Clever Grades

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The 1920s: Racial Tensions and Cultural Advancements

The Turbulent Twenties

Historical Overview

The 1920s were a turbulent period for race relations in the U.S., marked by both rising racial intolerance and the emergence of African American cultural and political activism. This era demanded strategic cultural resilience against organized oppression.

Growth of Intolerance: The Second KKK

The Ku Klux Klan expanded nationally, targeting minorities and perceived threats to 'native' Protestant America. Factors contributing to their rapid growth included:

1

Immigration Restriction Laws

The 1921 Emergency Quota Act and 1924 Immigration Act severely limited immigrants from southern and eastern Europe. Nativist and racist fears about foreigners sparked support for the Klan.
2

First Red Scare

Fear of communism and anarchism following the Bolshevik Revolution fueled suspicion of foreigners and minority groups, creating a climate for intolerance.

The Cost of Resistance

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The Red Summer of 1919: The years leading into the 1920s were marked by episodes of racial violence, especially in 1919’s “Red Summer.” African American veterans returning from WWI demanded civil rights but faced violent backlash from white supremacist groups and police. Urban migration to Northern cities led to tensions over jobs and housing, fueling conflicts like the Chicago Race Riot of 1919.

Defining the Harlem Renaissance

Despite oppression, the African American community achieved significant cultural and intellectual strides.

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New Negro Movement

A term popularized by intellectuals like Alain Locke, this movement emphasized racial pride, cultural expression, and political assertiveness.
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Harlem Renaissance

The center of cultural achievement, based in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood, challenging racist stereotypes through art and literature.

Key Cultural and Political Advances

The blossoming of the Harlem Renaissance reshaped African American identity and influenced mainstream culture:

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Cultural Achievements

Writers (Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston), musicians (Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong), and artists (Aaron Douglas) celebrated black heritage and challenged racist stereotypes.
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Political Activism

Organizations like the NAACP fought for civil rights, anti-lynching laws, and against segregation.

Native American Citizenship Status

Snyder Act (1924) = US Citizenship for All Native Americans Born in the US
Granted U.S. citizenship to all Native Americans born in the United States, aimed at integrating Native Americans legally and politically.

Citizenship vs. Marginalization

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Legal AdvancementCitizenship via Snyder Act: A major legal step toward full integration and recognition of political rights.
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Ongoing StruggleContinued Discrimination: Despite citizenship, many Native Americans remained marginalized economically and socially, living in poor conditions on reservations and facing government efforts toward forced assimilation.
1920s Race & Cultural Movements Deck
Term
Second Ku Klux Klan

What was the Second Ku Klux Klan?

Answer
Definition

A white supremacist group revived in the 1920s, targeting African Americans, immigrants, Catholics, and Jews.

Term
Immigration Laws

What laws contributed to the Klan's growth in the 1920s?

Answer
Answer

The 1921 Emergency Quota Act and the 1924 Immigration Act restricted immigration from southern and eastern Europe.

Term
Red Summer of 1919

What was the Red Summer of 1919?

Answer
Definition

A period marked by widespread racial violence and riots against African Americans across the U.S.

Term
Harlem Renaissance

What was the Harlem Renaissance?

Answer
Definition

A cultural movement in the 1920s where African American artists, writers, and musicians celebrated black identity and creativity.

Term
Key Figures in Harlem Renaissance

Who were key figures in the Harlem Renaissance?

Answer
Names

Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Aaron Douglas.

Term
New Negro Movement

What was the New Negro Movement?

Answer
Definition

A movement promoting African American racial pride, cultural expression, and political activism.

Term
Snyder Act of 1924

What did the Snyder Act of 1924 do?

Answer
Definition

Granted U.S. citizenship to all Native Americans born in the United States.

Term
Native American Challenges

Despite citizenship, what challenges did Native Americans face in the 1920s?

Answer
Challenges

Economic and social marginalization, poor living conditions, and forced assimilation policies.

Term
First Red Scare

How did the First Red Scare affect race relations?

Answer
Effect

It increased suspicion of minorities and immigrants, contributing to intolerance and Klan growth.

Term
NAACP Role in 1920s

What role did the NAACP play during the 1920s?

Answer
Role

Advocated for civil rights, anti-lynching laws, and fought segregation.

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🌸 The 1920s – Racial Tensions & Cultural Advancements Quiz

1. What was one major factor that contributed to the growth of the Second Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s?

Laws like the 1921 Emergency Quota Act limited immigration and fueled nativist fears, supporting the Klan’s expansion.

2. True or False: The Harlem Renaissance primarily celebrated African American culture through art, music, and literature.

The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement that highlighted black creativity and racial pride.

3. The Snyder Act of 1924 granted which right to Native Americans?

The Snyder Act granted American citizenship to all Native Americans born in the U.S.

4. The “Red Summer” of 1919 was characterized by:

1919 saw violent clashes mainly against African Americans across several U.S. cities.

5. Short Answer: Name two prominent musicians associated with the Harlem Renaissance.

Both were influential jazz musicians who shaped the cultural landscape of the era: Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong.

📊 Results

  • Notes and Quiz
  • US History since 1877
  • AS Level
  • The 1920s & 1930s
  • CAIE