Time, The Best of Times

Time

The Best of Times

New York CIty

New

York City in the 1920s

Table of contents Letter from the Editor…………………………………………….….……………......1

Letters to the Editor…....…………………………………..…....………………….....3

Briefing………………………………………………………………………………..6

Politics Article: “Politics After the War”......................................................................7

Society Article: “Racial Tensions in Society”...............................................................8

Economic Article: “Economy in the 1920s”................................................................10

Feature Article: “BANNED! Crime and Prohibition”....................................................11

Entertainment Article: “A Wonderful World of Entertainment”......................................13

Sports Article: “The Sports Era”.................................................................................14

Ten Questions………………………………………………………………...…...…..15

Works Cited……………………………………….…………………………….…….16

Staff: Emma Koch, Sidney Kout, Josh Wombacher-Hess, Arianna Moffett and Jaylen Day

Letter from the Editor Josh Hess and Ariana Moffett

The 1920s are filled with crazy, funny, and goofy thing from flappers all the way down to sports, such as baseball. And great singingers the 20s is also known for silent movies. The 20s wasn’t all the peachy there were flaws as well such as crime from major criminals such as Al capone he was so persistent on bring the top dog he had in chicago of the gangs he had the most dangerous man / leader gunned down so he could be on top. he had at least 700-1000 thugs following him that looked up to him. Al capone established himself in chicago in 1924 What made the 1920s roar? The 1920s roared with all kind of excitement it was a time of changes in many areas of our lives. It was the beginning of "the fun age". The world of entertainment went crazy there were many things to celebrate amongst. People were moving from the country to the city and many people found wealth around the arena of entertainment, and city businesses which is why for the first time in history more people were living in the cities, rather than in the countries. This was a time of many exciting changes.

Jazz and theater entertainment, and the introduction of gin enabled the unlimited amount of parties to take place. But this wasn't just a time for entertainment, it was also a time for some medical breakthrough. America sailed into the modern ages with the introduction of television (1928), radio broadcasting (1920), insulin injections for diabetics in 1922, and penicillin (1928), and refrigeration(1927). All of these new inventions, and new ideas helped them sail into the modern age.

Entertainment in the 1920s

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Letters to the Editor Dear Editor, Coming from a city-dweller, urbanization is the duck’s quack. I live in New York City, and there’s so much to do here! I’ve started playing tennis, and I can go watch baseball games when I’m done with work! I also love spending time going to orchestra concerts, movies, and museums. I’m so glad I joined the 51% of the American population that lives in cities. I’ve heard that rapid urbanization is even occurring in the south! I bet it’s because of the cotton recession that is happening right now. I can’t believe this urbanization didn’t happen sooner, I mean, who wants to live their life as a Ritzy Burg on the farm doing back-breaking work all day?

Plus, the farmers aren’t making much money now that the Great War is over and crop prices have dropped. In comparison. There are so many jobs in the cities, there are huge skyscrapers being built that have added so much office space to places like New York City and Chicago.

Along with this, it’s much easier to get to work now that New York is transitioning from steam trains to electric railways. With all of these benefits, I don’t know why anyone would want to live anywhere else but a city!

-Alexander Smith (Emma Koch)

Dear Editor, You many not approve of the flapper life because they don’t respect the traditions of their mothers or grandmothers but they now have their own, better, ways of living. Media, social attitudes, trends and fashion are the influences to the flapper girls. I think women should be able to have short hair, short dresses and makeup because they should be able to express themselves for who they truly are. As a parent, you have to respect your children and who they want to become. On an average weekend the flappers go out to, dance the Charleston, kiss their boyfriends, and most importantly have fun. Don't worry, the flappers don't give in to young men as easily as you think, sometimes they close the bank. Before the 1920s, women were ignored, told what to do, they had to wear their hair and clothes a certain way and act a certain way. This is their time to be bold, have fun, and show everyone who they really are.

-Anonymous (Sidney Kout)

Flapper dancers.

New York City 1920s.

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Dear Editor, I agree with your article on the “Drys” article.

There ain't no reason to be a wet. All they ever do is spend their clams on giggle water. Even though there is a law, they are still drinking that dang giggle water, and gettin the jitters. They created this thing called bootlegging, which still allows them to buy their giggle water. The only reason they drink it is to get a good buzz, and that’s never good. Something always goes the wrong way when they do that. They also created this dog gone speakeasies or juice joint,where they go to get some hair of the dog. those dang hooches best off be getting caught one of these days, that’ll teach em. Those owls go get ossified and when the police come to bust them they hop on the lam. Them wets need to pipe down, and let the authorities come into action. They upchuck everywhere over the nights when they had too much giggle water. I think these wets ought to be caught and punished for what they have done. The law will have to catch up with them sooner or later.

