Prompt One:
The 1920’s which is popularly referred to as the “roaring twenties”, was a decade that marked profound changes within the United States and the world as a whole. This period of the time was a transformative time period including cultural, social transformation, and cultural revolutions. With the world devastated at the end of the World War, the world experienced advancements with technology,entertainment (such as music, Hollywood, food). There were changes made in gender roles, political and social movements as well.in my opinion the most important characteristics of this time period were: The rise of jazz and entertainment, economic prosperity and consumerism,rise of women in society,prohibition and organized crime,technological and scientific advancements, and the Harlem renaissance.
The rise of jazz and entertainment:
The 1920’s were also known as the jazz age, a term that was brought about by the author f. Scott fitzgerald. Jazz music originated in New Orleans and was considered an important part of african american communities.This type of music gained a lot of popularity in cities all around the united states including Chicago and New York, making them “hotspots” for jazz clubs, were people of all backgrounds were able to come together to experience and enjoy the music together.In addition to the jazz music, hollywood was the frontline of the movie industry. It was a glamorous time.
Economic prosperity and consumerism:
In the 1920 's the economy witnessed a big boom as a result of technological advancements and the post war industrial expansion. Both of these aspects contributed to the huge growth within the economy where businesses were prospering, manufacturing had become more efficient especially for automobiles, construction and goods.
Henry Ford introduced an assembly line of model t’s, making the ownerships for average americans cheaper and more accessible.Because of the usage of these vehicles the demand for oil,steel and rubber become bigger, and the road expansion grew, leading to the opening of businesses such as gas stations,roadside diners and motels.
The rise of advertising and marketing contributed to the opening of department stores and mail order catalogs which made shopping easier and more abundant.The use of ordering items on credit, allowed people to purchase or order things they weren't able to pay for in full right then and there. This concept was an attribution to what was to come during the Great Depression.
The rise of women in society:
The 1920’s were an important period where there were changes with women's roles within society.The 19th amendment was passed in the 1920’s which paved the way for women in the united states to obtain the right to vote.Flappers emerged, which were women that cut their hair short into a bob, wore shorter skirts, makeup and smoked freely exuberating their independence. Women also started gaining jobs primarily in retail settings and were introduced to higher levels of education , paving a way into medicine and law.
A big part of the 1920’s was the Prohibition. The passing of the 18th Amendment with its intentions of reducing crime and uplifting morale as a result of banning alcohol led to the illegal distribution of alcohol in bootlegging and speakeasies (underground bars).As a result gang violence developed such as al chapone in chicago.
During the 1920’s the Harlem Renaissance, which was a cultural movement based out of Harlem New York. This movement celebrated all types of music, art and literature. This brought about a change of view on discrimination. The renaissance was also able to not only influence the african american culture but impacted american society, this would later be a benefit towards the civil right movement.
The 1920’s was a transformative time period mostly with technological advancements such as films and vehicles.The period also developed advances in their aviation. In 1927, a man by the name of Charles Lindebergh completed the first ever nonstop flight across the Atlantic ocean.Along with aviation advancements were made to the medical field as insulin was discovered as a treatment to diabetes.Radios and electronics developed making it easier to communicate and make daily life simpler.
Prompt two:
In 1933 prohibition came to an end. This shaped the ways in which the federal government targeted marginalized groups, and the landscape surrounding alcohol and turning its focus more to drugs.This shift mostly affected African Americans. Billie Holiday was a famous jazz musician who struggled with drug addiction and was outspoken about racial injustice. She struggled with Heroin in the 1940’s , she had a powerful voice which she used between her preaching and her songs. This made her prone to the government's attention. Her performance of “Strange Fruit” in the year 1939 was a symbolic representation and protest of the lynching of African Americans and exemplified the racial injustice the world was facing. The government being led by Harry Aslinger of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics main focus was on discrediting Billie. She was arrested for possession of drugs in 1947. In the podcast Billie Holiday v. The United States, it delves into the end of Prohibition and the beginning of the “War on drugs”. It sheds light into how the government targeted marginalized groups and how billie holiday’s music and activism during this time. The podcast shows how activism put forth by Billie Holiday was able to challenge the racial and social systems. The podcast helped me as a listener understand how the governments often have power over those that resist its authority and how people such as Billie Holiday were targeted as part of a systematic discrimination.
Promt three:
The Supreme Court made a decision in Buck vs Bell 1927 is considered one of the most infamous rulings within American legal history. Its ruling stated that the sterilization of individuals who were deemed “unfit” to reproduce. It sought to improve the “genetic quality” of the human population , as it promoted the reproduction of the “fit” instead of the “unfit” to reproduce.
Carrie Buck, a woman diagnosed with what is known as “feeblemindedness” was the plaintiff in this case. She was considered to be mentally inferior due to her family history and was institutionalized at the Virginia colony for epileptics and feebleminded. The drs at the institution believed that her “condition”was hereditary and in order to protect the future of the world she had to become sterilized. Under the consent of the drs, and against her protestation Carrie was subjected to the “sterilization” procedure. This led to the case gaining national attention as it was a direct dismissal of basic human rights and as the government was able to intervene in personal decisions on reproduction.
