Change between modern and new in the 1920s
During the period of the 1920's, American lifestyle was transforming into a new modern development. The modern development met against a series of spirited and, at times, effective rebellions. The tension between new and changing attitudes, and traditional values and nostalgia, was manifested in tense cultural conflicts. The modernizing currents and tension between the old versus new ideals were most apparent in the areas of religion, race/ethnic, and women. All met with harsh criticism, opposition, and imbalance. Before the 1920's, America had based its lifestyle and customs on Christian ideals. However, with the appearance and deep interest in the sciences of the 1920's, Christian ideals were challenged. "Fundamentalists" were in favor of Christian ideals, the Bible, and opposed all teachings of Charles Darwin's evolution theory. Fundamentalists insisted that people had been created by God, as described in Genesis. On the other hand, "modernists" were in favor of science, and the teachings of Charles Darwin's evolution. This tension between science and religion was most apparent and evident in the famous "Tennessee Evolution Case of 1925." The trial of evolution was a traumatic experience for the fundamentalist.
In conclusion, the areas of religion, race/ethnic, and women all had a common hostility to modernity and a desire to arrest change through coercion. Several movements sought to effect this change but met against rivalry and criticism. Modern opposed traditional views in almost all arenas. However, the tension created between the two was considerable. In the 1920's, American lifestyle was transformed into a new modern development, but not quietly or easily. Gathering strength, opposition to immigrant and other races had gradually increased in the years before the war. Curbs on immigration were passed due to the association of radicalism with immigration. In 1921, Congress passed an emergency immigration act, establishing a quota system by which annual immigration from any country could not exceed 3 percent of the number of persons of that nationality who had been in the United States in 1910. The provincial nativism helped instigate the rebirth of the Ku Klux Klan. As a major force in American society, blacks, as before were the targets of the Klan. Black saw to engage and express themselves in American life. More and more African Americans experienced work in large cities and adopted a new culture of their own. (Doc E) However, Catholics, Jews, and foreigners were also added to the KKK concerns. The tension between Klan
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Approximate Word count = 909
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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