1920s Case

The 1920s were a period of overall change between the traditional values and the new ways. Many such changes led to growing tension between the old and the new.

One of the biggest changes in the 1920s was the beginning shift from traditional basic ways of life to a modern way of life. Before the ‘20s schools taught the Bible and Christianity’s principles were stressed but in 1925 John Scopes, a substitute biology teacher was put on trial for teaching the theory of evolution (Doc B). Though Scopes was found guilty, it still began the gradual shift away from original things taught in school and back towards the separation of church and state. This led to tensions because it was a shift away from religious education. That was unheard of in that day.

Another change that created tension between the old and new was the formation of a second Klu Klux Klan (Doc C). Much like the first KKK, this organization was anti-Semite, anti-Negro, and not anti-Immigrant. Much tension was created because the United States had almost completely open borders, freedom of religion and black were in higher position of society. With another KKK around terror was being created once again and it had taken quite a while for things to settle down after the first KKK had disappeared.

Music was changing throughout the 1920s. Jazz music was becoming a bigger part of society (Doc D). Being exclusively a black style many blacks played it. The introduction of jazz music increased tension because it created a different attitude of blacks. They no longer felt inferior to the white population; they had their own exclusive music style and some people began to wonder, “What’s next?” Women were always the ones who took care of the household and children (Doc F).

Women were always believed to be weaker than men in the mind and body, so when women who wore short skirts and smoked tobacco; know as flappers began popping up more and more, the WCTU especially was worried.