Prior to World War 1 and the progressive movement, America was overrun with corruption and graft throughout the business and political sectors of America. The need for transformation was clearly apparent. Socially and economically, new ideals had to be implemented because the nation was undergoing internal difficulties that were affecting the way with which they could successfully manage themselves as a nation and a leading power. They believed they needed to act in a certain manner becoming of a nation in such a position of power. However, all of this changed following the great World War and the ensuing peace the resulted. Not being directly affected by the horrible realities of the actual war and their opinion not being considered fully on the reconstruction aspect of the war, the nation decided to crawl into a hole from the rest of the world. Seclusion seemed to be the most profitable and best decision for America at this given time. Thus, they avoided foreign entanglements at all costs and closed the borders-America was now in isolationist mode.

            After the metamorphosis from the progressive movement, America needed to forge a new identity. The social and cultural reaction to the idealism of progressives was clearly evident. Socially, the nation was prepared to close the door on all foreigners attempting to enter America. The Red Scare from 1919-1920 led the huge movement against the left-wingers. Those who challenged these people did so by doubting their Americanism and loyalty to the new idea of complete devotion to America. Included with the anti-Communism and anti-foreignism movements was the stemming flood of anti-racial groups like the KKK. Another social event that was spawned by a progressive act was the prohibition act. Trying to keep Americans from one of their classical indulgements was ludicrous and elicited a response that resulted in radical reactions. Such acts made doing the “bad” thing the popular idea and promoted the behavior that was once flaunted before the progressives got control.

            The cultural reaction also promoted the idea of having fun as opposed to being a wonderful nation trying to fix all of its ills. In Hollywood, the motion picture industry was booming and heroes were becoming more widespread. Baseball became widespread with the antics of Babe Ruth and the rising popularity of sports gave the common man something to look forward to entertaining themselves with. Also, gangsters soon grew to power as they represented the figurehead for what everyone wanted to do-commit illegal acts and get away with them. And by allowing others to experience these luxuries, they had the protection of the people. The cultural and societal reactions to the progressives of earlier times revealed a new national attitude. No longer afraid of being unique and failure to shy away from their own desires, America was engraving an image that remains a piece of the endearing image that is the American way of life.

The progressive idealism movement that occurred before World War I was based on reforming the present government of the United States.  Progressives wanted there to be changes made in America.  However after World War I mostly all people were against anything that went against any part of the United States.  During the 1920’s people were going against the progressive movement through their actions and present beliefs.

            The people of the United States went against progressivism in one major way during the 1920’s.  In 1919 progressives put into action the Eighteenth Amendment and the Volstead Act.  These together prohibited any consumption or creation of alcoholic beverages.  This was known as the prohibition experiments.  Many people at first were very supportive of this act.  First of all, beer was mainly created by German descendents.  During World War I, the people of the United States were basically against everything German, since they were fighting a war against them.  People in the South and in the Midwest were also very supportive of the prohibition acts.  However the prohibition of alcohol would not last.  Too many people were “thirsty” for alcohol and had never regarded drinking it as a crime.  Also many people had considered it a personal liberty to be allowed to drink when they wanted to.  Many people who before were heavy drinkers decided to drink even more.  This is because they believed if enough people went against this new law, then it would be repealed.  Even legislators who had voted for the prohibition of alcohol continued to drink in private.  Soldiers coming back from war in France and grimy workers also had a desire for alcohol, especially beer.  People began to search for ways to get alcohol.  They found it in speakeasies, the replacement of bars, and in brewing their own beer.  The people of America during the 1920’s went against the prohibition acts and also against the progressive idealisms. 

            Another act of the 1920’s that shows the people’s turn against progressive idealism was the enlargement of the Ku Klux Klan.  Many progressives wanted the United States to help people who were coming into the United States, or immigrants.  However the Ku Klux Klan went directly against this.  This organization was “anti-foreign anti-Catholic, anti-black, anti-Jewish, anti-pacifist, anti-Communist, anti-internationalist, anti-evolutionist, anti-bootlegger, anti-gambling, anti-adultery, and anti-birth control.  It was also pro-Anglo-Saxon, pro-“native” American, and pro-protestant.” (748).  This group pretty much went against everything that was a reform to the ways and beliefs of the beginning of the United States.  This group gained popularity during the 1920’s.  During the mid-1920s there were five million members.  The Ku Klux Klan was also able to influence politics during this time.

            Other then the Ku Klux Klan there were many people who were against anything that was foreign.  Many people were against immigrants from other countries.  They also began to be very sacred of foreign politics, such as Communism.  After the Bolshevik revolution in 1917 a small gathering of people turned into a little Communist party.  People were very against this and tried to seek out these anti-American communists during the big red scare between 1919-1920. 

The 1920s were a cultural reaction against the progressive idealism because Americans were no longer idealistic. They had lost their innocence and looked at the world in a completely different way than before WWI. They had gotten a look at the cruelty of the world and war, and developed a cynical view of life and the world. Novels like The Great Gatsby capture the typical sense of emptiness and materialism that seemed to plague the 20s.
            Most urban Americans of the 1920s drank and attended speakeasies, despite the fact that alcohol was illegal. Soldiers returning from the war were frustrated that beer was so high priced and that they would be forced to stay sober at home, not just abroad.  The profits from selling illegal alcohol led to horrific crimes. Prohibition led to the formation of organized crime, which we now think of as the mob. Gangsters invested in other things such as prostitution, gambling and narcotics; and by 1930 their annual “take” was estimated to range from 12 to 18 billion.