The Culture of the 1920s in America Essay

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

The early twentieth century was undeniably one of the most exciting and momentous time frame in American history – especially the 1920s. During this eventful decade, the United States went through a series of changes and modifications; as the nation changed, the people also changed. There were also many positive feelings during this era and these feelings changed the way people thought and lived. The Roaring Twenties was a time period that revolutionized the United States because it brought radical changes to society and the daily lives of Americans.

The 1920 's were a time where North America became modernized. Whether it was the music, the culture or the growth in technology, this time era is known to most people as the point where America advanced itself to become a world renowned country. An advancement that will be focused on is the Ford Model T. During this time owning a car was a symbol of wealth. Henry Ford, the creator of the Model T, made a system that revolutionized the automobile industry as we know it today. Henry Ford made it possible for people with an average income to own a motor vehicle by creating the assembly line and the theory of mass production. "The horse, which had been the chief means of land transportation for 3,500 years, had given way to the automobile, and

Newspapers had once been the only mass communication & entertainment. The demand for new products that emerged in the 1920s created a new industry, advertising, which enticed buyers to purchase new products, and now that the radio had emerged, advertising was integrated into this media outlet . Radio shows like Amos n' Andy, became a nationwide hit. The advertising industry grew with the emerging industries of mass culture, especially radio and cinema. For the first time, from coast to coast, Americans experienced the same shows and used the same advertised products due to mass culture. The first commercial radio station aired in 1920 and broadcast music to a few thousand listeners. By the end of the decade, thirty-three

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 should be considered a time of prosperity in American history. America was introduced to new a modern identity. There was many cultural norms in the 1920’s. The decade also saw an economic boom, through new modern industries and the automotive age. The government went back to a hands off, “Laissez-Faire”, government. The government and politics were going for the return to normalcy type of outlook.

Many of the most trying and eye-opening experiences America had ever encountered took place during the years of 1919 and 1930; ranging from the end of the war to the stock market crash, the nation stayed together and developed many inventions and ideas that would drastically change the future of America. Most of the time when people speak about the 1920s they describe them as roaring. They have mental pictures that reflect women in flappers dancing with wine glasses filled to the brim in one hand and a lite cigarette in the other hand. They imagine men in expensive tuxedos buying lavish and luxury items such as cars and mansions. They think of works of literature such as The Great Gatsby that depict the 1920s as a place where people were free to do what they wanted when they wanted, whether it was legal or not. The twenties are considered a time where people had more money than they needed and they spent it accordingly. However, that is not the entire concept of the 1920s. The twenties were not just a time of over spending. They were a time of fear. People had never had nor seen this much money in circulation. They had especially not grown custom to witnessing people spend the money on items they did not need.

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.

The 1920's were times of cultural revolution. The times were changing in many different ways. Whenever the times change, there is a clash between the "old" and the "new" generations. The 1920's were no exception. In Dayton, Tennessee, 1925, a high school biology teacher was arrested. He was arrested because he taught the theory of evolution. The teacher, John T. Scopes, was accused of having violated the Butler Act. This was a Tennessee law that forbade the teaching of the theory of evolution in public schools. The Tennessee legislature felt that teaching evolution was wrong because it contradicted the creation theory of the Bible. The Scopes trial received worldwide publicity. The press nicknamed it the Monkey Trial

One significant person of the 1920s was Henry Ford. He was the inventor of the model T car and founder

The early 1900’s brought change to race, gender, and socioeconomic status through culture, industry, and more. Whether it be the new, lively art during the Harlem renaissance or unfair, racist Japanese internment camps, America saw change that brought both negative and positive impact to the lives of citizens. Initially, the 1920’s was an amazing time to be alive for everyone. However, this was not the case for farmers. Economy in the South declined so much that people left and selling crops was a nearly impossible task. Additionally, the Great Depression would become an obstacle for so many Americans. Ultimately, FDR’s new deal brought communities closer in a time of suffering.

American history has always fascinated the learners with interesting facts, and although history happened many years ago, but until today the American history is still a hot potato to talk about. And in all the periods that America went through, the 1920’s, which are known as the Roaring Twenties, were the first step of America to walk into the modern world like we know today. So, let’s go back in time for us to see the very beginning of the age of dramatic social and political changes in the United States of America.

The decade of the twenties has become known as “The Roaring Twenties,” “The Epoch of Confusion,” “The Age of Intolerance and Wonderful Nonsense,” “The Jazz Age,” amongst many others, all of which attempt to encompass the great times and good feelings of this decade that would influence modern America for many decades to come. Americans had more money to spend and more time for leisure in the hustle and bustle of cities like New York and Philadelphia. The economic boom, the changing roles of women, and the explosion of mass culture were all contributing factors to this time of “dramatic social and political change” (Staff).

Technology has been the focal point in both generations, establishing many revolutionary changes that altered the nation’s future ahead. The 1920’s were the beginning of a new age, originating the inventions of the television, the Ford Model T. automobile, the Jukebox, and many other essential items. The Model T. created by Henry Ford changed the whole aspect of transportation, providing Americans with the freedom to travel more at a much more affordable cost. The History.com Staff state in the article The Roaring 20’s that, “...the most important consumer product of the 1920s was the

The 1920s were an interesting decade to say the least. The end of the first world war in 1918 spurted social change all over the world, and the United States was not immune to these changes. During the World War the American people suffered an immense amount of emotional turmoil. The end of the war, coupled with the favorable outcome for the United States, shifted the American peoples energies. Especially those of the younger generations, from those of feeling uncertainty and fear to a joyous carpe diem mentality. This led to the emergence of the roaring 20s. The rise of the flapper, a consumer society, and jazz music all epitomized this decade. However, not everyone was on board with these social changes. Typically, the older generations