The era of the 1920’s sparked new ideas and perspectives in American people. Some considered this to be a development that would help to shape the nation; while others were concerned that traditional ideals and values would be lost with the changing times. The post – war time period in America was one of great controversy, with modernism on one side and conventionalism on the other. As America journeyed through the 1920’s, a power struggle between conservatives and liberals came to light due to the past events of World War I, the Progressive Era, and the Industrial Revolution. This tension was shown with a shift in viewpoints about immigration, foreign diplomacy, women’s role in the country, and the social aspects of American life. World War I had been a war unlike any other that America had been involved in thus far. It shed the archaic beliefs of isolationism and put the nation in a global spotlight as a major world super power. However, a portion of America still believed in seclusion, as shown when America chose not to join the League of Nations after much controversy in the Senate over the ratification of the post – war Treaty of Versailles in 1919. This was the first strike of tension in America due to the war effort. Additionally, the “Red Scare”, caused by Communism in Russia during the “Great War”, changed citizens’ ideas about immigrants. The once open - minded, diversified nation now began to adopt the theory of “Americanism.” Many wanted majority of Americans to solely be white, Anglo – Saxon Protestants. The article written by Hiram Wesley Evans, “The Klan’s Fight for Americanism”, featured in March, 1926 issue of The North American Review demonstrates this new attitude by explaining the fearsome Ku Klux Klan’s goal of solely commonplace American citizens. The Klan terrorized a large range of people: from Italians to African Americans, from Catholics to Jewish, from immigrants to draft dodgers. The members of this group wanted to seize power from radicals, making them a prime example of tension builders between old – age and new – age beliefs. World War I caused tension because of differing beliefs in foreign policy, including both diplomacy and immigration. “Americanism” and isolationism began to clash with diversification and alliances.
Ideas lingering from the Progressive Era of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s also catalyzed tension between Americans. Women began to call for a larger role in the society, something commonly argued about. Many supported women’s appeal for suffrage, however others believed women belonged at home performing domestic roles. Nonetheless, women were granted the right to vote in 1920 with the Nineteenth Amendment, forever changing societal ways despite the fact that some conservatives were against this. Women’s increased roles in the nation are expressed in “Women Smokers” published in the New York Times in 1928 in which the National W.C.T.U is developing research on the dangers of smoking. Previously this type of scientific progress would have been restricted to men. Another example of tension caused by progressive ideas was Prohibition, the 18th Amendment of the Constitution that banned the “manufacture, sale, and transportation” of alcoholic beverages. Classic American citizens, such as Protestants, supported this ratification. They believed alcohol was the root of corruption in the nation. However, more modern Americans, such as immigrants, did not. The formation of underground alcohol consumption and conflicting ideas suggested strain within the nation. Progressive ideas created differing attitudes on modern reform and traditional values. Another brewery for tension was the second Industrial Revolution of America. Not only did it reshape economic conditions of the country, but also it changed the nation socially as well. The second Industrial Revolution led to a plethora of inventions including the automobile, radio, and the idea of daylight savings time. This greatly impacted the family life of American, concerning conservatives. Transportation was updated, giving citizens more freedom as shown by the painting “The Bridge” by Joseph Stella. Families could be separated further by distance now and children could venture from home. Listening to comedies and newscasts the radio replaced other common family activities. A statistical chart of marriage and divorce proved that divorce was becoming more a commonplace than it used to be. This could be caused by more time spent working, which could deteriorate the sense of unity between two people. These statistics greatly disquieted conservatives who believed divorce should still be a scandalous term instead of a banal one. The second Industrial Revolution also created an influx of population to the cities. By the time of the 1920’s census it was proved that there were more people residing in cities compared to rural areas. This also disturbed those who believed the modern city was a place of demoralized values that could lead to the demise of American citizens. The second Industrial Revolution sparked tension because it gave conservatives a reason to be apprehensive about where the nation was headed. Tension between those wishing to remain in the traditional American lifestyle and those striving to progress was caused by three factors: World War I, the Progressive Era, and the second Industrial Revolution. All brought the controversial viewpoints of foreign relations and social habits into the public eye.