Two decades that stand out in American history for their vast differences, interesting similarities, and influential change in society are the 1920s and 1960s. These two decades might be 40 years apart, but they are both periods of unrest and progress. The biggest difference between them in the United States was their stance on international relations. In the 1920s the world had just ended the Great War, now known as WWI. Europe saw a lot of political upheaval and arrests in Europe. Due to this, the US developed a isolationist policy and instead focused on national politics. Conversely, during the 1960s the US was in the middle of the Cold War with the Soviet Union. The US fought to contain communism's spread and assert its world dominance throughout this decade. While the global climate at the time may have been different, looking through a cultural lens inside the US there are many similarities between …show more content…
The 1920s were an age of extreme contradiction through societal affluence, cultural advancement, and intense cultural unrest and reaction. According to the United States Constitution, "The 1920s started dry with the 18th amendment; prohibition was the legal prohibition of the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the United States (1920-1933)" (Congress). In the twenties, women and men were expected to fill separate spheres in the world; women acted and dressed conservatively, and men provided for their families. Despite this, young women known as flappers began cutting their hair into short "bob" hairstyles and wearing scandalous attire to dance to live jazz music. In the meantime, bootleggers smuggled alcohol throughout the nation. Speakeasys were opened up and alcoholic beverages were illegally sold. As a result, opposing social norms and breaking the law created a lasting legacy inspiring social change for personal enjoyment and values in the