1920s dbq In the previous century the American nation had transformed itself from a predominately agrarian society

to one of the most powerful industrial powers on earth. This transformation not only led to the roaring 20s and its connotations of great economic, industrial and social prosperity but also a period of tension. The decade would ultimately prove to be a strife with tension and enmity between the old culture and the new culture. Many Americans increasingly moved away from the so called traditionalist values toward a more modern and progressive mindset. This changing attitude in the 1920s manifested itself in the battle for religion, equality, and cultural expression. American religion became one of such battlefields. Traditionally speaking, America had for the most part of its history been undisputedly majority protestant. However, with the prodigious influx of new immigrants from southern and eastern Europe and a miniscule number from Asia, Many White Anglo-Saxon Protestants felt threatened. These new immigrant brought with them their inferior religions of Judaism and Catholicism. This tension between the old and the new manifested itself in the immigration reforms of the 20s. The Emergency quota act of 1921 greatly restricted newcomers from Europe and its replacement, the Immigration Act of 1924 further restricted immigrants from Europe and Asia to less than 2 percent of their base population in 1890. The battle of religion was also manifested in the courtrooms. For instance, In 1925, a schoolteacher, Mr. Scopes taught evolution to his students which at the time was prohibited under the butler act. This act eventually reached the courts and transformed into a battle between Bryan and Creationism and Mr. Darrow and Evolution. (Doc. C) Another paradigm of tension of the 1920s was present in the struggle for equality for blacks and women. Encouraged by the successes of the progressive movement in the previous

decade, Women increasingly rebelled against the stereotypical role of the women as the masters of the household. This changing attitude and resolve manifested in flappers. Flappers, as they became to be known, were controversial young women who dress more promiscuously than had previous generations. Many of these women also smoked which was neither endorsed nor castigated by the national W.C.T.U.(Doc. G) And on the other hand, For blacks, The culture movement known as the Harlem renaissance spanned the 1920s. It encouraged African Americans to adopt new culture expressions and to adopt new perspectives and viewpoints of self. Many of the resulting new Negro artists and Jazz musicians thus rejected the traditional viewpoint of blacks of being inferior. They unequivocally declared why should I want to be white? I am Negroand beautiful.(Doc. E) However, not all Americans approved of this new attitude from negros. One group especially, the Ku Klux Klan, which prided itself in its traditionalist and Nordic focus, showed its repugnance with lynchings and editorials such as the klans fight for Americanism. (Doc. D) African Americans were not the only new artists breaking ground. The lost generaton of artists such as Fitzgerald, Hemingway and other artists of all mediums broke ground as well. Affected greatly by the travesties of the war to end all wars, many of these new artists spent much of the decade in paris. However their counterparts in the united states continued the battle between modernism and traditionalism in the glowing cities. For instance, The bridge by Joseph Stella captures the opposition to the traditions that had long prevailed in art. It is a work of complexity, industry, innovative technology, ideas and all that represented the new culture. (Doc. B) In summation, the 1920s were a period of tension between new and changing ideas and traditional values and perspectives. This tension was caused by many factors, including the

travesties of the Great War, reactionary attitudes and increasing desires for more freedom. Blacks and women rebelled against traditional roles and attitudes for them. Blacks were proud of whom they were and women dressed and acted more licentiously. Artists such as Stella and Teachers like Scope also steered away from the predetermined path. However, not all groups were supportive as seen by the actions of groups like the Ku Klux Klan.