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The Roaring 20s
The 1920s was a time of prosperity. America was rich, consumer culture was through the roof. Inflation was at one of the lowest, and people took advantage of that. Many people became rich, spent their money carelessly on things like cars, booze, clothing, and parties. The youth lived their life to the fullest -
Prohibition
The begining of Prohibition. Many people became involved in illegal alcohol smuggling to get easy money. This law went against what is writen in the constution which is that Americans have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Since the sale of alcohol was illegal, people had to find other ways to obtain it and exercise their right to liberty. -
Womens Rights
The ratification of the 19th amendment was a big step in United States history. Women gained equality and earned the right to vote. Since women had more liberty, they began doing things like cutting their hair, wearing short skirts, smoking cigarettes and driving cars. These women were refered to as "flappers". This is an example of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness because women finally had the liberty they had been fighting for. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYR0qyE5mVM -
Post War Labor Tension
Following the war, inflation was a big problem. The price of food doubled, the price of clothing trippled, and the minimum wage plummeted so people had to work around 48 hour weeks. For those who came to America to seek a better life, they didn't find it during this time but shortly after the economy boomed and America was in its golden age. -
The Automobile
Between 1921 and 1925 the price of the automobile was cut 6 times because of Henry Fords invention of mass production and the assembly line. The cost per car (Fords) was only $290 which made the car affordable to an average family. At this time, a quarter of Americans owned cars. Many people who dreamed to have a car finally could afford one. At this point, the American Dream was coming true for many people.
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Racism
Black workers began leaving the south and took factory jobs in the north which made the whites angry. African-Americans didn't get the right to vote until 1965. White supremasist groups, like the KKK, were formed which aimed to establish whites as the dominant race. Blacks did not have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness because these groups prevented them from being free to act for the enjoyment of their life. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7hf6WdqT-4 -
Music
The sales of radios soared from $60 million to $426 million as 60% of American families purchased radios. Radios were used for night-time entertainment, radio stations broadcasted music, sporting events, political commentaries, market updates, newscasts and weather reports. The radio made it easier for news to travel around, it also made jazz music much more popular because during the 20s many younger people enjoyed jazz. -
The Lost Generation
The group of writters most commonly known as The Lost Generation, included Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and John Dos Passos. These authors wrote about the lost generation of that time, which were people who stopped believing that doing morally good things led to good things to happen in life. Fitzgerald published the Great Gatsby which is an accurate representation of that time. -
Downfall of Prohibition
Half a dozen states including New York, banned local police from investigting violations, prohibition had little support in the North East and Mid West. Alcohol was one of the biggest components of the roaring 20s. Young people and older people alike drank for recreation, at parties, and on a daily basis. They did this because they were allowed the right to life, which in consequence, allows them the right to pursue happiness, and in that time alcohol was happiness for people. -
New and Improved Automobile
Alfred Sloan introduces a new, flashier style of automobile. The automobile is now a symbol of wealth and status. Rich people owned really nice cars. In the Great Gatsby the automobile plays a huge role. A Ford was not enough for some people, they had to own the nicest, newest, most expensive car and all because they were pursuing the right to be happy. -
Moonshiners & Speakeasies
The number of moonshiners, bootleggers, and speakeasies is at an all time high. There is an estimated 30,000 illegal speakeasies, way more than there was before prohibition. The law couldn't stop the citizens from enjoying drinks and having a good time, so people found many ways to get around the law. -
Advertisments
Many companies and doctors began to hire psychologist to help create advertisments that appealed to the consumer. Five times more money was spent in 1929 for advertisments than in 1914. Since people strived to have a successful business, they invested more money in advertising it in hopes of gaining more clients/customers. -
The Great Depression
The big stock market crash of the 1920s. People had been living rich lifestyles, goods were cheap and money was abundant but after the stock market crash everything went down hill. Consumer spending and investment dropped, unemployment rates soared, The "American Dream" that every one had was shattered. This event marked the end of the Roaring 20s. Happiness for many people was far gone. -
Phonographs
Phonograph sales rose from 190,000 in 1923 to 5 million in 1929. The popularity of jazz, blues and "hillbilly music" fueled the phonograph boom. The 20s was the true golden age for jazz music, it was one of the most popular genres at the time. Although some people did not like jazz music because it was created by African Americans, others enjoyed dancing to it, dances like the Charleston and jitterbug were created. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJSdk44gWIE -
Prohibition
The 21st amendment was ratified which repealed prohibition. Many people claimed that prohibition resulted in evil consequences and that it created "lawlessness and official corruption". To this day people say that prohibition made alhol and drinking popular among the young and spawned organized crime and disrespect for the law. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CE4u6jI_rc
