believer in leaving the economy alone, Herbert Hoover was hoping that the economic situation within the United States would self correct if it was based on capitalism. He believed that providing any kind of economic assistance to the people would motivate them to stop working. However, this mindset was not beneficial during the Great Depression, and these downfalls eventually caused him to loose the election of 1932. -
President Hoover's Policies: Volunteerism
During Herbert Hoover's attempt to end the Great Depression, he often advocated for Volunteerism to become the new norm in society. Volunteerism was the idea that individuals should go out of their way to help others in order to assist in the every growing poverty rates within the United States. This was all in an attempt to relieve overall suffering and pain among society. -
Stock Market Crash: Beginnings
After the U.S. stock market underwent rapid expansion, unemployment boomed and factors such as collapse of low wages, increased debt, and the struggling agriculture business contributed to this stock crash. Also, large bank loans could not be taken out easily, this crash further contributed to the Great Depression. -
Stock Market Crash: Federal Reserve
During the Stock Market Crash, several strongly believed that the United States Stock Market Crash was caused due to the Federal Reserve not printing enough money. Others claimed that the economic crash was due to overly ambitious banks withdrawing more money than they had. -
Dust Bowl: Causes
The cause of the devastating Dust Bowl, taking place in the 1930's, were farmers over-aerating the land of the Great Plains. They went on to turn the vast croplands into unfertile soil which would turn into dust. This then led to a decline in agricultural products, and on windy days the dust storms would pollute the area. -
Dust Bowl: Contributions to the Great Depression
The lack of agricultural products caused by this Dust Bowl then contributed to the prolonging of the Great Depression. Years of drought and disparity were then caused by this lack of crops and infertile soil. -
New Deal Programs: Glass-Steagall Act (Banking Act)
This act would go on to establish the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), this gave the government the power to investigate and supervise commercial banks and prevented banks from paying interest on checking accounts. Several of the acts that this corporation could do, however, were later eliminated later in the 20th century. -
New Deal Programs: Emergency Banking Relief Act
This act was put into place due to banks oftentimes being extremely unsafe to put money in. FDR took action for with cause and attempted to shut down all U.S. banks for four days. During this time, he introduced this act which allowed for the treasury department to provide loans to banks in need and limit the possible failure of these banks. -
New Deal Programs: Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC)
This proved to be the most successful relief during the Great Depression, this program provided employment to unmarried men. Wherein, they would find work in planting trees, restoring forests, and creating camp grounds. These workers would receive free food, clothing, and housing, but this program would go on to end in 1942. -
New Deal Programs: Indian Reorganization Act
After the continuous controversy surrounding land being taken away from Native Americans, finally there was an act that guaranteed part of their stolen land back to them. Natives also created a system of self-government and financial credit. -
New Deal Programs: Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration
Within the United States, they were able to extend their political influence and support through this administration. The U.S. gave thousands of unemployed individuals the opportunity to be part of this public works program to improve conditions in Puerto Rico. -
New Deal Programs: Rural Electrification Administration
This administration was created in an attempt to provide electricity to rural areas within the south. This would go on to completely change the lives in individuals living in this area, considering that they were now provided access to radios, refrigeration, etc. -
New Deal Programs: Home Owners Loan Act
This enabled the creation of the Homeowners Loan Corporation (HOLC), which provided money for the creation of small homes and allowed homeowners to pay loans off for their homes for 30 years. This also prevented the possible foreclosure and would go on to create 25-30 year loans. -
New Deal Programs: Social Security Act
FDR signed the Social Security Act in 1935, thus guaranteeing pensions to millions of Americans, and set up a system of insurance that helped with unemployment and had the government help with children who were living dependent lives/were disabled.
