Author Archives: gracespoken1

The LWV was officially founded in Chicago on February 14th, 1920. By 1924 the LWV was organized in 346 of 433 congressional districts. The leagues first major national legislative success was the passage of the Sheppard-Tonner Act providing federal aid for maternal and child care programs. The League is political, but non-partisan.

The KKK was formed in 1866 after the Civil War. Nationally, their numbers were thought to be three to eight million. Members could be doctors, lawyers, and even ministers. They were known as the “Invisible Empire”, each member was required to recruiting ten people to vote for other members in elections. The Klansmen were placedContinue reading “The KKK”

Jazz became popular in the 20’s. Telephones and radios invited excitement into American lives. Integrated illegal clubs allowed black jazz artists to get the recognition they deserved. It wasn’t until the 30’s and 40’s that black female artists gained respect as successful musicians. The Charleston, developed by African Americans, became popular with young white Americans.

After the war Wilson made the fourteen points, eventually leading the way to the League of Nations. Between that time, America set high tariffs on foreign goods. The Quota Act of 1921 limited immigration to 3% from each country. A yearly limit of 350,000 was also enforced. This hurt Europeans, they couldn’t pay back theirContinue reading “Isolation”

By 1920, around 300,000 African Americans from the south moved up north. The population shift helped a black pride movement. Writers like Claude McKay and Harlem Shadows ensured African Americans got the credit they deserved. Some white people wanted to experience black culture without interacting with them, this created clubs like The Cotton Club.

Defense spending and social welfare programs are believed to have played a role in causing the Great Depression by increasing income and aggregate demand. The Great Depression last from 1929 to 1939. It was marked by declines in deflation, unemployment, and banking panics. The Great Depression affected almost everyone in the world. Stock prices fellContinue reading “The Great Depression”

Flappers were young women known for their energetic freedom and embracing an “outrageous” lifestyle. In August 1920, the 19th amendment was passed and women could vote. Flappers dresses were shorter, calf-revealing, straight and slim with lower neck lines. Three different states tried to pass laws against the clothes women were starting to wear.

Prohibition went into full effect January 16th, 1920. 33 states already enacted their own prohibition legislation. Because of prohibition, bootlegging, gambling, gang violence, and prostitution new heights in the 1920’s. In Chicago 1929, men dressed as police men shot and killed men in a rival gang.

The stock market crash happened in November of 1929. It is known as Black Thursday. The stocks were down 12.6%. Many people sold their liberty bonds and mortgaged their homes to put all their money into the stock market. In 1929, around 300 million shares of stock were being carried by margins.

The price of cotton began to peak (to 46 cents a pound) in the 1920’s which made farmers plant more of it. With that came overproduction which caused prices to plummet to 10 cents a pound. This made farmers get in debt from loans.