Harlem Renaissance Dbq

The 1920s was a time of great change. From fashion to politics, this period is known as one of the most explosive decades in American history. After WWI, America became one of the world’s most formidable superpowers. The rise to power prompted the 1920s to become a decade of evolution for women’s rights, African American’s rights, and consumerism.

In the early twentieth century, women’s status in society was continuously evolving. Women began to defy societal rules and expectations. They showed more skin, drank alcohol, and smoked cigarettes (Document E). These types of activities were considered scandalous at the time, but only then could they be done as a sign of protest. After WWI, women became more integrated into the workforce and

The 1920s paved the way for many developments in African American culture and resolutions to their challenges. Consequently, out of the 1920s, the Harlem Renaissance was born. The Harlem Renaissance was a reawakening of African American culture throughout the decade. During this period, an explosion of art and music, particularly jazz, advanced the perception of African American culture and people (Document H). Additionally, the Great Migration made a better life possible for African Americans. During and after WWI, African Americans moved north to evade the rampant racism and discrimination in the south and to seize opportunities for jobs and new land (Document G). White Americans, their oppressors, began to see African Americans as humans because of their supposedly new culture and aspirations. While they weren’t viewed as equal, it was still a start. As expected, when juxtaposing the racial climate of the 1920s and 1998, there is a great disparity. In the late 90s, a time also known for great societal change, African Americans had been given the same rights as white Americans, but not quite the same societal status. The discrimination was to a much lesser degree and usually thought of as socially unacceptable. Howard Johnson, an African American newspaper editor from the 1990s, gave his thoughts on social change in the African American community during

Cars, washing machines, heaters, and bath tubs are just some examples of the inventions in the 1920s that were created in order to make life easier for the populous. The rise of materialism in the 20s lead the older generation to believe that the younger generation was spoiled with all the machines and conveniences and created a since of entitlement in them (Document C). The accumulation of material things lead to great lifestyle changes in the general population. People often cared more about their things than the values and morals taught to them by previous generations and their forefathers. The rise of materialism was born from the expansion of capitalism, where entrepreneurs were free to create products and build businesses to cater to the demands of the 20s generation. This expansion of the capitalistic system lead to the rejection of communist principals (Document F), where production of goods is controlled by the state. Communist ideals were vehemently rejected by the consumers and businesses in the