The roaring 20’s in America
The 1920s were an age of tremendous political and social change. It is worth noting that the Roaring Twenties refer to 1920s in Western culture and Western society. It was an era that was characterized by numerous changes. It was named in numerous ways based on the changes that occurred. Some of the names included the age of intolerance, age of wonderful nonsense and Jazz age. The era was characterized by unprecedented affluence and best remembered for the new mass-consumption economy and cultural artifacts (Streissguth, 2017). By the end of the First World War, the United States of America was viewed as the richest and powerful country in the world. The Economy of the United States was booming, and people were sharing in tremendous prosperity.
The roaring twenties in America was a period where many jobs were secured. It meant that family members could afford to pay their bills and had more money to spend. Also, people in America have more leisure and the entertainment industry. The stock market in America minted millionaires (Mortlock, & Murray, 2018). Young Americans rejected traditional society more and embraced a modern culture that was full of freedom. Analytically, young Americans danced provocatively and drunk illegally. The roaring twenties ushered the modern national lifestyle. Americans came to focus on leisure at the expense of hard work.
Culture clashes took place during the 1920s. The flappers with their short skirts and bobbed hair were scandalous with the roaring twenties. Young city dwellers began to embrace change and the older people focused on a simpler time. Prohibition exhibited a clash between the old and the new generation. It is because some of the freedoms were curtailed, while others were expanded (Mortlock, & Murray, 2018). In 1919, the constitution banned the sale and manufacture of intoxicating liquors. In the 1920s, Federal Volstead Act closed bar, tavern, and saloon in America. People began to visit illegal speakeasies, where it was controlled by racketeers, organized crime groups and bootleggers. The middle-class whites in America viewed prohibition as a strategy to control immigrant masses from the cities.
Roaring 20s was an era characterized by the Jazz Age. Young people wanted to dance and have fun. Also, during the era, the youth had cars, which enabled them to go freely to places they are pleased. The jazz bands played music at the dance halls in Chicago and New York. Radio stations played jazz music across the nation (Streissguth, 2017). The older generation objected to jazz music depravity and vulgarity. In the same note, films were created across the country. It is estimated that during the period the movies became a multi-million business. Cinemas were first to recognize the sex sells.
The rise of consumerism took place during the roaring twenties. The national culture developed in America during the advances into World War I. The military need for exact uniforms led to the manufacturing of ready-to-wear clothes and new electronic appliances (Mortlock, & Murray, 2018). Women began to have more leisure time because of the development of washing machines. The mass production led to a decrease in the price of consumer goods.
During the roaring 20s, women received less pay compared to men for the same job performed by men (Ryan, 2018). Employment of women increased during the era because of their cheap labor. Before the roaring 20s, women wore respectable clothes and were polite. Women during 1920s wanted to enjoy the economic boom.
In the general perspective, roaring twenties was a period of freedom and an opportunity for individuals to express their thoughts. Companies focused on making profits and creating more jobs. Also, several starts in the movies and music industry were brought out.
References
Mortlock, M., & Murray, J. (2018). What were the roaring twenties?. New York: Penguin.
Ryan, E. J. (2018). When the world broke in two: The roaring twenties and the dawn of America's culture wars. Santa Barbara, California: Praeger.
Streissguth, T. (2017). The roaring twenties. New York, NY: Wiley.
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