Jeremy Keeshin

New Era: The 1920s

Terms Identifications

John Llwelyn Lewis was an American labor leader who was president of the United
Mine Workers, a group to represent miners. They were significant because they tried to
get workers rights.

After World War I, the lack of demand caused farm costs to rise, and prices to drop 30-
60%. This was significant because it demonstrated how after the war the country was
moving away from farming and to a new era of industry.

During the New Era, urban population topped rural for the 1st time. This was
significant because it showed the countries shift from farming to factories and industry.

The Volstead Act of 1919 was the law that implemented prohibition and banned
production and distribution of alcohol. This was significant because it showed the
advancement made by progressive reformers and temperance unions.

Speakeasies were illegal barrooms during Prohibition that would serve alcoholic
beverages. They were significant because they went against the law and helped foster the
growing criminal rate in the country against this new law.

Al Capone was the leader of organized crime in Chicago during the 1920s. He was
involved with the industries of gambling, alcohol, and prostitution. He was significant
because since Prohibition went into effect, these had been illegal and he was running a
more major business.

The 1921 Emergency Quota Act set a number of immigrants that were allowed into the
United States based on the number from that country that were already here. This was
significant because it showed how the nation was less accepting of immigrants in a time
of isolationism after World War I.

The 1924 National Origins Act was another act that restricted immigration and did not
allow Asians in. This was significant because it demonstrated the intolerance of the
country to foreigners.

Sacco and Vanzetti were two Italian immigrants and anarchists in Massachusetts who
were arrested for a robbery and murder. They were convicted and sentenced to death
more on the idea that they were foreign anarchists than that they were guilty. This was
significant because at the height of the Red Scare it showed American xenophobia and
intolerance.

The Scopes Monkey Trial was where Scopes, a high school teacher was convicted of
teaching evolution illegally to students. He lost the trial, but had to pay only a small fine.
The lawyers were William Jennings Bryan vs. Clarence Darrow and it was a major
 Jeremy Keeshin

showdown. This case was significant because it was one of the major clashes between
science and religion.

The Kellogg-Briand Pact was a treaty that attempted to outlaw war. The significance of
this pact was its failure to assess the necessary action if violated, because outlawing war
was not a plausible idea because of the insecurity nations felt without an armed force.
What would a country do if they violated it, declare war on them? (Ironic).

The Dawes Plan was a plan set up by an American banker who aided Germany in paying
off the reparations and basically acted at a German debt consultant. The plan was
significant because it got the US started with investing in Europe which helped both the
US and German economies.

The United States continued to intervene in Nicaragua, and occupied it for twelve years
and then stopped, and then went back and occupied it again. This was significant because
it showed that the United States was intrinsically tied to other countries affairs.