Connection

What

is traditionalism?

What

is modernism?

A following of practices, beliefs, and culture established

over time and handed down from one generation to the
next
Conventionality or conservatism
What are the examples of traditionalism in your life?

An artistic or literary philosophy that represents a break

from tradition and a search for new modes of
expression.
Originality or progress
Why do you think people look for new ways to express
themselves?
What is one way that these two clash in our world
today?

EQ: How did traditional and

modern values conflict in
America during the 1920s?
Connection:
How are these
two magazine
covers
different?
How do their
differences
represent the
change from
traditionalism
to modernism
in the 1920s?

Directions
In

this lesson you will be looking at

different perspectives one that
favors traditionalism and another
that favors modernism on important
social changes in the 1920s.
After reviewing the two sides of the
conflict, sketch a person to represent
that point of view, and have them
say something in a #hashtag to
express their opinion on the issue

Social Change #1: Adults vs.

Youth

Adult Point of View

Youth Point of View

Considered

Spending more time

outside of the home high
school, college, cars

More free time - Marathon

dance competition,
flagpole sitting, popular
entertainment (music,
dancing, spectator sports)

behavior
of youth reckless and
immoral.
Tried to censor books
and movies they
found inappropriate.
Lobbied for laws
discouraging short
skirts and skimpy
swimsuits

Spectator sport- a sport

that many people find
entertaining to watch

Dating instead of courtship

Division #1: Adults vs.

Youth

Social Change #2: Rural vs.

Urban

Rural Point of View

Urban Point of View

Post-war

19

drop in demand
for crop sends farmers
into debt and foreclosure
on farms.
Rise of religious
fundamentalism in
response to what they
saw as a loss in values in
city life.
Defending what they saw
as the American way of
life.

million people moved

to cities in the 1920s
(rapid urbanization)

Demand

for workers =
higher wages = higher
standard of living

Embraced

new ideas
coming from mass media

Young

modernists began
rejecting long-accepted
American traditions/values

Division #1: Rural vs.

Urban

Social Division #3: Religion vs.

Science

CENSORED

Religious Point of View

Evidence of moral decline

consumer culture, relaxed
ethics, changing roles of
women

Fundamentalism religious
movement
Believed in creationism
that God created the
universe as described in the
Bible.
campaigned to ban teaching
evolution in schools.

Billy Sunday and Aimee

Semple McPherson
evangelical preachers gain
support for churches

Scientific Point of View

Embraced

the
concepts of evolution
and natural selection.
Charles Darwins
theory of evolution
Those who adapt will
survive, other species
will die out.
Believed both science
and religion could
coexist; both could be
taught.

Division #3: Religious vs.

Science

Social Division #4:

Prohibition vs. 21st
Amendment

Temperance Point of View

Anti-Prohibition Groups Point of

View

18th

Opposition

Especially

Volstead

Thought

Speakeasies,

amendment
prohibited manufacture,
sale, or transport of
alcoholic beverages.
supported by
women who had a
growing political influence
it would create
healthier, happier society.

Some

nativist influence associated beer and wine

drinking with German and
Italian immigrants

mainly
centered in large cities and
immigrant groups felt
targeted
Act creates the
Prohibition Bureau which is
underfunded/understaffed
secret bars,
and Bootleggers continue
to produce and distribute
alcohol illegally Organized crime increases
during prohibition

Division #4: Prohibition

Prohibition Support
Prohibition leads to an INCREASE in the crime rate
Dwindles
and organized crime

Lawlessness,

violence, and
corruption
increased
caused more
harm than good
Volstead

Act
creates the
Prohibition
Bureau which is
underfunded/un
derstaffed

Social Division #5 Traditional

vs. Modern Women

Traditional Woman Point of View

Wore girdle or corset, long

hair but put it up, long
dresses, always covered the
ankle

Married in early 20s

Stay at home and charity

work

Raising children top priority

Work that is done should be

done to support the family
not for financial
independence

Traditional values

Division #5
Women

Modern Woman Point of View

Having won the right to vote

(19th amendment) in 1920,
many women sought to break
free from traditional roles
(independent women!)

Flappers women who wore

shorter dresses, make-up,
bobbed or shorted hair.
Rejected traditional restrictions

Margaret Sanger Birth Control

league

Postponed marriage

Equal Rights Amendment

for economic equality as well
as political equality

College leads to professional

careers and contributions in
science, medicine, law and
literature

The Scopes Trial

The Background
Tennessee was first state to ban
evolution in schools.
ACLU wanted a trial to test the law
and advertised for a teacher to teach
evolution, which would get them
arrested - John Scopes volunteered
The Trial
William Jennings Bryan fought for
the creationist law
Clarence Darrow fought for Scopes
to teach evolution
The Results
Trial receive national coverage and
attention. it was broadcast over radio
Scopes found guilty, fined $100
year later, TN Supreme Court
overturned the conviction on
technicality.
Shows a conflict between modernism
and traditionalism

Williams Jennings Bryan

Clarence
Darrow

1920s Culture Clashes: Go to

Court
Closure:
What is the Scopes Trial? How
does it exemplify (show) the
culture clashes of the 1920s?