Discuss how the 1920s represented social, economic, and cultural discord among Americans.

The 1920s, also known as the "Roaring Twenties" was a time of cultural innovations. The decade expierenced transformations that affected the nation's youth, its African-American population, and women. Though the "Roaring Twenties" were a culturally prosperous time, there were still its negatives. Women were still subordinated alongside Blacks and the nation was led by conservative presidents representing social,cultural, economic, and political status quo. Also, political relations prevailed, bringing radicals and trade unions in direct confrontation with government. Four of the most important and influential aspects of the 1920s would include mass consumerism, urban versus rural attitudes, science versus religion, and navatism versus immigration.

Mass consumerism has had a lasting effect on American today. Purchasing on credit was introduced during the 1920s and has prospered since. It created a system where people could "buy now and pay later". Though it was great in allowing many people to buy things they could originally not afford such as home appliances, it left a plentiful amount of Americans in debt. Catalogs such as Sears, Roebuck and Montgomery Ward, made it possible for people to order commodities they were inable to access before. Also the introduction of radio allowed a new form of entertainment, news, and advertisement. Also, the production of the automobile boomed. Twenty percent of Americans owned cars by 1930. It was by the mid 1920s where Americans began associating their social status with the car they owned.

Social scientists view the 20s as a time when modernism clashed with tradition. One conflict drawn from this was urban versus rural conflicts. Rural America viwed the natons citied as covered in "vice and sin". It just so happened that as the 20s came along, the 18th Amendment banned alcoholic beverages leading to illegal distribution and the rise of crime lords such as Al Capone, who got his start through illegal distribution of alcohol. It was said that liquor caused crime, poverty, poor health, and broken families. Speakeasies began to pop up throughout cities due to prohibition. There, it was required to know the secret code word to enter and jazz would burst on the inside, also known as "devils music". Rural America also looked down upon city womens' clothing. It was considered as provacative, promiscuos, and innapropriate. City women were known to where short skirts known as "flappers" that went against the original view of a Victorian comportment for women.

Another major conflict was science versus religion. In 1925 a Tennessee teacher was arrested for teaching Darwin's theory of evolution, despite the law. It became known as the Scopes Monkey Trial. It was then that Christians silenced those whom questioned the divine theory of creation as described in the Book of Genesis. It yet again put urban America against rural America. Urban America was known to hold its own modern views on religion. Rurual America sticked strictly to Protestant tradition. It was then that the teaching of religion became an issue. It is still an issue to this day and even illegal in some cities.

America developed a strong sense of anxiety when it came to the immigratoin issue. Restrictions began to rise. The Literacy Test Act of 1917 required immigrants to pass a literacy test in English or their own native tongue. Emergency Quota Act of 1921 reduced southern and eastern immigration. The Immigration Act of 1924 provided a national origins plan that restricted immigration to 2% for each nationality in the 1890 census. It was based on the idea that immigrants from easter and southern Europe were more dificult to assimilate. Last, the Chinese Exclusion Act 1882 limited Asian immigration which was not changed until 1965.


The 20s are practically a direct reflection of today. As rap music and urban city now could be compared to jazz and urban city then. The music has only gotten louder and the skirts shorter. Unfortunately the 20s came to an immediate halt once the stock market crashed. It immediately brought down the nation's economy. Also, America entered the Great Depression as lives began to deteriorate. Lives that were prosperous in the 1920s would be completely opposite come the next decade. Overall, As,four of the most important and influential aspects of the 1920s would include mass consumerism, urban versus rural attitudes, science versus religion, and navatism versus immigration.

Was the United States ever neutral in WW1? If so, when did it change to a policy favoring the Allies?

In a time of "Germaphobia",WW1 was caused by imperialism,nationalism, and militarism. It was ignited by the assassination of Franz Fernidad the heir of the Austro-Hungarian throne by a Serb nationalist. The two opposing forces in WW1 were to be known as the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire) and the Triple Entente (Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, and Japan. The main causes of America entering the war include the interception of the Zimmerman Note and Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare. The United States was originally neutral come the beginning of WW1, but was forced to enter by imperialism, economics with the Allies, and nationalism.

Germany's unrestriced submarine warfare was killing American civilians and Wilson stepped in to try and mediate the situation. Wilson's 14 Points was describe Democracy as the ability to have open seas. In, (Doc. I) Germany was found to be doing the exact opposite. American was neutral until then. It was the actions of other countries that began having an effect on America's imperialism. Wilson was bound to decide. Showing Wilson’s decision was not only in the hands of other countries but the American citizens would be the quote “Neutrality depends on citizens” (Doc. A). Germany was destroying any vessel in their waters. (Doc. G) shows Wilson's decision to side with the Allies.