Sincerely, Josh

Dear Editor, Many people believe that science is correct about where we came from but that's not necessarily true you may have evidence from fossils and other things but your argument if very flawed because you don’t have evidence that we came from planets or Apes. It's common sense Religion says that we are created from a greater being named god who lives in heaven or the sky and that he created the world in 6 days and rested on the 7th day that's what the bible says but scientist don’t believe that and that we came from natural elements such as plants dirt and rocks which to that sounds like something that a three year old would say when there imagination has gone wild But that's my opinion like in the scope trials how a teacher got in trouble for teaching his class about evolution but in my opinion us as taxpayers should be able to decide what we should be taught in school or our parents should be able to choose what there children learn in school.

Sinc erely, Ariana Moffett

People campaigning for alcohol in the streets of New York.

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Homes with electricity:

Sidney Kout

35% (1920) “Electricity is really just organized lightning.”

-George Carlin

Number of millionaires at the time of the stock market:

25,000-35,000

“Bad taste creates many more millionaires than good taste.”

-Charles Bukowski

105.7 million people in the United States.

Briefing Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it.

Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.

-Helen Keller

New York had the largest population of 5.6 thousand (1920)

“I am proud to represent New York’s 13th Congressional District, which has one of the largest and diverse populations in the country.

- Charles B. Rangel

“Most of us feel some kind of uncertainty, with the population increasing and resources decreasing. We have to face these issues.

-Issey Miyake 6

Politics After the War Sidney Kout

After Woodrow Wilson ended his presidency, Warren G. Harding took office on March 4, 1921. Harding was not well known at the beginning coming from being the senator from Ohio. Many people described him as a loyal man and had high hopes that he would advance big businesses. During his campaign, he would sit on his front porch at his Marion home whiling smoking a cigar and answering questions from reporters and voters. During Harding's campaign he made a speech May 1920 about his belief for America. “America’s present need is not heroics but helping, not nostrums but normalcy, not revolution but restoration, not agitation but adjustment, not surgery but serenity.” Harding’s slogan was “Back to Normalcy,” which meant he wanted America to return to the life it had before the War. He had a plan of lowering taxes, reducing government spending and government interference with businesses.

On August 23, 1923 Calvin Coolidge took office, he was nicknamed “Silent Cal” because he was a man of few words unlike Harding. Many people described him as a quiet hardworking man. Coolidge was a supporter of business, he thought it

was more than just making a living. While working with Andrew Mellon, Treasury Secretary, Coolidge cut taxes, eliminated unnecessary spending and he also wanted to reduce income taxes, corporate taxes and inheritance taxes. Many people thought he would run for reelection but shockingly Calvin Coolidge choose not to in August 1927.

In 1928, Herbert Hoover, born and orphaned in West Branch, Iowa, accepted his Republican nomination for President. After college, Hoover became a successful mining engineer and was raised as a Quaker. During WWI, Hoover headed the Food Administration for Woodrow Wilson, then in 1921 Hoover was the secretary of commerce for Harding. Hoover believed in promoting business just like Coolidge and Harding, he promoted “associationalism” which was bringing industry leaders together and improving the economy. During Hoover’s presidency he promised to “End Poverty as We Know It” by hoping if businesses f expanded than poverty would disappear.

Warren G. Harding

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Racial Tensions in Society Emma Koch Of the many social issues in our society, the social issues regarding African Americans are the most serious. In America, we are dealing with the Ku Klux Klan, segregation, and having to follow black customs. Although slavery has been abolished, life for African Americans is still extremely hard and complicated.

To start, African Americans must deal with the ever-growing Ku Klux Klan (KKK).

There are about 4 million members, and the members primarily come from small towns and villages that have been undisturbed by immigration, industrialism, and the thought of modern America. In order to be a member of the Klan, you must be a white, native-born Christian male that owes “no allegiance of any nature or degree to any foreign government, nation, institution, sect, ruler, person, or people.” Klan members believe in white supremacy and “pure” Americanism. The KKK has been responsible for many violent attacks on African Americans, and more attacks take place every day.

