History Writing : The Roaring Twenties

The strong economy also created the right environment for many important changes in the day-to-day social life of Americans. The nineteen twenties are remembered now as an exciting time that historians call the "Roaring Twenties” , but maybe it was only “roaring” because things were so corrupt.

The 1920s was a time of economic growth, inventions, and spending money. During the 1920s, America was renamed as “new society” and “new standard of living” (Foner, 773). Little did society know was that the 1920s was the reason for the Great Depression in the 1929. This time era had a rough start because there was a prohibition on manufacturing and selling alcohol (Foner, 742). There also an awakening of what America was really like for the immigrants, for example, the convictions of two Italians, Bartolomeo Vanzetti and Nicola Sacco. Vanzetti and Sacco were accused of partaking in an armed robbery and murder of a security guard (Foner, 768). This raises about the corruption of the government, and how it destabilized basic American freedom because these men were seen as threats to the American Life (Foner, 769). There were no evidence against Sacco and Vanzetti, yet they still got the death penalty (Foner, 769). The 1920s were also famous for the Jazz Age and Roaring Twenties (Foner, 769, 770). The flappers were women who were young and sexually liberated (Foner, 770). The speakeasies were nightclubs

The 1920’s, also known as the “roaring twenties” consisted of multiple movements and changes in attitudes about the formerly traditional values society held during this time period. Shifts with women's suffrage, equality amongst races, and the ending of traditional household roles were prevalent through the years, sparking controversy between those who valued the old and those who valued the new. Significant changes amongst the way women’s suffrage and traditional household values were viewed began to occur during the twenties (Document B). Women were finally seen on the same playing field as men, and although they weren’t considered “equal” by any means, they were making notable progress.

The 1920s was a decade filled with prosperity, chaos, and excitement. During the 1920s, many ground breaking inventions were introduced, such as the Model T Ford, the radio, and the television. The discoveries and cultural developments of the 1920s would go on to shape America for decades to come. The 1920s was arguably one of the most important decades in American history, in regards to the impact it had on American culture and way of life. Such an important decade should have a nickname, thus the 1920s were called the “Roaring 20s.” The decade of the 1920s is referred to as “roaring” because it was a time of dramatic social change, as demonstrated by the birth of a consumer society, the rise of a party culture, and the abandonment of long standing morals.

The 1920’s decade was one that no one could ever forget. The elaborate new inventions and extravagant parties captured the country by storm. Everyone had the glimmer of riches or fame in their eyes. Poets and musicians were being discovered and idolized while the creation of credit allowed for the common middle class individual to live as luxuriously as they had always dreamed. Overall, it was a time of carelessness and prosperity for the new generation.

The United States in the 1920’s was a whirlwind of change and prosperity for most of its citizens. All aspects of life had been changed by World War I, for better and for worse leading the United States in to a period of prosperity. Roaring is an accurate word to describe the explosion of change that occurred in the 1920’s because of the lasting effects of the time that have shaped the United States into what it is today. Looking at elements of the country such as: mass culture, New Yorkers, the economy, the youth, and religious groups it is apparent that the 1920’s brought “roaring” changes to these groups and these factors of the United States as they worked through the first modern decade.

Lucy Burnhams 15 April 2015 APUSH 1B 1920’s DBQ The 1920’s was a time of riches and brought a new age of commercialization to the United States. Traditional views clashed against the modern views the twenties inherited and therefore caused tensions between new and old ideas. The 1920’s tensions lied under religious, social, and political issues that sparked reform and advanced technology.

Three ways society changed in the 1920’s are through culture, economy, and social norms like fashion and women's rights. The 1920’s was a time of change. The United States had just won the war and after the war the United States just wanted to “return to normalcy”. But nothing was normal after the war; the 1920s was a time where the United States was at a peak prosperity. But this can be countered with organized gang violence, increased rate of murder, and countless robberies. Even though prosperity in the 1920s can be counter argued. Overall the 1920s was a time of change; a time for a change in culture, for a change in the economy, and for a change in social norms.

Although the 1920’s is often categorized by widespread prosperity and pleasure, there was no lack of tension. Struggles revealed themselves between those who were beginning to form a new approach to the world, and those who wished to stick to traditional ideals. The rise of consumerism, technological advancements, and conditions in a post-war society all caused America to change in different ways; leading to either support of this change or a desire to preserve the past. As both sides fought to have their way, this strain regarding the role of women, rights of minorities, religious teachings, and the growth of industry manifested itself in a variety of ways, including physical violence and government legislation.

After WWI, the United States entered an era of conservative values and a supposed “return to normalcy.” The 1920s were marked by a desire to return to the way of life before the left-leaning reforms of the Progressive Era and WWI. However, the nation was not unified during the decade. Many rifts began to form in American society and economy. The 1920s were marked by discord among many Americans in the areas of immigration, religion, and with the issue of socialism, marked especially by the Red Scare.

The 1920’s were a decade filled with new inventions that not only improved society, but slung American societies into a whirlwind of social changes that defied almost everything they’d previously believed in. From the inventions of the television, automobiles, movies, the radio, and even drive in restaurants just to name a few, all paved the way for societies to interact more doing fun things, and people from all social classes would co mingle in these establishments and that was not typically heard of. “The Roaring 20’s” are referred to as such because the culture, social change, and inventions all combined to make for a booming era of newness people had never witnessed before.

The 1920s transformations greatly affected the American society. There was a dramatic social change and great economic growth in the 1920s that was made possible by the technological revolution. Productivity rose by more than sixty percent and the mass culture’s influence contributed to the progress and advancement of technology and goods. The 1920s was a time of culture wars and an age of incredible affluence and expansion of human rights. Although there were many aspects of this culture that broke away from the moral and manners of the Victorian era, in some ways this era was also traditional and conservative.

During the 1920s, there was a rise in economy of the United States. The people of the United States and its territories enjoyed a prosperous life, as the economy grew 7 percent per year between 1922 and 1927. In this period, also referred as “Roaring Twenties”, there was high economic growth with increase in the living standards of Americans.

The 1920s are constantly admired for dance crazes, innovative productions, and wild alcohol partying, while in contrast, it should be greatly noted for the destruction caused against women, minorities, and ultimately the entirety of America. The ‘20s gave us jazz, movies, making out in cars, illegal liquor…and gangsters, and lots of prejudice against immigrants, and eventually the worst economic crisis the US has even seen (The Roaring 20’s: Crash Course US History #32). Practically every movement intended to improve the nation underwent backfire, initiating great failure among the country. The 1920s were a period of economic high point and great literature changes, but the consistent battle of negative challenges proves the “Roaring Twenties”

During the twenties, the poor economic situation together with isolation created social issues in the country. As the 1920’s progressed, wages increased and people were more able to purchase