Cultural Changes In The 1920s

After World War I, the U.S. experienced tremendous economic and cultural growth. New masses of technology were invented, and the entertainment business rapidly started gaining popularity. Spotlights shined upon geniuses who brought lavish amounts of culture and found ways make the country better. It is very evident that many factors contributed to changing ways of daily life. During the 1920s, American culture and society has greatly expanded into what is known as “The Roaring Twenties”.

The radio ended up being a huge cultural and technological change in the 1920s. It became popular in the twenties because thousands of Americans used it for entertainment or to listen to the latest broadcasted news. By 1923, “there were almost 600 licensed

This period of time was a post World War One movement from which jazz music emerged. Jazz is “a truly indigenous musical form based off of improvisation” which included “African American blues, ragtime, and European-based popular music” (Lapsansky 243). Its roots originated in the south, where it quickly spread north because of the Great Migration of African Americans. Famous musicians like Louis Armstrong and Bessie Smith became famous because of their ability to improvise (vocally and instrumentally) and their exceptional performances in big cities like New York. Jazz was so important around this time that “It was a symbol of the Roaring Twenties” (Lapsansky 244). This was because it was a genre of music for people to come together and celebrate a huge cultural and traditional change. Jazz became so popular that it spread to Europe for millions more to enjoy. The Jazz Age bridged different races, and greatly influenced American culture to what it is

Fundamentalism “emphasized Protestant teachings and the belief that every word in the Bible was literal truth” (Lapsansky 224). Many people turned to fundamentalism because it represented a form of strict religion that upheld the scripture. Christians at home reaffirmed their belief in basic truths of their religion and were very scrupulous about it. Furthermore, Fundamentalists believed that “the answer to every important moral and scientific question was in their holy book” (Lapsansky 224). This religious movement was a huge social and cultural change in the twenties because the fundamentalists’ ideas affected the whole country, especially rural America. It appealed to a significant and diverse group in order to provide a way of interpreting life that gave meaning, guidance, and personal satisfaction. Above all, fundamentalism had the benefits of appealing to a large society in the U.S. , especially in troubled times and periods of rapid transition.

The roaring twenties were known as a period of sustained economic prosperity with a distinct cultural edge to the United States. Its cultural and artistic dynamism was focused on as an aftermath of World War One. Before the unfortunate Great Depression, the twenties in the United States would forever be known as an era to break traditions. The media focused on many Hollywood stars, new styles were introduced, and women finally won the right to vote.