Along with the KKK, African Americans have to deal with segregation. After the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments were ratified, the Jim Crow Laws were passed. These laws allowed “equal but separate accommodations for the white and colored races.” This lets restaurants, travel, amusement and recreational activities, and services (like fire stations) be segregated. There is now separate seating for African Americans in places like restaurants and Americans in places like restaurants and separate hospitals or wards.

There are also different schools for blacks and whites, and there aren’t many schools for African Americans, so people travel from all around to attend black schools. “White Only” and “Colored Only” signs have popped up everywhere, and they are strictly enforced.

African Americans are also expected to follow unwritten customs and practices. African Americans must address white people as Mister, Miss, or Ma’am, while white people address blacks by their first name, or by calling them sister or boy. African Americans are expected to enter shops and stores through the back door and wait until all of the white people have been helped. These practices and customs, along with segregation laws, have caused some African Americans to establish businesses that serve the black community.

However, there is hope for African Americans. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is a group that has pledged themselves to working toward the elimination of segregation, voting rights, and the enforcement of the 14th and 15th amendments. Although the fact that white people dominate the NAACP’s leadership bothers some African Americans, the group has been doing quite well. White supporters of the group have given the NAACP a lot of financial support and have raised funds for the organization. The organization has been trying to help African Americans by speechmaking, lobbying, publicizing, attacking segregation in courts, writing reports, and making movies.

Although the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments were big steps for the African American community, there is still a lot of work to be done in order to ensure equality. African Americans still have to deal with the KKK, segregation, and unwritten customs. Although the NAACP has helped the movement toward equality, more change will have to take place in America before true equality is achieved.

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Drink cola out of a bottle for 5cents

Economy In The 1920s Josh-Wombacher-Hess

Labor Militancy The transition after WWI was a difficult adjustment. Labor Unions grew strong during this war, and fought through many strikes. The largest strikes affected hundreds to thousands of workers.The militancy strike of 1919 made Americans more alarmed. From 1920-1921 unemployment exceeded by 11%.v By the year 1922 the economy was growing at a fast, and efficient rate.

Mass Production Advertising was a huge part in mass production, and getting people to buy their stuff. They advertised on the radio, through sponsorships and broadcasting networks like Hollywood Cinema.

Many people would buy things that were advertised rather than to buy things nonadvertised. Advertising was a big hit to growing in the economy in the 1920’s.

No Luck For Farmers From 1920-1921 farm prices fell at a terrible rate. Many crops fell below half of what they were really worth. WWI caused these prices to go down, because Europeans were also farming while we had agricultural things, and farming going on. Many farmers had to take out their own loans to buy new, faster, and more efficient tractors to support more people. They eventually couldn’t pay their own payments they needed.

The Great Depression The Great Depression started in the 1920’s, and continued for a whole generation.The prosperity of America’s Cities made rural life more painful than it already was. There was a division between the city and the country. This eventually came to where the KKK re-emerged, and was on a Nationwide scale. In 1929 The Stock market crashed which caused the U.S to lose Billions of Dollars.

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Crime and Prohibition BANNED! The 1920’s have been a crazy decade so far. Men have been spending money on alcohol and not on their families. They go to saloons to drink and fight, and then come home and abuse their wives and kids. In response to this, we have passed laws banning the sale of alcohol. Now we think the crime rate will go down and they will stop drinking. Instead the crime rate has gone up and gangsters like Al Capone are selling alcohol to people. Plus people would sneak alcohol into places where alcohol was illegal to drink.

History of prohibition has aged back into the 17th century with the Puritans origins in Massachusetts. Many Puritans were concerned about the links between pleasure and sin, they thought alcohol was the greatest source of evil.

In the 19 century when prohibition took effect, there was corruption among politicians and police and it was referred to as the “lawless age” because millions drank in illegal bars. The volstead act, also known as the national prohibition act, was introduced by Andrew Volstead.

This act was enacted to carry out the eighteenth amendment, which established the prohibition of alcohol. Anyone that was caught with alcohol or consuming alcohol would be fined $1,000 or sent to jail for 6 months. The volstead act also regulated the manufacturing, sale and transportation of alcohol. Woodrow Wilson vetoed the act but was overridden by the house and the senate. The Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), Anti-Saloon League, and the “drys” all supported the volstead act and the eighteenth amendment. The WCTU was founded in Ohio. The women confronted ideological, philosophical, political and practical problems to improve the society around them.

The Anti-Saloon League included Methodists, Baptists, Disciples and Congregationalists. The league was founded in Ohio and the influence spread rapidly. The group was overcome when prohibition was repealed in 1933.

