America of the 1920s was that of a country that had emerged successfully and wealthy from the first biggest war the world had ever seen. Their economy had become rich making and selling war time goods, ands the country was booming. The factory’s that had been the backbone of the war effort became the backbone of the new commercial America. Instead of war goods such as guns and ammunition things such as cars and kitchen convenience appliances were produced. America modernized overnight, the appearance of jazz, electricity, film and a new independence for women as they were granted the right to vote. The common people started moving away from the traditional ways of their ancestors and began to want more than just a farm and a small town. …show more content…
Then picking it all up again they would move it to another corner, while singing “ we aint got no money for rent, so we move. Then we got the sheriff on us, so we move again” As unemployment climbed and income fell, men took to walking the streets in their best clothes in hope of finding a job, Traditional roles within the family changed. Men were no longer the main bread winners if bread winners at all. They had to begin to rely on their wives and children to help make ends meet. Many did not take this loss of power well feeling as if they had lost their masculinity. Men stopped looking for work, paralyzed by the lack of hope and self-respect. Some became so frustrated that they walked out on their family or took to drinking. However this was also a time of a new togetherness of people. Divorce became unheard of as it was too expensive. Children would take up jobs after school if they went and girls would help with the housework when their mothers went to work. . “I believe a strong woman may be stronger than a man, particularly is she happens to have love in heart. I guess a loving women is indestructible” - John Steinbeck, Grapes of