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The 1960s Of The 1920s Essay

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The 1920s were a time of optimism for many Americans. Most remember the era as the “Roaring Twenties”, a term that calls up images of listening to jazz in Harlem Nightclubs, happy people dancing the famous Charleston, or people piling into inexpensive Model T Fords for joy rides around the city. People enjoyed the rapid advances in medicine, a thriving economy, and many technological conveniences in their lives. However, despite all of the bright spots during the 1920s there were several dark spots as well. The dark spots were a result of conflicting parties either promoting change or resisting change. Prohibition was one of the most infamous legislation passed during the 1920s. Many political groups started a movement to ban alcohol prior to the 20th century. Progressives and traditionalist supported prohibition. Women played a strong role in the temperance movement, as alcohol was seen as a destructive force in families and marriages. In 1906, a new wave of attacks began on the sale of liquor, led by the Anti-Saloon League and driven by a reaction to urban growth, as well as the rise of evangelical Protestantism and its view of salon culture as corrupt and ungodly. In addition, many factory owners supported prohibition in their desire to prevent accidents and increase the efficiency of their workers in an era of increased industrial production and extended working hours. They believed that a ban on alcohol would help reduce unemployment, domestic violence, and poverty.

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