Wilson came to side on with public decision. Allied forces including Britain were attempting to keep American ships out of the German waters(Doc. C). Wilson felt that with the international connections the war would end soon. Germany's plan was eliminate America's political status in WW1,(Doc. E). American ships were being sunk by the Germans including the Lusitania, carrying contraband to the Allied forces, (Doc. F).


The Germans soon realized that Wilson was supplying Allied forces with surplus goods since the beginning of the war,(Doc. D). Three major corporations played a big role on where America would enter the war. They were The War Industries, Food Administration, and the War Labor boards. Not siding with the Allies would have damage economic ties with the Eastern hemisphere. Wilson would have to fight to sustain democracy.

Nationalism was a major cause of World War 1.“How come neutrality” (Doc. B.), was the universal phrase come the 3rd year of WW1. With America as Pro-British and Anti-German Wilson declared war on the Central powers April 4th, 1917. With this decision “U.S.A. neutral” (Doc. H), was ended and then came their entrance to "the war to end all war", a propoganda phrase used to hype American civilian support.

The United States was neutral come the beginning of WW1 but soon dismissed "neutrality" entered on the side of the Allies. They were forced to enter with the presence of imperialism, economics with the Allies, and nationalism. Though the war ended, and America expierenced the "Roaring Twenties", the Great Depression and instavility and rise in militarism in Europe and Asia was soon let people know that the peace would not last long.

Which president do you believe was best at reform during the Progressive Era and why?

By the 1900s, due to the United States involvement in foreign affairs, it had become a world power as intended. Still, America's upper class and businesses were on top of the economy. Businesses were rarely disturbed by government and practically operated on their own. Though the upper-class was prosperous, it left the rest of the population, other than the middle-class, in a slum lifestyle. Farmers experienced foreclosure, Blacks were "second-class", and women were still not allowed to vote or run for political office. They were still considered as subordinate to men. It was reform minded middle-class citizens, that made an effort to address the faults undermining American society. This became to be known as the Progressive Era. People such as Jacob Riis (How the Other Half Lives), Upton Sinclair (The Jungle), Ida Tarbell (History of the Standard Oil Company), and Frank Norris (The Ocopus), show how some of American society viewed the plight of the civilization. Three presidents played important roles in the Progressive Era. They were Theodore Roosevelt, William Taft, and Woodrow Wilson. All three presidents played important roles of trying to reform society. Of the three presidents, Theodore Roosevelt was the most important and sucessful in reforming society with his Northern Securities suits, regulation of railroads, his involvement in the reform of big business, and care for the environment.


During Roosevelt's presidency, many reforms were passed intended to better society and was in light of the Progressives. In 1903, the Department of Commerce and Labor was created. Also, Passage of the Elkins Act (1903) strengthed the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. It required railroad companies to charge published rates. Also, the Bureau of Corporations was created, intended to investigate anitrust violations. One percent of corporations were responsible for producing 40 percent of manufactured goods. An important example of fighting monopolies would be Northern Securities v. United States(1904) where a railroad company controlled all long-distance railroads west of Chicago.

Regulation of railroads was an imporant aspect of Roosevelts reform movement. The Hepburn Act (1906) empowered the ICC. It set maximum railroad rates and establishe other regulations. Railroad companies did not favor government intervention but did not disagree with fair rules of competition. Also, Passage of the Mann-Elkins Act (1910) strengthed the ICC(William Taft, Roosevelt's successor). It gave the ICC power to regulate new communications industries. Also, the ICC was given more authority to regulate railroad companies haul rates. Railroad companies usually charged higher prices for transportation of passengers and commodities for a longer journey.

In 1906, big business was attacked when the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspetion Acts barred sale of contaminated and adultered food. A book by Upton Sinclair intitled The Jungle also attacked the meat industry. It made society aware of the conditions in meat packing industries. Conditions in meat packing industries became so disgusting that fingers were being found in meat.

Roosevelt aslo felt for Americas environment. He felt there should be a balance between industries and America's natural resources. He was a part of the Newlands Reclamation Act Bill. It added 150 million acres to national forest reserve. The establishment of Conservation Congress meant to address national conservation. Also, appointment of Gifford Pinchot to head Department of Agriculture's Division of Forestry.

Roosevelts became known as "trust buster". Though his succesor, William Taft busted twice as many trust in four years as Roosevelt did in eight. Theodore Roosevelt had good intentions for American society and felt that he was making the right decision be designating Taft as his successor, though this turned to be a big mistake. Taft was a "weak president and a weak man"-P.Brush. Though some felt that the only reason Roosevelt challenged corporate giants and seemed in favor of the worker was to protect the economy, regardless, Roosevelt had best intentions and outcome of his presidency.

In Conlusion, this is how president Theodore Roosevelt was the best president during the Progressive Era. His involvemnet in American society and big business made a difference in society. Overall, it was Theodore Roosevelt who was most important in reforming society with his Northern Securities suits, regulation of railroads, his involvement in the reform of big business, and care for the environment. Which all reflect on society today.