Peace Movement
Diana Martinez
Dr. M. C. J. Miller
World History II
03/27/2013
The Peace Movement in the 1920’s
Peace movement can be defined as “an international [social] movement against war and militarism, whose members are willing to fight for a stable and indestructible peace, regardless of the differences in their nationality, political and religious beliefs (KRYLOV).” The United States in particular has experienced many movements of these kinds in recent years, but the 1920’s was an era where the nation had just gotten out of World War I and was faced with measures such as the draft, food shortages, and restrictions on business. Some may question the business boom or the “peace” in the 1920’s, but what is clear is the growth, progression, and effects made to the nation during this time period.
The optimal concern of the American peace movement “was the re-definition of the nation’s role in European affairs (Benedetti).” The goal was pretty self-explanatory; trying to prevent the recurrence of what had just been a four year war. The morality, power, and discipline of the United Stated needed to be defined and formed.
For starters, the nation was experiencing the election of 1920 and along with this came the involvement of women. On August 26, 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution declared “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex (McGeehan).” Aside from this, Congress also enacted the 1922 Sheppard-Towner Act, which extended financial aid to the “states for the welfare and health of pregnant women and newborn infants (McGeehan).” Women weren’t seen as “women” anymore, but as an asset to society. They took their rights and sought to do as a man would, not only in the workforce, but attained habits such as drinking and smoking, altered their wardrobes, and enjoyed leisure time just as well as men. Although the barrier of women involvement was broken, the economy
Dr. M. C. J. Miller
World History II
03/27/2013
The Peace Movement in the 1920’s
Peace movement can be defined as “an international [social] movement against war and militarism, whose members are willing to fight for a stable and indestructible peace, regardless of the differences in their nationality, political and religious beliefs (KRYLOV).” The United States in particular has experienced many movements of these kinds in recent years, but the 1920’s was an era where the nation had just gotten out of World War I and was faced with measures such as the draft, food shortages, and restrictions on business. Some may question the business boom or the “peace” in the 1920’s, but what is clear is the growth, progression, and effects made to the nation during this time period.
The optimal concern of the American peace movement “was the re-definition of the nation’s role in European affairs (Benedetti).” The goal was pretty self-explanatory; trying to prevent the recurrence of what had just been a four year war. The morality, power, and discipline of the United Stated needed to be defined and formed.
For starters, the nation was experiencing the election of 1920 and along with this came the involvement of women. On August 26, 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution declared “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex (McGeehan).” Aside from this, Congress also enacted the 1922 Sheppard-Towner Act, which extended financial aid to the “states for the welfare and health of pregnant women and newborn infants (McGeehan).” Women weren’t seen as “women” anymore, but as an asset to society. They took their rights and sought to do as a man would, not only in the workforce, but attained habits such as drinking and smoking, altered their wardrobes, and enjoyed leisure time just as well as men. Although the barrier of women involvement was broken, the economy
Cited: ACLU. "American Civil Liberties Union." American Civil Liberties Union. ACLU, n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2013. <http://www.aclu.org/about-aclu-0>. Benedetti, Charles De. "Alternative Strategies in the American Peace Movement in the 1920 's." American Studies with American Studies International 13.1 (n.d.): 69-79. Print. Davis, Kenneth C., and Matt Faulkner. Don 't Know Much about American History. 1st ed. New York: HarperCollins, 2003. Print. KRYLOV, B. S. "Peace Movement." The Great Soviet Encyclopedia. 3rd ed. N.d. Farlex, Inc. Web. <http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Peace+Movement>. McGeehan, John, and Morris Gall. Let 's Review: U.S. History and Government. 3rd ed. Hauppauge, NY: Barron 's Educational Series, 2001. Print.