The 1920's Society And Culture

The 1920’s were a booming time for the United States. Massive change was occurring and this led to a lot of new types of conflict about different reasons than ever before. The war had just ended and with that started a new era of people who unlike before had different morals. This was one of the biggest conflicts of the time. During the 1920’s the biggest cause of conflict were the old generations vs. the new generations because of the rapidly changing morals and the new ideas being accepted by society. This also led to a lot of changes in the United States as a whole with the result of us being more open to new ideas and new freedoms. There were some major reasons for some conflict in the United States during this time and they all were connected to the idea of old vs. new.

The 1920s is notorious for being a good time, with its reputation of being full of fun parties and extravagant living. Those wealthy enough were able to enjoy that along with all the other changes in American culture. In the 1920s the use of installment buying, credit, and stock market investments became a typical part of life. Technology that improved home life, like vacuums and radio, were desired, and these shifts in culture added to the stigma that good times would continue forever. The American people were not aware that common habits in the 1920s would lead to the Great Depression in the 1930s, during which unemployment reached over 25%, the economy struggled, and the fun times ended. The Great Depression was caused by experts that encouraged

The Jazz Age which is also referred to as the Roaring Twenties began after World War I took place and lasted until 1929, when the Great Depression began. The 1920s opened up a world of change to Americans; some did not approve and others, especially those in the big cities, celebrated with music and dance every day. There were numerous inventions that were being created throughout the 1920s and because of nationwide advertisement; people all over America were able to buy all the same stuff as one another. But unfortunately, times were different for those that lived in Colorado.

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 were a period of tension between new and changing attitudes on one hand and traditional values and nostalgia on the other. Following WWI it was a transitional time period to modernization, and the old America was being forgotten. From the old and new to urban and rural, generations were feuding over the advancement of American Society. To a great extent social, economic, and cultural changes affected the leading tensions between the old and the new and was manifested greatly by those. Although political changes are usually the cause of disagreements, the tensions in the 1920’s were manifested by social, economic, and cultural changes.

The Roaring Twenties started in North America and spread to Europe as the effects of World War I diminished. In Europe, the years following the First World War (1919-1923) were marked by a deep recession. Europe spent these years in rebuilding and coming to terms with the vast human cost of the conflict. Unlike in the aftermath of World War II, the United States did little to try to rebuild Europe. Instead, it took an increasingly isolationist stance (Answers, 2006).

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.

The counter culture of the 1920’s has affected the way the American lifestyle is today. Counter culture is a culture that primarily consists of younger people, with values and lifestyles opposing those of the original established culture. (Dictionary.com) A need for change. The 1920’s are also known as the “Jazz Age,” which was coined by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and the “Roaring Twenties.” It was a decade of change. (Hakim, 41) The counterculture of the 1920’s resulted from the Age of Jazz, Flappers, and the Harlem Renaissance.

In the 1920’s American Society was a decade of exciting social changes and profound cultural conflicts. In the other way, the 1920’s also called “The Roaring Twenties” is because after the World War I, the economic growth were increasing more than double than before in the social life of the United States. Moreover, many companies grew larger and many new jobs opportunities created by the government with the high wages, so that the American had enough money to buy the new good stuff. When the Americans were getting the high wages, the government limited the immigration to come into the United States. At the same time, the African Americans were segregated by the white people such as Jim Crows’ Law.

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.

Many consider the 1920s as a sexual revolution, both men and women began to embrace their sexuality. Women in particular began to dress more provocatively and proclaimed their new freedom as flappers. They danced to jazz, kissed in public, and some even wore one piece bathing suits (Doc A). This was the beginning of the feminist movement, some women were beginning to realize that they should have the same rights as men and some even went as far as to demand in (Doc B). This was also the era where women received the right to vote with the establishment of the nineteenth amendment, which gave some women the push to speak

The Roaing Twenties was a time of greatness while the Harlem Renaisance was a boom throughtout the United States for African Americans. Many jobs came as the industries increased and the rich were getting too much money, but when the thirties came around the United States went into a terrible place, offering little hope. For example, families lived in single-bedroom dwellings, people were on the streets, and kids worked in the factories. As a result, the short stories of the Modern Era by Fitzgerald, Welty, Steinbeck, O’Connor, Porter and a poem by Frost all show the good times and the very tough times of these decades.

To live in the 1920’s was like living in a seemingly eternal jazz club. This world was full of people making something of themselves through fashion and dancing. From “parking your girdle” so that you have the ability to do the Charleston dance, to short skirts and even shorter haircuts, and men playing jazz music in the Cotton Club every night, the 1920’s was a time of youthful celebration and exotically inspired dress. What the individuals that lived in the 1920’s didn’t realize was that they would have a major influence in our world today. If there was no dancing, no mini skirts, and no jazz music, our world would be tasteless and lacking culture.

America experienced a cultural rise and shift during the nineteen twenties fueled by the spread of transformational new technologies such as the automobiles, radios, movies, electrical appliances, sports, and music (pgs.783-784). This may have signaled a “New Era” of improvement for American living; however, some would say it was a reshaping of American culture (pg.784). Although, economically things were booming, things were not necessarily for the moral fabric of America. The 1920s became a “revolution in manners and morals.” The economy was witnessing a revolutionary change with the onset of new technological advancements in the way people were living.

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.