How far was the USA a
divided society in the 1920s?
Rich vs. poor
In early 1929, about
one-third of the
nation's wealth was
shared by 5% of the
population
Blacks
Seen as inferior; poor living conditions in the South; Ku Klux Klan
Immigrants
If they weren't WASPS, they were seen as a threat to American culture
Native Americans
Secluded on reservations
Workers in old industries
Shipbuilding, textiles, coal mining
Didn't benefit from the boom and were exploited
with bad working conditions and low wages
Children were also exploited
Farmers
Struggled due to overproduction and consequent low prices
With tariff barriers and more competition, many lost their land due to debt
New synthetic fibres (rayon) reduced the demand for cotton
Immigration controls
Before WW1 there
were no restrictions on
immigration, however
some Americans
became alarmed at the
growing number of
immigrants
This led to the growing feeling that they were inferior
1917 - a law was passed which imposed a literacy test on immigrants
Favoured WASPS
Fairly ineffective
1921 - Emergency Quotas Act
Number of people admitted into the USA each year
was limited to 3% of all emigrants from that country
who were resident in the USA in 1910
Favoured Northern and Western Europe
1924 - National Origins Act
3% figure was reduced to 2%
Year of residency moved back to 1890
In the quarter-century before WW1 there
had been many immigrants from Italy,
Russia, Turkey and Greece
Ku Klux Klan
With segregation still legal in
southern states, black people had
the worst jobs and houses, couldn't
eat/travel with whites, and couldn't
expect fair treatment in court
In 1986, the US Supreme Court legally approved the Jim
Crow laws - treating blacks as inferior, second class citizens
With industrial expansion in the 1920s, many moved
to the north but there was still racial discrimination
Ghettos grew in some cities
Preached intolerance and spread fear
among blacks, while claiming they were
standing up to traditional American values
Reformed in 1915, now opposed to
Catholics, Jews and all foreigners too
Members included judges,
policemen and local politicians
This increased the power of
the group and caused more
people to join out of fear
Klansmen met in secret at night, wearing white
sheets and hoods, carrying lit burning crosses
Blacks suffered beating, rape and lynching
Popularity decreased in 1925 when
a leader, David Stephenson, was
found guilty of the kidnapping, rape
and murder of a woman on a train
Prohibition
Brought into force by the
Volstead Act in January 1920
Prohibited the manufacture, sale or transportation
of intoxicating liquors (more then 5%)
The movement started in the late-19th century because
many poverty-stricken homes suffered through the
alcoholic activities of the father of the house
Women's Christian Temperance Union and Anti-Saloon League
By 1914, 12 states were dry
During WW1 alcohol caused absenteeism from
work and 2 of the leading firms supplying beer
were German, which was unpatriotic
By the end of the war,
75% of states were dry
Groups against Prohibition formed in 1918, claiming the medicinal benefits of alcohol
Association against the Prohibition Amendment
More support in North
The week before the law was passed, huge
quantities of alcohol were bought, however the
law came into force without any major protests
Many churches held thanksgiving prayer meetings, saying their
success would cut down on social abuse and absenteeism from
work, and that the money saved could now be spent on education
Prohibition agents were appointed but
their were far too few (Izzy and Moe)
Speakeasies began to appear, disguised as jazz clubs - by the
end of the decade there were over 200,00 across the USA
Each year, 5000 people died from drinking home-made moonshine
Bootleggers smuggled alcohol across USA borders
with Mexico and Canada, selling it at high prices
Organised crime
Gangsters from cities supplied booze, set up speakeasies
and ran 'protection rackets', threatening to damage
property unless they received money to protect it
Gangsters were generally immigrants from poorer backgrounds,
poorly educated, however they were also clever and ruthless
They fought viciously to control the liquor trade
Al Capone
Gained control over Chicago by bribing local
officials, politicians and the police
Didn't fear arrest so he operated openly
Employed up to 1000 men
Business activities worth between $60 million and $100 million per year
227 murders in 4 years
St Valentine's Day Massacre, 1929
Some of Capone's gang, disguised as policemen,
shot down 6 members of rival Bugs Moran gang
End of Prohibition
Became clear that Prohibition wasn't working and it was
argued that the drinks industry would provide jobs for some
of the unemployed after the Great Depression
In the 1932 election, Roosevelt promised to repeal the Prohibition law
This involved another amendment to the constitution - the 21st Amendment, which came into force in 1933
Flappers
Women gained more freedom, and greater
wealth provided more opportunities for leisure
Fashions changed and the conduct of some
young middle-class girls shocked their parents
Short hair, smoked in public, wore rouge, lipstick, short skirts.
Stayed out late dancing, were keen to cast aside social restraints and were a symbol of the boom