american pageant chapter 20 notes

Lemon

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04-02-2025

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This outline covers key themes and events from Chapter 20 of American Pageant, focusing on the 1920s and the onset of the Great Depression. Remember to consult your textbook for complete details and nuanced interpretations.

I. The "Roaring Twenties": A Decade of Change and Contradiction

A. Economic Boom:

• Mass Production and Consumerism: The assembly line and mass production techniques revolutionized industries, leading to an abundance of affordable goods. This fueled a consumer culture characterized by buying on credit and installment plans. Think Ford's Model T as a prime example.
• Rise of Advertising: Advertising played a crucial role in shaping consumer desires and driving sales. New media like radio further expanded advertising's reach.
• Economic Inequality: While the economy boomed, the prosperity wasn't shared equally. Farmers struggled, and a significant gap existed between the wealthy and the working class, setting the stage for later social unrest.

B. Social and Cultural Transformations:

• The "New Woman": Women gained suffrage (the right to vote) and challenged traditional gender roles. They entered the workforce in greater numbers and embraced new styles of dress and behavior.
• Prohibition and the Rise of Organized Crime: The 18th Amendment banning alcohol led to widespread illegal production and distribution, fueling the growth of organized crime syndicates. Figures like Al Capone became notorious symbols of this era.
• The Harlem Renaissance: A flourishing of African American art, literature, and music in Harlem, New York City. This cultural explosion celebrated Black identity and challenged racial stereotypes. Think Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston.
• The Jazz Age: Jazz music became incredibly popular, reflecting the era's energy and dynamism. It blended African American musical traditions with European influences.
• Nativism and the Rise of the Ku Klux Klan: A resurgence of nativism (anti-immigrant sentiment) and the Ku Klux Klan's expansion beyond the South reflected anxieties about social change and immigration.

C. Political Developments:

• Republican Dominance: The Republican Party controlled the presidency and Congress for much of the 1920s, pursuing policies of limited government intervention in the economy.
• Isolationism: Following World War I, the United States adopted a largely isolationist foreign policy, aiming to avoid entanglement in European affairs.

II. The Great Depression: A Global Economic Crisis

A. Causes of the Depression:

• Overproduction: Industries produced more goods than consumers could buy, leading to falling prices and declining profits.
• Stock Market Crash of 1929 ("Black Tuesday"): The stock market crash dramatically wiped out billions of dollars in wealth and shattered investor confidence.
• Banking Panics and Monetary Contraction: Bank failures led to a contraction of the money supply, further worsening the economic downturn.
• International Economic Interdependence: The global nature of the economy meant that the crisis in the United States quickly spread to other countries.

B. Impact of the Depression:

• Mass Unemployment: Millions of Americans lost their jobs, leading to widespread poverty and homelessness.
• Dust Bowl: Severe drought and dust storms devastated agriculture in the Great Plains, forcing many farmers to abandon their land.
• Social and Political Unrest: The Depression led to increased social unrest, with labor strikes and protests becoming more common.

C. Hoover's Response:

• President Herbert Hoover initially favored a limited government role in addressing the crisis, believing that voluntary cooperation and private initiatives would suffice. His efforts proved largely inadequate.

This outline provides a framework for understanding the key topics covered in American Pageant's Chapter 20. Remember to review the chapter thoroughly to grasp the nuances and complexities of this pivotal period in American history. Further research on specific events and figures mentioned will enhance your understanding.