The 1920s in America was a time of cultural escapism and economic boom, but also growing fear of internal threats. As the economy flourished on the surface, flaws emerged in the stock market. Following World War I, Americans withdrew and sought distractions, but also became wary of radicals like anarchists and communists amid labor unrest and Russia's communist revolution. This fueled a Red Scare where civil liberties were infringed through arrests and deportations, as isolationism and nativism rose.

1. The 1920s was a time of cultural, spiritual and material
escapism.
The economy boomed but the economic good times masked
flaws in the Stock Market.
During the 1920s Americans became more fearful of threats
within.
The Roaring 20’s

3. The 1920s was a time of cultural, spiritual and material
escapism.
The economy boomed but the economic good times masked
flaws in the Stock Market.
During the 1920s Americans became more fearful of threats
within.
The Roaring 20’s

4. After the horror and sacrifice of WW I,
Americans withdrew into themselves.

5. It will be a Republican decade.

6. Warren Harding (R) becomes president
promising “a return to normalcy.”

7. But not all things will be normal.

8. Women, Christian groups, grain rationing
led to the Volstead Act of 1919.

9. This became the 18th amendment
to the Constitution - Prohibition.

12. Prohibition fuels an explosive
growth in organized crime.

13. Al Capone took over Chicago with
his bootlegging empire.

14. The 19th amendment gave women
the right to vote.

15. Clothing represented a new
mindset and freedoms for women.

16. Flapper girls abandoned the corset
and enjoyed more freedoms.

17. The 1920s was a time of cultural, spiritual and material
escapism.
The economy boomed but the economic good times masked
flaws in the Stock Market.
During the 1920s Americans became more fearful of threats
within.
The Roaring 20’s

18. During the 20’s America became
fearful of threats at home.

19. One of the perceived threats were
anarchists and communists.

20. The Socialist Challenge
• Workers strike back first with ideas!
– Socialism: philosophy that favors
public control of property and
income, not private control.
(Upton Sinclair was this)
• As a society we decide how
wealth is distributed.
• Many socialists say equally.
• People should cooperate, not
compete.
Upton Sinclair – “I
wrote the Jungle”

21. Karl Marx
• Karl Marx – 1848, wrote
Communist Manifesto.
• Predicted a violent working man
revolution
• Capitalism would collapse
leading to a socialist society.
• Revolutionary socialism called
Communism.
Karl Marx

22. • Anarchists – radicals who oppose all
government. Hello, my name is
Jurgis Rudkus!
Have you seen
Phil Conner?

23. Americans feared communists
because of a civil war in Russia.

24. Communists led by Vladimer Lenin
won the civil war in Russia

25. Communism in Russia
• Government owned all land
• One party government
• No individual rights
• Vowed to spread communism

26. Fear led to the Red Scare and many
innocents arrested and deported.

28. In fear Americans turn to a policy of
isolationism from the world.

29. Nativism led to severe immigration
restrictions during the 20’s

30. Quotas limited immigration to
350,000 a year.

31. Very low quotas were set on
eastern European countries and no
Asians at all.

32. The 20’s also sees a huge growth
in the Klan.

33. The Palmer raids were an example
of the Red Scare during the 20s

34. The 1920s was a time of cultural, spiritual and material
escapism.
The economy boomed but the economic good times masked
flaws in the Stock Market.
During the 1920s Americans became more fearful of threats
within.
The Roaring 20’s

35. Big business and the stock market
boomed in the 20s.

36. Edison invented the light bulb and
improved the electric dynamo.

38. This was the first radio station in
the U.S.

39. Jazz rocks!

40. You already are carrying on the
generation gap…those freshman.

41. Ford made the assembly line more
efficient…economies of scale.

42. When Americans stop shopping the
economy starts braking badly.

45. Flagpole sitting was a metaphor
for the age.