In 1927, the case was brought before the Supreme Court, where the question was if the Virginia sterilization law had violated the constitutional rights of individuals.Justice Holmes argued that the sterilization of individuals as displayed with Carrie was in the best interest of society as a whole. He claimed that it would help with the prevention of future generations from suffering genetic “defects”.
The decision was in support that certain individuals could be denied their reproductive rights based on their genetics.
Because of the decision in Buck v. Bell legalized sterilization within the United States. After the ruling, an estimated number of 60,000 individuals were sterilized within the United states, many of which were subjected to the procedure without their consent.Most of the considered “unfit” people were those of color, poverty and people of disabilities creating discrimination.
Today the decision is viewed as an unjust ruling and I agree. It is scary that the government was able to obtain that much control over others and their body’s and rights.The ruling of Buck v. Bell was unjust and allowed the government and states to violate reproductive rights of humans; this was a disregard in respect to human dignity as a whole. Truly sad.
Works Cited
Cook, R. A. Buck v. Bell: The Supreme Court Case That Legalized Eugenic Sterilization in America. Ohio University Press, 2005.
Lombardo, Paul A. Three Generations, No Imbeciles: Eugenics, the Supreme Court, and Buck v. Bell. Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008.
U.S. Supreme Court. Buck v. Bell, 274 U.S. 200, 1927. Supreme Court of the United States, 1927, https://www.oyez.org/cases/1900-1940/274us200.
Smith, David L. “Buck v. Bell and the Eugenics Movement.” The New York Times, 12 June 2011, https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/13/opinion/13Smith.html.
Gould, Stephen Jay. The Mismeasure of Man. W.W. Norton & Company, 1981.
Friedman, Lawrence M. The History of American Law. Simon & Schuster, 1985.
Kevles, Daniel J. In the Name of Eugenics: Genetics and the Uses of Human Heredity. University of California Press, 1985.
Patterson, James T. Grand Expectations: The United States, 1945-1974. Oxford University Press, 1996.
Reilly, Philip. The Surgical Solution: A History of Involuntary Sterilization in the United States. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1991.
Lombardo, Paul A., and Herbert H. Haines. "Sterilizing the Unfit: The Legal and Political Bases of Eugenics in the United States." Journal of Social History, vol. 22, no. 3, 1989, pp. 469-487.
Norden, Deborah A. In the Name of Eugenics: The Sterilization of Carrie Buck. Columbia University Press, 2002.
The 1920’s which is popularly referred to as the “roaring twenties”, was a decade that marked profound changes within the United States and the world as a whole. This period of the time was a transformative time period including cultural, social transformation, and cultural revolutions. With the world devastated at the end of the World War, the world experienced advancements with technology,entertainment (such as music, Hollywood, food). There were changes made in gender roles, political and social movements as well.in my opinion the most important characteristics of this time period were: The rise of jazz and entertainment, economic prosperity and consumerism,rise of women in society,prohibition and organized crime,technological and scientific advancements, and the Harlem renaissance.
The rise of jazz and entertainment:
The 1920’s were also known as the jazz age, a term that was brought about by the author f. Scott fitzgerald. Jazz music originated in New Orleans and was considered an important part of african american communities.This type of music gained a lot of popularity in cities all around the united states including Chicago and New York, making them “hotspots” for jazz clubs, were people of all backgrounds were able to come together to experience and enjoy the music together.In addition to the jazz music, hollywood was the frontline of the movie industry. It was a glamorous time.
Economic prosperity and consumerism:
In the 1920 's the economy witnessed a big boom as a result of technological advancements and the post war industrial expansion. Both of these aspects contributed to the huge growth within the economy where businesses were prospering, manufacturing had become more efficient especially for automobiles, construction and goods.
Henry Ford introduced an assembly line of model t’s, making the ownerships for average americans cheaper and more accessible.Because of the usage of these vehicles the demand for oil,steel and rubber become bigger, and the road expansion grew, leading to the opening of businesses such as gas stations,roadside diners and motels.
The rise of advertising and marketing contributed to the opening of department stores and mail order catalogs which made shopping easier and more abundant.The use of ordering items on credit, allowed people to purchase or order things they weren't able to pay for in full right then and there. This concept was an attribution to what was to come during the Great Depression.
The rise of women in society:
The 1920’s were an important period where there were changes with women's roles within society.The 19th amendment was passed in the 1920’s which paved the way for women in the united states to obtain the right to vote.Flappers emerged, which were women that cut their hair short into a bob, wore shorter skirts, makeup and smoked freely exuberating their independence. Women also started gaining jobs primarily in retail settings and were introduced to higher levels of education , paving a way into medicine and law.
A big part of the 1920’s was the Prohibition. The passing of the 18th Amendment with its intentions of reducing crime and uplifting morale as a result of banning alcohol led to the illegal distribution of alcohol in bootlegging and speakeasies (underground bars).As a result gang violence developed such as al chapone in chicago.
