The 1920s was one of the most influential decades in American history. To determine this we must analyze various events. America had finally become a world power after World War I. Cultural values had completely shifted in the 1920s due to America finally being released from 19th century ideals, this includes more people living in urban areas than rural, rapid advances in technology and transportation, mass communication and entertainment all over the country, and promotion of very controversial ideas prior to the 1920s, such as prohibition. All of these events and ideas compiled together created what we know today as the Roaring 20s. We know that the 1920s was one of the most influential decades in the history of the United States, because of the rapid social changes, cultural conflicts, and …show more content…
The first major event of the 1920s was the rapid social change. New ideas were being spread all around America faster than ever before. Radios greatly contributed to this, as they were the first way to broadcast to a majority of the country at one time. In the United States alone by the end of the 1920s there were over 100 million radios in use. Communication and entertainment access was allowed for the first time. By the middle of the decade, 50 million people a week went to the movies. This modernity allowed for people to hear and be influenced by the same sources. People also lived closer together, for the first time in American history more people lived in urban areas than rural. People moved to urban areas in search of job opportunities, higher living standards, and better living conditions. Another social change is women's influence in society. In the year 1920 women finally gained the right to vote. This was a huge landmark for all women, and women's rights groups such as The National Woman's Suffrage Association. Women finally felt they were moving up in society. They realized they could pursue a family and a career at the same time. Advertising
People were making more money than ever before that it gave them extra money and extra time. Due to all the extra money and time they had more time to do as they please. Society now had time to use to learn new skills and pass the time doing things they enjoy. They were now learning how to sing or play an instrument, writing poetry and books, women were becoming active in fighting for equal rights. People were even going out and participating in illegal activity.
The Roaring Twenties arose with new trends, new technology, and a new morality. With wars finally and completely over, it was time for Americans to have some fun and let all the tension go. The women were able to free some of their restrictions with the ability to drink, vote, and have their own reputation. Also, Americans released the stress through using new technology, such as cars, airplanes, and radios. The Twenties finished with a screeching halt as the growth in the economy collapsed and the Great Depression into the next decade.
Timeline- 20 events 1920- The radio became popular: It becomes a news source and an entertainment source. 1920- 19th amendment was passed: The 19th amendment has now passed and women now have the right to vote for their country 1920-
As the 1920s in America passed, many important and life-changing events occurred throughout the brief ten years. The first major event was on August 18, 1920, when Amendment XIX was added to the United States Constitution. This Amendment permits any U.S. citizen to vote, and forbids the denial of the right to vote on the basis of sex. The nineteenth amendment, overruling the fourteenth amendment, gave women the right to vote. Having passed this amendment, women now had more political freedom and power in the US.
Major Events Of The Roaring 20s The 1920s were often called the “Roaring 20s” or the “Jazz Age”. The 20s were known as a decade of prosperity, wildness, jazz bands, bootleggers, raccoon coats, bathtub gin, flappers, and marathon dancers. The 20s were also famous for flooding an economy creating an era of mass consumerism.
When analyzing the 1920s three things may come to mind. The idea of the roaring 20s being the greatest time to be alive or prohibition or you might even think about the women's suffrage movement. All three of these ideas shaped the rest of the 20th century. In 1920 both probation and the right to women to vote were passed. Probation or the ban on alcohol saw the rise of government control on private matters regarding the American people, something we will see more in the 1930s and 40s.
The 1920s in America was a decade of great contrasts. It was a time of unprecedented cultural growth and advancement, but it was also marked by growing social unrest. Many Americans were looking forward to a new and exciting future, while just as many were longing for a return to the past. This essay will argue that the 1920s was an era defined by both economic and cultural prosperity and advancement. The prosperity of the 1920s was a period of economic growth, technological innovation, and cultural advancements.
After World War 1, the 1920s was a time where America should have replenished its economical and societal assets, and in some ways they did. America transformed in many ways. Pop culture was altered, they raised their economy, and made big decisions regarding immigration. While all the developments might not have been beneficial, they were definitely significant. The 1920s was a transformative time for America, whereupon the economy, immigration, and pop culture changed.
The 1920s were an exciting time of change and economic prosperity, as the recession at the end of The Great War was replaced by an unprecedented time of financial growth. The stock market soared to unbelievable heights, buoyed by a new industrial revolution. Which saw the development of new inventions and technologies that changed America drastically. For example, industry leader Henry Ford developed the assembly line, which enabled mass production of the new automobile an invention that changed the nation more than anything else during this time. This was an era many more wonders as well, such as the airplane, radio, and motion picture.
The 1920s were a dynamic decade in the American society. Many events have occurred that have shaped American culture ‘til this very day. When soldiers came back from World War 1 they had to settle back into their lifestyles in a country that is now changed forever. African Americans had moved up north, women found a new sense of independence and freedom, and the rest of the country was still struck in fear about the rise of communism. The 1920s was also known to birth the music genre, jazz, which became an entire movement in itself.
After World War I, people in the 1920s had money to spend, which helped the entertainment industry to rise. Radio introduced music to society as well as the famous singers became easily known with it. Plays and movies also became popular. Movies had no sound at first, until 1927 when the first film with sound came out. Newspapers mainly informed about celebrities and their works.
The era of the 1920s in America is debated over and talked about by many people throughout the world, and for many decades. Barry Hankins in his book Jesus and Gin describes this era as a period of “culture war” in America. “The 1920s saw a culture war between those who believed that community values preceded individual rights and those who believed that individuals had rights that the community could not violate.” These culture wars consisted of political scandal, prohibition, and religious controversies, including norms on what to teach children in schools. “Scandal was part of what made the 1920s roar…” This quote is certainly true for that era, especially with president Warren Harding.
The 1920s carried much change in society. Some of these changes were more rights for women, jazz music, and prohibition. The people of the 1920s were disillusioned by society lacking in idealism and vision, sense of personal alienation, and Americans were obsessed with materialism and outmoded moral values (The Roaring Twenties).Cultural changes were strongly influenced by the destruction of World War I ending 1918. America needed to recover and with it youth rebelled against the norms of the older generations.
The 1920s were an era of change and growth for the United States. The
Once the 19th amendment was passed, women were able to have the right to vote. Career opportunities were formed for women. Even though women took place in the jobs that men usually did, once the troops came back from war, those men got their jobs back and women were left with nothing. Women in the 1920s were not domesticated with family life roles, instead, they pursued their own careers. Education was another important social factor of the 1920s.