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"Crazy Twenties" |
1918, the year the world became calm once again. The European countries along with the United States had been engaged in a four-year war that turned everyone against each other. The years following the war were prosperous for the United States but horrible for the European nations. The United States’ domestic and foreign policy saw many changes.The Allied countries, Britain and France, owed money to the United States. How was America supposed to get it back from war-torn nations? This is where foreign policy comes in. The United States became isolationist after the war. They cared about the nation’s needs not other countries. They put forth the Ford-Macumber Tariff on European imports. This hurt Europe because Americans wouldn’t buy their products due to higher prices. They couldn’t sell their products in Europe since no one had money. How are they supposed to pay the money back when they can’t make any money?United States’ foreign policy was in part racist and prejudiced against immigrants. They installed the Emergency Quota Act of 1921. It basically only allowed a certain number of people from foreign nations. Western European nations had a higher percentages of immigrants allowed into the US, unlike Eastern European nations. It excluded all Japanese immigrants. It was a case of extreme nativism, meaning they don’t want foreigners because they considered themselves the “real” Americans. Weren’t they immigrants as well? Part of the reason for their newfound nativism was because of the Red Scare. This was an effect of the Bolshevik revolution in Russia that resulted in a communist regime. Many people were scared and did not want this to happen in America. America became conservative or anti-progressive. Attorney General Palmer led raids on so-called communist threats. Because of the threat of communism, labor unions and strikes were forcibly put down. During the progressive era it was okay for workers to strike for better working conditions but in the 1920s, businesses were backed by the government, even using the military.The three major strikes of the 1920s were the Boston Police Strike, the Steel Mill Strike, and the Coal Miners Strike. Eighteen people died in the Steel Mill Strike and hundreds more were injured. The officers of the Boston Police were fired and replaced. Adding insult to injury, the Boston Police Department gave the new officers almost everything the strikers were demanding. Labor unions decreased as laborers were threatened with loss of employment or even jail time. “Shop ‘til you drop” is a phrase many people are familiar with now. In the 1920s, shopping became the main priority of the American public. Electricity at home and work created an opportunity for consumers to buy new products to make life easier. Assembly lines allowed for mass production at a faster rate than ever before. Household items such as vacuums, refrigerators, toasters and more gave housewives more time to focus on other issues (such as feminism and suffrage.) Women’s fragile self-esteem was used to sell items such as perfume, lotions, and make-up (“if you want your man to love you, you’ll buy “brand name” perfume and deodorant,” was a popular slogan.) Advertisement in radio, magazines, and newspapers increased as more and more products became available. The 1920s served as a foundation for the way things are today. Advertisers still use slogans that play on people’s self-consciousness and low self-esteems. (“A pimple the day before the dance-it’s okay just use Clearasil”) As technology advances people buy more and more products to make work easier or just to be popular (i.e. Ipods). Another concept form the 1920s is the concept of buying on credit from stores. Most Americans are still conservative. Not much has changed.
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Questions or comments? E-mail me at [email protected]. |