Research Paper On The Roaring Of The 1920s

After World War 1, America had to demobilize and revert back to a peace time economy. During the 1920’s, it was viewed as a prosperous economy since there was a new labor force due to demobilization, new inventions, and a new infrastructure. Also moral spirits were high since America along with the Allied Powers defeated Germany and the Great War was finally over. However, America began making many economic policies and decisions that will eventually lead up to the Great Depression.

The 1920’s was a very upbeat and interesting decade. People know it as the “Roaring Twenties”, or “The Jazz Age.” It was the time of Prohibition, the introduction to jazz music, and partying. Prohibition was the illegal production and distribution of alcohol. Many people were against drinking, but there were still the many that enjoyed a drink once in a while. Bootleggers were people who illegally sold and produced alcohol so other people could enjoy it in secret. People went to speakeasies, which were secret hidden bars that sold alcohol they got from the bootleggers. Young women began rebelling by cutting their hair short, wearing dresses

The style and cut of women's clothing during the 1920's changed drastically. Waistlines dropped dramatically while hemlines rose scandalously. Turned-down hose were no longer black, but beige. Rouged knees, bobbed hair, and figureless figures characterized the "radical flappers". These women violated many of the rules dictating appropriate clothing and behavior for women. 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.

The 1920’s fashion was a period of liberation, change, and even more importantly a movement towards the modern era. Fashion in the 1920’s varied throughout the decade but one could see the noticeable change from the previous fashion statements and eras. At the start of the decade, women began emancipating themselves from the constricting fashions by wearing more comfortable apparel. As women gained more rights and World War I forced them to become more independent, flappers came to be, mass-produced garments became available, and artistic movements increased in popularity, one can see how the fashions from the roaring twenties characterized the time and redefined womanhood. (1920s clothing 1)

F. Scott Fitzgerald once stated,“The parties were bigger, the pace was faster, the shows were broader, the buildings were higher, the morals were looser, and the liquor was cheaper” (“30 Famous The Great Gatsby Quotes”). The time after the war known as the Roaring Twenties harbored change for not only the economy but for the people also. Credit materialized, becoming available for citizens to use on new products such as the vacuum cleaner and the washing machine which allotted more time for the people to have to themselves. The 1920s, a time of celebration and prosperity, eventually ended as a result of a sudden economic crash, because of the effects from the times.

There is a controversial debate about the 1920s, whether it was “roaring” or whether is was destitute. In the perspective of some historians, the 1920s brought a rapid increase in urbanization and boom in the economy, however, these historians fail to see the evident terrors that the 1920s brought. The positive uproar on the 1920s did not stand a chance against the rising negative roar of residential schools, the Stock Market Crash, and credit debt. Due to these tragic events, 1920s was brought a dark and negative atmosphere rather than one of contentment.

The Roaring Twenties of America, which was from 1920-1929, saw a great social and economic prosperity. People were happy, and were celebrating the victory of World War 1. The gasoline price was lowered, right to vote for women was granted, and America was climbing towards a great success. In 1929, Herbert Hoover became the president of the United States of America, and he said, “ Given a chance to go forward with the policies of the last eight years, we shall soon with the help of God be in sight of the day when poverty will be banished from this nation”(Roark, Pg. 703). After few months of his inauguration, his words contradicted, the Roaring Twenties halted. During the Roaring Twenties, the stock market prices increased steeply. The rapid

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 1920s, also known as the “Roaring Twenties”, was a time period of great prosperity. During the 1920s, major changes occurred. The Twenties marked the start of a new lifestyle for the world, in which styles such as appearances were different, the system of money changed, and things were viewed much differently than they were in past generations. There was a major shift in living conditions when people went from living in rural areas to urban areas, in which the “big city” became the center of affairs. Although the 1920s were a new and exciting time period, they caused much conflict for the people of past generations who were not used to this great change.

Although the roaring twenties are usually thought of as a time of universal prosperity, the reality is that unless one was Caucasian and well-to-do, society tended to shun the outliers (women, minorities, etc), propelling them out of political affairs and social scenes. Women rebelled, becoming increasingly promiscuous as the decade wore on. In 1920, it would have been unheard of to show an ankle, sport a bob haircut, or darken one’s eyes with what seemed like paint. By 1928, the younger generation was revealed as socially progressive, engaging in previously unthinkable behavior such as smoking, drinking in bars, and sex. Flappers became prevalent, with their flouncy skirts and short hair adorned with a jeweled headband. The decade earned its second nickname, “The Jazz Age”, from the incredible musical talents that emerged out of Harlem and other areas of the United States, leading to a less “restrained” entertainment.

The twenties saw tons of changes in mindset and showed everyone in the world that nothing was impossible if you put your mind to it. Seemingly impossible feats were accomplished in the twenties like the first ever liquid fueled rocket launch and the invention of a miracle drug. But those were not the only things that were happening then. Fashion was changing, it was more acceptable for women to show skin. Rules changed, the 18th amendment made the drinking of beer illegal, sparking the widespread desire to do just that. And the movie world was flipped upside down, leaving the first ever cartoon synchronised with sound. All of these changes had big

In American History, the 1920s was an emerging decade that consisted of the women suffrage, government corruption, and the Great Migration. Known as the “Roaring Twenties”, America would begin a series of cultural advancements for men, women, and African-Americans from the monopolies in the industry to women gaining the right to vote, Africa-Americans migrating through the states, and prohibition. Despite the fact that America was prosperous in certain areas such as woman getting the right to vote and the economy staying on track for a while, they were misleading when it came to certain events such as the oligopoly and African-Americans being treated as second class citizens with segregation being “separate but equal”.

The Roaring 20s were characterized by jazz music, alcohol, and big city living. However, underneath the veneer of loud music and parties, people living in rural areas felt threatened by the “modern” way of life, leading to backlash on both sides. Urban-rural culture wars that rocked the nation throughout the 1920s were often fought over issues of racism, alcoholism, and materialism. Racism was rampant in the 1920s, and is mainly seen through the acts of the Ku Klux Klan. Alcoholism was highly contested in the 1920s, due to abuse and violence that occurred because of drunkenness.

Sauro, Clare. "Flappers." Encyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion. Ed. Valerie Steele. Vol. 2. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2005. 88-89. World History in Context. Web. 16 Nov.