Prohibition had multiple bad things, but good came out of it too. Some of the positive things of prohibition were workplace efficiency, a ban on drinking which reduced absenteeism, and they had extra grain to donate to their allies.

Many families had a shortage of money because they used the money they had to buy alcohol rather than save the money to pay for things like rent. They also didn’t have money to buy groceries because they spent their money on alcohol.

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Drunkedness in families caused domestic conflict, and was not good for the society in general. Many people had a bitter attitude towards alcohol because of the problems it caused. The wets started Bootlegging (the illegal selling and transporting of alcohol). They also created secret bars called Speakeasies.

Speakeasies were secret bars that Wets went to to drink alcohol, and not get caught. The Drys were against drinking alcohol. Eventually more people became convinced that alcohol was destructive, and took it more seriously.

Prohibition had many negative tradeoffs.

Although the 18th amendment prohibited the the sale, manufacture, and distribution of alcohol, the Volstead Act of 1920 criminalized the manufacture and distribution of alcohol, not the consumption. This lead to the increase in illegal saloons and drinking dens called “speakeasies.�

Speakeasies were hidden away, usually in basements or backrooms behind unmarked doors.

The doors often had a small flap hole where people would whisper a secret password in order to get in. By 1929, there were over 32,000 speakeasies in New York City and at least 20,000 in Chicago. Speakeasies were supplied with bootlegged alcohol. Bootlegging is the illegal production and sale of alcohol, and gangs controlled bootlegging in most cities. These gangs often traded industrial alcohol that was used in things like cosmetics, and removed the poison, watered it down, flavored it, and gave it a forged British or Canadian label. Speakeasies also got their alcohol by smuggling it from abroad or making home distilled alcohol. In conclusion, prohibition could not be strictly enforced and it was the start of organized crime in America.

In the 1920s, crime was a big problem with lots of gangs. During this time, Al Capone was one of the biggest gangsters. He and his gang sold illegal alcohol to speakeasies and American citizens. He established himself in the city of Chicago in 1924 by having Dion O'Banion gunned down just to take his spot as the gang leader. As one of the most dangerous and well known gang members in Chicago, he wanted to be top dog and control every one. Al Capone had at least 700-1,000 thugs that followed him and did everything that he said.

People pouring alcohol down the sewers in the 1920s.

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A Wonderful World of Entertainment Ariana Moffett

We are so fortunate to live in a world filled with many things like jazz, films, theatre, sports, fashion and Josephine Baker. Jazz music is an amazing form of music with an amazing showing. Last night Louis Armstrong had an amazing style. He does something that no one has thought of before by playing random notes, but they blend very well. However, for the people who don’t like jazz call it the develis music.

Theatres in the 1920s people used for entertainment.

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The Sports Era Jaylen Day

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10 Questions Emma Koch When did you realize your love for baseball? Well, I was a bit of a troublemaker

Why do you think more fans have started coming to baseball games? Going

when I was a child, so my parents sent me to a Catholic school for boys. That’s where I started playing baseball.

to baseball games is a great way for people to relax after a hard day at work. Along with that, baseball has become a more fast-paced game, which has resulted in much more excitement for the fans.

How did your baseball career progress?

When I was 19 years old, I started my very successful baseball career. On July 11, 1914, I signed to play as a pitcher for the Red Sox. However, my greatest fame came from playing outfielder for the New York Yankees.

How did the media and public affect your baseball career? Starting in the 1920s, the public took a huge interest in baseball. The radio soon started broadcasting the baseball games. After that people wanted to see me play, so my team and I built a palatial new ballpark for us to play in called Yankee Stadium.

Do you get paid well? I earn $80,000 a year, which actually happens to be $5,000 more than Herbert Hoover earns. I’d say I’m doing quite well.

Do a lot of people come to your games?

Yes. In fact, in 1920 the Yankees became the first team in baseball history to attract a million paying fans to our stadium.

Why do you have such a huge impact on the fans? Well, I have started to become quite well known for my home runs. The fans absolutely love it when I hit the ball into the stands.

You are a great role model even when you aren’t playing baseball. What do you do outside of practice? Well I love children. I often volunteer at orphanages and visit sick kids.

What has been your favorite accomplishment in your career so far? I am just happy that I have helped get the public into baseball and that I’ve inspired children to start playing the sport.

What more do you hope to accomplish in your career? I want to continue making baseball the sport America loves.

Ruth swings for the Yankees

Babe Ruth

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