1920's Beliefs

The 1920’s was a great and important decade for the United States. After World War I, the United States went through events and changes that, overall, made the United States a much better place to live. New advances in technology and industry improved American life in more ways than just one. Americans had better wages during this time, more leisure time, and overall, had a better life than ever before. In addition, the 1920’s advocated social and cultural change as well. During this time period, the United States did not return to Normalcy, and instead developed attitudes that changed the life of the people of the United States forever thanks to social changes, cultural changes and changes in technology.

In the years following World War I, the United States was comfortable with returning to its prior state of traditional values. In the government, this was reflected as the 1920 election was won by Republican candidate Harding, who ran with the slogan “A Return to Normalcy.” Americans simply wanted to recuperate after the intense global conflict that had just ended; however, changing and new attitudes were at battle with their desire of normalcy. It was movements like “New Morality” that contested traditional stances of those who sought security in their lives. As a result of the constant battle between old and new values, tensions were mounting between citizens. The Roaring Twenties was a time of innovation in American life; however, tensions surfaced between traditional and new values, shown through court rooms, national politics, grass roots campaigns, and media revolutions, due to a rise in differing theological views, women’s fight for independence, racial conflict, technology, and advertising.

Preclusion was not by any means the only wellspring of social strain amid the 1920s. The Incomparable Relocation of African Americans from the Southern field to Northern urban areas and the expanding permeability of dark culture—jazz and blues music, for instance, and the abstract development is known as the Harlem Renaissance—perplexed some white Americans. A huge number of individuals in places like Indiana and Illinois joined the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s. To them, the Klan spoke to an arrival to every one of the "qualities" that the quick paced, city-slicker Thundering Twenties were trampling.

The 1920s were a period of tension between new and changing attitudes on the one hand and traditional values and nostalgia on the other. What led to the tension between old and new AND in what ways was

In the end, no one can dispute that the 1920’s presented seemingly insurmountable tension between, “Old America,” and, “New America,” in terms of religion, social conflicts, and cultural values. This tension was masked in some places by the prosperity, brought on by the roaring twenties, but still remained at large. One good side effect of these tensions was brought about though, in the sense that many precedents, which are still followed

The 1920s is recognized as a time of citizen imbalance, from the various industrialization, the Prohibition Era, and the fight for women’s rights. It was essentially rural versus urban as America was divided into two categories, Fundamentalists, and Modernists. Modernists, who lived mainly in cities, would strive for a future in knowledge and being technologically advanced. As for the Fundamentalists, they based themselves off old ideals, and considered any other race allied with the more “superior” race to be degrading. More often than not, each association would either approve a supremacy, or fight to discontinue it.

The 1920’s in America comes with mix emotions both good and bad. It was a period of exhilarating social changes and philosophical cultural struggles. It was as if American was put in a bottle and shake thoroughly; science and technology became a major part of life; cities were being developed; different types of entertainment on the rise; no longer was America under the Victorian restriction. During the 1920’s drastic changes were seen in dress codes, hair styles, gender roles namely flappers (female smoke, drink cut their hair, wear clothes that were revealing, no longer housewife); sexual morals and mannerism. There were conflicts over evolution, races, entertainments, one’s belief, and immigration from foreign countries.

Progressivism, flappers and the Harlem Renaissance are all points that underlie a theme of the 1920s and the air was optimistic. A euphoric desire for to indulge the individual had become more normal throughout the country during the 1920’s. Social groups started to express themselves outside of the prescribed norms and certain lines began to blur between stereotypes and divides.

Although there were many up sides to the Roaring 20s, such as flappers and jazz, higher levels of education and cultural movements such as the Harlem renaissance and the “New Women”. The 1920 however also hosted many negative things such as Prohibition, Fundamentalism and the corruption within the government. And although there were many positive things make it easy to overlook these blemishes it is necessary to acknowledge that, the 1920s were also a time of strife for many Americans

Going on now in the early 1920s, white Americans enjoyed economic growth, while black Americans saw little change in their social status. The combination of increasing long-standing racial hatred towards blacks might lead us to a tension filled decade. The Ku Klux Klan is a perfect example of how this tension has continued, membership has increased dramatically during this year. “Membership was secretive, but historians estimate that there were between one and eight million members by the mid-1920s.” “Klan members used their power to manipulate state and local politics, forcing members to recruit voters who promised to support racist politics, white supremacy, Anglo-Saxon Protestantism and segregation.” The Klan also participated in violent

Many innovations throughout history have been met with backlash from people who felt that innovations hurt society as a whole. The 1920s were no exception since it was one of the biggest decades of innovation in the United States’ history. Although conservatism gained a little ground during the 1920s, it was greatly overshadowed by the innovations of technology, social norms, and entertainment that still affect America today.

As a nation coming out of a devastating war, America faced many changes in the 1920s. It was a decade of growth and improvements. As immigrants fled from Europe, the economy improved, and new machines offered convenience and luxury from the kitchen to the streets. However, with all change comes opposition. The 1920s revealed a conflict between traditional America and the new attitude and lifestyle through the changing role of women, continued dominance of Christian values, and racism.

Following World War I in the 1920s was a drastic rise in numerous industries such as, automotive, film, radio, and more. Although there were substantial political and social changes, many Americans continued to dwell in the past discouraging progressive reforms. Essentially, the 1920s was a conservative era where many Americans advocated restrictions on immigration, prohibition on drugs, and support for anti-evolution. A considerable amount of Americans at this time suspected that immigrants were seen undesirable in the country, the immigrants were also to blame for many unfavorable issues, and many did not settle for teaching new concepts. The 1920s were clearly a reactionary movement as many individuals remained in this time period supporting

The 1920s, often referred to as the Roaring Twenties, was a time of great change and a time of powerful enthusiasm in many areas of society. The world had just finished the biggest war in history, the First World War, and the United States was left almost unharmed by the war. The United States was able to experience a decade of peace and success following the war. During this decade, America became the wealthiest country in the world (Trueman, 2000). The people in the United States went through a colorful period during the twenties. However, at the same time the 1920s was also a very rebellious and difficult time for many. The culture of the 1920s has influenced the culture of America’s society today.

Frederick Lewis Allen described the revolution in morals that occurred in the 1920’s as an inevitable outcome. In his publication, Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the Nineteen-Twenties, Allen attempts to provide a detailed analysis as to how this revolution upset the moral foundation of the United States. Frederick Allen explains to the adult figures of his era how the efforts to quell this chaotic revolution in social custom were futile, that it was impossible to halt this rapid redefining in moral code.