Essay On The 1920s

The 1920s were a time of great prosperity and revitalization. This decade gave way to many great social milestones for every class of people. From the limits for immigration to the boom of the auto industry American society was drastically altered. Issues such as foreign immigration,prohibition, the Ku Klux Klan ,evolution, women’s roles, and race were the focus of the populus and drove politics within the nation. Art played a major role in how the black community expressed their new found sense of culture. Painting has always been a way for someone to portrait their ideas.

The 1920s was described as “the roaring twenties”, where life was great for every American. But with an increase in economic prosperity in America in the 1920s, numerous social conflicts also arose, including organized crime due to prohibition laws, racism, and the fight between Fundamentalism and Modernism. Many things were introduced in the 1920s, such as jazz, prohibition, and mass production. Even though it benefited some, it didn’t benefit all. People like African Americans wanted equality and slowly rose up to meet it.

The 1920s were an exciting and fascinating time in American history. An old Victorian nation had transformed into a vibrant, modernized America. Often called “The Roaring Twenties”, this time featured the famous slicked back hair, vibrant Flappers, and of course, marathon dances. From inflated economics to unprecedented invention, forces collided to produce the most explosive decade of the century.

During the 1920s, there was a massive increase in the post-war economy, and with it came luxuries and technologies that many Americans had never seen before. The changing cultural climate brought with it drastic changes in the ideals and morals of the youth because they had become disillusioned with their parents' morals and lifestyles following World War 1. Interestingly, the disillusionment that the youth of America felt towards their parents' way of living brought about the first real generation gap. History remembers the time of this generation gap as the Jazz Age, and its culture quickly became enamored with the idea of being young and living for today.

The 1920s also brought American women increased personal and sexual freedoms. As the United States steadily urbanized—for the first time more than half of all Americans lived in cities—women could escape the yoke of parental control or repressive marriage by moving into

The 1920s were a time of change for the United States. Following the First World War there was a rush of new cultural, social, and artistic dynamism, partly fuelled by the Progressivism movement that was cut short when American entered the Great War. This decade was defined by a change from more rural farm life to industrialism in big cities. The shift from the frugality and traditional family values or previous generations to the happy-go-lucky consumerism and metropolitan life occurred more rapidly than any other social shift in living memory. These swiftly changing tides caused cultural clashes and confrontations throughout the decade as America struggled to define for itself a fresh national

The 1920s were an age of dramatic social and political change. For the first time, more Americans lived in cities than on farms. The nation’s total wealth more than doubled between 1920 and 1929, and this economic growth swept many Americans into an affluent but unfamiliar “consumer society.” People from coast to coast bought the same goods (thanks to nationwide advertising and the spread of chain stores), listened to the same music, did the same dances and even used the same slang. Many Americans were uncomfortable with this new, urban, sometimes racy “mass culture”; in fact, for many–even most–people in the United States, the 1920s brought more conflict than celebration. However, for a small handful of young people in the nation’s big

One significant social change of the 1920s was the social status and behavior of women. For example, as seen in Document 6, the women of the 1920s drastically changed their attire from full length dresses that covered most of their bodies to shorter dresses that came up to or above the knee. They also began showing their arms and chest. Their demeanors also changed, in that they were becoming much more vocal about their opinions and thoughts. For example, Document 5 explains the political changes that resulted from the outspokenness of many women. They gained the right to vote in 1920 and continued to lobby for laws and rights that would benefit women and children. The women were asking for equal rights and treatment, and were also gaining the right to serve on juries and hold public office. In addition, women were becoming organized in

Progressivism, flappers and the Harlem Renaissance are all points that underlie a theme of the 1920s and the air was optimistic. A euphoric desire for to indulge the individual had become more normal throughout the country during the 1920’s. Social groups started to express themselves outside of the prescribed norms and certain lines began to blur between stereotypes and divides.

Many changes occurred in the 1920’s. It was a time of economic, political and social growth. Because of this the 1920’s was referred to as the “Roaring Twenties.” During this time more people started living in the city instead of on farms. The nation’s wealth more than doubled causing Americans to join the “Consumer Society.” People all over began buying the same goods, listening to the same music and danced the same dances.

The 1920’s, known as the Roaring Twenties, was a luxuriant decade characterized by technological advancement, economic affluence, unprecedented leisure opportunities, and consumerism. Urbanization and innovation shifted traditional values of rural societies to a new way of life. Availability of white collared occupations increased the replacement of blue collared jobs. Women achieved social transformations while experiencing their new sense of freedom. Contrary to the Roaring Twenties flourishing era, the prosperous period was also labeled as being a time of anxiety. This age obtained the frantic reputation due to the effects of the prohibition, a cultural civil war, and lack of government regulation.

The social trend in the United States has always been what social class one stands in, and how much more money one has over another. In the time period of the 1920s, wealth was everything. Before the crash of the stock market in 1929, the economy was thriving. With a thriving economy came a numerous amount of wealthy people, and the wealthy individuals did not stop drinking due to the social trend. The social trend in the 1920s was being rich and superior, which made those with money feel the need to drink (Hill 47). Also, a man named Thorstein Veblen once stated that alcohol represents “the superior status of those who could afford the indulgence” (Hill 47). Nevertheless, with wealth and alcohol fitting the social normality and trend, parties

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.

The Roaring Twenties became an uproar after World War 1 had ended. During that time, many people became aware of health and nutrients. Food companies began to market their own food products. Wages rose, unemployment declined, and business started booming. Prohibition became a major deal. The younger generation were adjusting to the new changes coming up around them. Women earned the right to vote in 1920. The 1920’s saw a recoil of social, and political reform. The economy created a stable environment for Americans in day-to-day social life. Americans had more money to spend and they spent it in home appliances, radios, and even brought cars. The Ford Model T was an affordable car for everyone in the 1920s and by the end of the 1920s, almost every American had one. The cars gave people so much freedom to go where ever they wanted to go. More people lived in the city than on the outskirts of the city. It seems like after the war, people just forgot all about it and was more worried about the latest trends that were out. Soldiers returned from war with ideas rolling through their heads and enjoy life. The soldiers were willing to try new traditions instead of sticking to the old ones. “It wasn’t party time for everyone in America, the Roaring 20s merits its General reputation as an era of sweeping social change and rising prosperity”, The Decade That Roared. The 19th amendment allowed women earned the right to vote. During this era, the men would just show up to a woman’s door without parental permission or supervision. Women, in fact, started to smoke cigarettes in public not caring what anyone would think. Cigarette production alone doubled in the United States between 1918 and 1928. Lipstick was being worn, high fragrance perfumes, shorter skirts, and short hair. This was the new trademark of the 1920’s. women began to drink alcohol in public with the men, dance the new dances, and were sexually enlightened. During the 1920’s, women were referred to as “flappers”; these were the women who went against tradition and not depending on anyone else. In the article The Original “It” Girl it states that” Flappers tended to go to high school and even college and played sports and read books.” Hats became a big