Brill1
The 1890s in America was a time of change for many Americans. Cities were starting to change rapidly due to industrial expansion and population growth.1 Many people felt the need to reinvent themselves to achieve a higher social status.2 This time period created a new generation of Americans who needed the instant gratification of material things without working for them.3 Through these actions, some Americans even began to discard traditional American mores and values that were once held so highly. Theodore Dreiser?s novel Sister Carrie is an example of the drastic changes happening in this time period. ?Sister Carrie from the beginning was discussed as a moral problem.?4 Dreiser?s first novel was almost ?consigned to limbo.?5 Society could not accept a novel that disobeyed the social values, mores, and rules of the 1890s.6 Also, society did not believe that the plot was realistic to the time period.7 This novel shows ??The division between the haves and the have nots of the country has come to seem particularly stark, and when traditional American mores governing the meanings and the purposes of wealth have largely eroded.?8 As the reader sees the development of American society in Theodore Dreiser?s Sister Carrie, there is a constant rejection of American mores and values by Carrie and those around her. In the novel Sister Carrie, material things and money are held extremely high. From the beginning of the novel we see Carrie begin to hold them up
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
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
The 1920s was a major turning point in American history. Known as “the roaring twenties”, the citizens of the United States enjoyed the new found wealth from the economic turnaround. The United States’ wealth more than doubled as the nation turned into a consumer society. Not all Americans were fond of the changes in society, and not all of the changes were good.
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 Gilded Age, also known as American urbanization, led to many employment opportunities, advances in transportation and sanitation, which improved overall standard of living. All advancements that took place in The Gilded Age still effect American life today. The rapid development of the cities in the 19th century served as both a separation and togetherness factor in American political, economic and social life. Cities in the area created a wealthy cross-section of the world’s population, making the cities a diverse, metropolitan area, drawing a lot of attention to the social classes of the people surrounding. At the same time, cities drove people from completely different backgrounds to live and work together, creating unity. The never-ending inundation of immigrants from different countries including, Britain, Germany, and Mexico, created a diverse population united by sharing their determination for financial wealth, social oppression and the American Dream. As the 19th century came to an end, how did the explosion of civilization contradictorily make Americans more similar and more diverse simultaneously?
In the late 1800's, American society began to burst with cultural activity. After the Civil War and the Reconstruction, Americans were eager to return to their normal lifestyles. The period that followed, however, was quite different from what the country was used to. During the war, many pushed hard for a rise in industry, leading to an explosive industrial revolution far beyond what people had expected. America's business and economy had boomed, and, as the new century approached, many had a new outlook on life. They were eager to escape the dull regiments of both the past Victorian era and the new urban lifestyle. This was easy for the upper and middle classes, both of which were growing due to the rapid increase in industry. It
During this time America saw some of its most rapid increase of immigration and population, not to mention westward expansion. Between 1880 and 1900 many cities grew in the hundreds of thousands, making work, shelter, and life a little more competitive. Much of this was
The 1800s to 1820s, America was still in its growing phase; it had gained independence only 25 years prior and was already becoming a great nation filled with proud, hard working men. Arts, architecture, business, and books were all a large part of society. Eighty percent of the population was farmers and the import of slaves to America was banned. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison had each been elected as President, in a government that was beginning to build a nation. “During this decade we were once again at war with England, in the War of 1812” (Sutton, 2008). Colleges were for the privileged, “The cost of education at Harvard was $300 a year” (Sutton, 2008). Slavery was still ramped in America and women had no
The era was crammed with corruption, but the years between 1877 and 1900 were also some of the most momentous and dynamic in American history. They set in motion developments that would shape the country for generations, the reunification of the South and north, the integration of four million newly freed African Americans, westward expansion through railroads, immigration, industrialization, urbanization. It was also a period of reform, in
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.
Between 1865 and 1900, many people looked at United States as a country where individual economic opportunities, social equality and political democracy reigned supreme. One cannot say that this people were entirely right or wrong. To some extent, they were right by from different perspectives, the same cannot be said. However, one thing that is for sure is the economic opportunities that were available during this period. All the three aspects, individual economic opportunities, social equality and political democracy were present, although not to everyone.
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.
Life in the 1800s has taken on an almost idealistic quality in the minds of many Americans. The images linked to this era of our history are, on the surface, pleasurable to recall: one room school houses; severe self-reliance; steam-powered railroads and individual freedom.
There were many aspects of the American life during the 19th century that have changed significantly from the times beforehand. Whether it be from economic policies, religious ideals, or political platforms, there were so many changes being made,