During the 1920’s the Harlem Renaissance, which was a cultural movement based out of Harlem New York. This movement celebrated all types of music, art and literature. This brought about a change of view on discrimination. The renaissance was also able to not only influence the african american culture but impacted american society, this would later be a benefit towards the civil right movement.
The 1920’s was a transformative time period mostly with technological advancements such as films and vehicles.The period also developed advances in their aviation. In 1927, a man by the name of Charles Lindebergh completed the first ever nonstop flight across the Atlantic ocean.Along with aviation advancements were made to the medical field as insulin was discovered as a treatment to diabetes.Radios and electronics developed making it easier to communicate and make daily life simpler.
Prompt two:
In 1933 prohibition came to an end. This shaped the ways in which the federal government targeted marginalized groups, and the landscape surrounding alcohol and turning its focus more to drugs.This shift mostly affected African Americans. Billie Holiday was a famous jazz musician who struggled with drug addiction and was outspoken about racial injustice. She struggled with Heroin in the 1940’s , she had a powerful voice which she used between her preaching and her songs. This made her prone to the government's attention. Her performance of “Strange Fruit” in the year 1939 was a symbolic representation and protest of the lynching of African Americans and exemplified the racial injustice the world was facing. The government being led by Harry Aslinger of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics main focus was on discrediting Billie. She was arrested for possession of drugs in 1947. In the podcast Billie Holiday v. The United States, it delves into the end of Prohibition and the beginning of the “War on drugs”. It sheds light into how the government targeted marginalized groups and how billie holiday’s music and activism during this time. The podcast shows how activism put forth by Billie Holiday was able to challenge the racial and social systems. The podcast helped me as a listener understand how the governments often have power over those that resist its authority and how people such as Billie Holiday were targeted as part of a systematic discrimination.
Promt three:
The Supreme Court made a decision in Buck vs Bell 1927 is considered one of the most infamous rulings within American legal history. Its ruling stated that the sterilization of individuals who were deemed “unfit” to reproduce. It sought to improve the “genetic quality” of the human population , as it promoted the reproduction of the “fit” instead of the “unfit” to reproduce.
Carrie Buck, a woman diagnosed with what is known as “feeblemindedness” was the plaintiff in this case. She was considered to be mentally inferior due to her family history and was institutionalized at the Virginia colony for epileptics and feebleminded. The drs at the institution believed that her “condition”was hereditary and in order to protect the future of the world she had to become sterilized. Under the consent of the drs, and against her protestation Carrie was subjected to the “sterilization” procedure. This led to the case gaining national attention as it was a direct dismissal of basic human rights and as the government was able to intervene in personal decisions on reproduction.
In 1927, the case was brought before the Supreme Court, where the question was if the Virginia sterilization law had violated the constitutional rights of individuals.Justice Holmes argued that the sterilization of individuals as displayed with Carrie was in the best interest of society as a whole. He claimed that it would help with the prevention of future generations from suffering genetic “defects”.
The decision was in support that certain individuals could be denied their reproductive rights based on their genetics.
Because of the decision in Buck v. Bell legalized sterilization within the United States. After the ruling, an estimated number of 60,000 individuals were sterilized within the United states, many of which were subjected to the procedure without their consent.Most of the considered “unfit” people were those of color, poverty and people of disabilities creating discrimination.
Today the decision is viewed as an unjust ruling and I agree. It is scary that the government was able to obtain that much control over others and their body’s and rights.The ruling of Buck v. Bell was unjust and allowed the government and states to violate reproductive rights of humans; this was a disregard in respect to human dignity as a whole. Truly sad.
Works Cited
Cook, R. A. Buck v. Bell: The Supreme Court Case That Legalized Eugenic Sterilization in America. Ohio University Press, 2005.
Lombardo, Paul A. Three Generations, No Imbeciles: Eugenics, the Supreme Court, and Buck v. Bell. Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008.
U.S. Supreme Court. Buck v. Bell, 274 U.S. 200, 1927. Supreme Court of the United States, 1927, https://www.oyez.org/cases/1900-1940/274us200.
Smith, David L. “Buck v. Bell and the Eugenics Movement.” The New York Times, 12 June 2011, https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/13/opinion/13Smith.html.
Gould, Stephen Jay. The Mismeasure of Man. W.W. Norton & Company, 1981.
Friedman, Lawrence M. The History of American Law. Simon & Schuster, 1985.
Kevles, Daniel J. In the Name of Eugenics: Genetics and the Uses of Human Heredity. University of California Press, 1985.
Patterson, James T. Grand Expectations: The United States, 1945-1974. Oxford University Press, 1996.
Reilly, Philip. The Surgical Solution: A History of Involuntary Sterilization in the United States. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1991.
Lombardo, Paul A., and Herbert H. Haines. "Sterilizing the Unfit: The Legal and Political Bases of Eugenics in the United States." Journal of Social History, vol. 22, no. 3, 1989, pp. 469-487.
Norden, Deborah A. In the Name of Eugenics: The Sterilization of Carrie Buck. Columbia University Press, 2002.