Book Review: Daily Life in the United States, 1920-1940 The way Americans lived their lives was drastically changed between the years of 1920 and 1940. Many different events and advances in technology happened within the country during this time period. Events such as the stock market crash in 1929, the dust bowl of the 1930’s, and, due to an increase in urbanization, the uprising of major cities. Also advances in technology transpired, such as the invention of the radio and Henry Ford’s assembly line. These events and advances are all illustrated in great detail in the novel, Daily Life in the United States, 1920-1940 by David E. Kyvig. His thesis explains that during the two decades, the American life style was changed in such a …show more content…
Kyvigs use of both authentic photographs and census statistics helps better exemplify his statements as supporting evidence to his thesis. Technology advancements and innovations served as, in my opinion, the most drastic life changing factors during this time period. For instance, the invention of the assembly line had a major impact on American workers. In fact, “By the mid-1920s one of eight U.S. workers was somehow involved in the production, sales, service, and fueling of automobiles.” (Kyvig, p.28) This is a major primary source that Kyvig uses as evidence to support his thesis and to help portray the fact that this time period changed the way Americans lived their lives. Just the automobile in general, “significantly changed the way people worked, conducted their business, shopped for necessities and desires, and spent leisure time.” (Kyvig, p.28) The automobile was unquestionably the most noteworthy of all new technologies that had gained popularity in the 1920s. As a secondary source of evidence, there were other inventions that gained popularity as
well, such as the washing machine, the vacuum cleaner, and the radio. But from these three the radio had the largest life style changing impact on the daily life of
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.
After World War One, the United States went through a decade full of industrial, economical, and social growth. This decade is known as the Roaring 20s. The 1920s was a time of important historical events and technological advancement. The development of consumer goods, such as fridges, typewriters, radios, and cars, created jobs and helped the American economy grow. However, not everyone was able to enjoy the advancement that the boom had assured. Although there were many wealthy people, there were still many people who could not afford to live luxurious lives. Many immigrants were not welcome into to United Stats. Prejudice and racism were spread throughout the country. In spite of the prosperity of the 1920s, the
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.
During the years between 1920 and 1960, America saw change in many aspects of life. The United States was a part of two major wars and a crash of the banking system that crippled the economy greater than ever seen in this country’s history. Also the country had new insecurities to tackle such as immigration and poor treatment of workers. These events led to the change of America lives socially, economically, and politically. The people of America changed their ideas of what the country’s place in the world should be. The issues challenging America led the country to change from isolation to war, depression to prosperity, and social change. The threats to American way of life, foreign and domestic, were the changing forces to the
After the devastation of WW 1, the United States and major European countries became wealthier and saw greater prosperity, but because of their actions during that time they fell into what is now known as The Great Depression. After the war industrialization was everybody's best friend. Cars became better, Cities were filled, women gained the right to vote and business and manufacturing industries expanded. From 1920 to 1929 the people in these countries lived in an industrialized era, were they danced to the popular sounds of jazz bands, and girls became more flexible with their short movable dresses and short hairs, while the men spent more money on bear and cigars than on food. This was a time were people did everything they could to forget
The economic boom of the 1920’s enhanced the everyday life of Americans. Mass production of goods made prior tasks, such as washing clothes, simple and allotted woman to have leisure time. The assembly line utilized by Henry Ford made the production of automobiles cost less lowering the price for consumers. The amount of cars sold from 1921-29 went up from 1.5 million to 4.5 million. (Document 9) With more leisure time because of useful inventions people sought activities to occupy their free time. Radios grew increasingly popular and steadily increased to be in 10 million households in 1929. (Document 9) The economic power held by the U.S permitted technological advances to be attainable, which unconstrained the daily lives of many Americans.
The 1930’s were certainly a marked departure from the 1920s. The nation plummeted into the worst economic depression in its history and the social and cultural consequences were huge. One of the most interesting developments is the changing relationship between intellectuals and the broader public in those years. Many American writers like Zora Nealle Hurston, F. Scott Fitzgerald, William Faulkner, and Ernest Hemingway grew skeptical and weary of the general public during the 1920s, but during the Great Depression, were moved by the hardship they witnessed, the nation began to empathize with and work through the struggles of ordinary Americans. If the 1920s was marked by cultural division and by the disillusionment of intellectuals, than the thirties were marked by economic despair and by the discovery of the virtuous “common man” by the nation’s intellectuals. The period of the 1920s and 1930s is arguably the richest period in intellectual life of the nation and for that reason alone people should have some familiarity with it. The parallels between the cultural debates of that era: over immigration, religion, the role of the federal government, and the meaning of the American Dream. An understanding of the time between World War I and World War II years will enhance the understanding of the cultural, political, and economic debates of the present.
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.
Technology was the solution to new affluence. The assembly line Ford pioneered became a standard feature in American plants (book pg. 647). Electric motors took the place of steam engines in the factories. The automobile industry, which became the nation’s largest in the 1920s, is an example of the consumer goods resolution. With the success of consumer goods industries, the America people enjoyed the highest standard of living on earth. The economic boom in the 1920s influenced society by improving the living standard in America for all
1929-1940 was the most traumatic years for people of the United States because in 1929 one of the biggest stock market crashes. In 1929 the economy was thriving, families were buying homes and cars were being sold at record numbers. As the stock mark crashed many families lost most of all their possessions including their houses and about one quarter of the United States workforce lost their jobs to the crash. During and after the stock mark crash most Americans were forced to adapt to the rapidly changing economic conditions by making significant changes to the spending habits and lifestyles. This crash tremendously affected the lives of the peopling living in the 30’s.
Life Changes of Americans in the 1920's In the 1920's many American lives were improved greatly, but some lives were as bad as they had been before. The economy was booming, with cars being mass produced, and many other consumer goods such as radios, were widely available. Also more jobs became available, and many people recieved a par rise. However there were bad things such as racism about.
The Roaring Twenties was the age where new ideas and visionaries came to life through
The 1920s was a huge time period for the United States. Modern technology such as automobiles, radios, and advertisement had taken America by storm. Rural areas were on the decline. American cities had attracted not only rural and urban citizens, but also people from all over the world. In America during the 1920s, citizens struggled with accepting other races and ethnicities into their widely populated country.
Have you ever heard about the developement of the automobile in the 1920’s? During the 1920’s, the automobile went through many productive innovations. These new innovations introduced many new types and models of cars. With the demand for automobiles rising, many people were given the oppurtunity for jobs and other services. In the 1920’s, the automobile was beganing to become the ideal way of trasportation and entertainment for everyone.
In the nineteen twenty’s there were several factors that contribute to the changes in American society. After World War One many Americans were fed up with President Wilson and his liberal policies. The frustrations were evident because the people voted the Republicans into office the first elections in the nineteen twenty’s. The presidency brought fourth the new conservative area and the Republicans gain their power back after the electing President Harding.