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1920's Response To Modernity Research Paper

474 Words2 Pages

The 1920’s Response to Modernity The United States went through a lot of changes during the roaring twenties. Technology became more advance, transportation became easier with cheaper cars, and stock markets were rising. Due the vast changes, American culture in the 1920’s could be seen as a battleground of conflicting responses and reactions to modernity. One example of the changes from traditionalism to modernism was the advancement of technology. More and more people are moving into the city than living in the farmlife (class lecture). As for transportation, the introduction of the Model T in the automobile industry changed the way people traveled around the city. The Model T was cheaper and more affordable, which means the common people …show more content…

An example of that conflict of moving into modernism was the passing of the Eighteenth Amendment. “Implemented by the Volstead Act passed by Congress”, the Eighteenth Amendment legally prohibited alcohol from being sold and purchased (696). For many people, drinking beer was how they celebrate, whether it was for a holiday or after a long day of tiring work (class lecture). The prohibition of alcohol were opposed largely in the eastern cities, and many people ignored it (697). The prohibitionist “overlooked the tenacious American tradition of strong drink and of weak control by the central government, especially over private lives” (697). They did not account for the fact that they cannot take away something that has been done for ages, something that the authorities cannot take away from people holding it dear, or something that many people cherishes (697). Because many people ignored the prohibition, they just buy it off the hook, or illegally. Sure, crime rates from alcoholism and cirrhosis decreased because of the prohibition, but still Americans wanted their freedom to celebrate with the traditional alcohol they’ve always had

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1920’s DBQ The 1920’s were a period of tension between the traditionalists and modernists. The tension between these two groups was aroused by the economical advancements, social developments, and cultural changes in the 1920s. These tensions were manifested by the economic outburst and the passing of certain laws.

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Although this may be true, many other people do believe that the events occurring during the 1920’s changed American lives for the worst. This was due to the many racial and religious conflicts arising during this time. With every other concept becoming modern in the United States, modernists took this approach with religion as well. They believed that they could accept Darwin’s theory without sacrificing their religious faith.

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America changed its mind about alcohol, because during Prohibition crime was at an all-time high, law enforcement was at an all-time low, and America was suffering, economically.

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During the 1920s Americans were questioning whether to stick with the traditional views on life or go with the new modern views. The 1920s or the Roaring Twenties was a period in American history in which the economy grew massively, new inventions and ideas came about, and values were changing. Americans in the 1920s were divided by two very different viewpoints, traditional views like prohibiting alcoholic beverages in the United States and the belief in fundamentalism, however, the modern views of the new flapper and the theory of evolution were more appealing to Americans and would eventually transform American values because the ideas were new and it was an act of rebellion against their parents. Traditional Americans believed that

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How Traditionalism and Modernism Clashed Against the New Waves of the Roaring Twenties Among other nations, America remained intact following the Great War and its rampant pattern of destruction and economic hardships. America emerged to new levels of consumerism and prosperity, and with this prosperity, new modern industries emerge such as automobiles, tourism, and large-scale production; to the demise of traditional and now inefficient industries such as agriculture. Respectively, these new industries began to dominate cities and created vast amounts of jobs and wealth, a rise in cheaper consumer products such as the automobile, Americans began to be able to purchase more, go further, listen to the radio, and in general develop a wider reach of culture with several new means of receiving and submitting ideologies and ideas A major component of the new modern culture came with expressive work such as Hollywood, radio, and newspaper – creating the new city culture popping with flamboyant new-age women and the fast life that Hollywood portrayed; Modernists.

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The spark to challenge traditional values lit an undying flame that defined the decade. The 1920s was established as one of the greatest transition periods in the United States’ cultural history due to the shifts in societal norms, artistic expressions, and economic lifestyles. The change in gender roles, the impact of prohibition, and the cultural expressions exhibited created strong social tensions that acclaimed the decade’s symbolism. The increase of consumerism across the United States into the early 1920s allowed for a great economic flourish. Following the First World War, immigration and urbanization created a consumer-based society.

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The 1920s were the first years of the new, modern America, with a growing consumer society and new ideas and rules. America saw many changes throughout this decade, including but not limited to social, economic and political changes. Throughout this time, new values were made with the growth of new forms of entertainment and education. After the Progressive Era, the ideas of political figures changed with a new focus on conservative politics and less labor issues. With the new ability for people to buy other products than basic needs, their money went to new inventions, causing new industries to grow.

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Although there were numerous positives during this decade, there were still several negatives. Some of the primary conflicts of the 1920s were prohibition and nativism. Prohibition was a contradictory move made by the federal government to ban the manufacture, trade, and sale of alcohol, which would lead to many other benefits for domestic life. This move occurred as a result of the religious revivals of the 1820s and 30s that called alcohol a “national curse.”

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Prohibition in the United States was seen as a “Noble Experiment” by the Federal government as it was seen as a way to reduce or eradicate any case of crime as well as to improve the livelihoods of many Americans. However in the end you can't stop people who enjoy drinking alcohol on the daily. There were many reasons as to why prohibition came into effect notably having to do with housewifes and children as many of them were beaten and or killed with the death toll around 1000 per year although this is highly debated whether it was alcohol that caused these deaths or people's willingness to commit such atrocious acts, this led to many to protest alcoholic products which is why groups were formed the “Dries” which were well organized and the “Wets” who did not function and since the First World War was in effect and many breweries were German this boded well for the wets as they had an excuse as to why alcohol was bad and how the soldiers needed a better home when they returned.

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There was advancement in household items and more products started to receive more recognition by advertisement. Moreover, there were many social developments during the 1920s of America. After the war, men and women wanted to establish new ways of life. They left old traditions from past generations behind and questioned the customs of their parents and grandparents. For women, a change in clothing

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