Did you know that during the 1920’s the nation’s wealth more than doubled, and for the first time there were more people living in the city than on farms? During the 1920’s, also known as the Roaring Twenties, it was a time of prosperity and changed the daily life of so many people. There were lots of technological advancements like automobiles, radios, and televisions. The rise of spare time and disposable income led to the increasing popularity of social and leisure activities such as dancing, going to the movies, and my favorite pastime sports. The economic boom of the 1920’s, with its excessive consumer spending, increase in stock market popularity, and overconfidence and speculation, ultimately led to the devastating economic crash of
The 1920’s was a period characterized by immersive and deep-rooted change coupled with a collective mindset shift amongst the people of the United States. Often referred to as the “Roaring Twenties” for the clear theme, it introduced a dynamic decade full of exuberance. There was a change of culture in the terms of the economic boom that surged consumerism, the technological advancements that would impact the public, and general social changes. With the aftermath of World War I, America hadn’t felt the economic destruction that occurred in Europe, which placed it favorably on the global stage of economics. America experienced an almost surprising economic boom, leading to a vision of prosperity.
The roaring 20’s, the Jazz Age, the Great Depression, no matter what you call it, it’s hard to deny the 1920’s was an iconic era to note in the United States. Some may believe that it shaped the United States to what it is today. Although, the question has to be asked; what were the major cultural and societal changes in 1920s America and how did they pave the way for the Great Depression? Although the 1920’s did not have one specific reason for paving a way for the Great Depression, many changes stuck out such as the role change of women, evolution of transportation, and the information of sports media. To begin, women challenged traditional values by gaining the right to vote in the early twentieth century.
In the 1920s, the world was recovering from the end of World War I, and the excitement of a peaceful era. The 1920s was also known as the Roaring Twenties and the Jazz Age. During the 1920s, America got new inventions, a booming economy, a soaring stock market, and upbeat music. Many families could finally afford automobiles for the first time. People began to eat a much wider variety of foods such as Kool-Aid, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Wonder Bread, Popsicles, and Wheaties Cereal.
The major cultural and societal changes in America, in the 1920s, that paved the way for the Great Depression were the Prohibition (of alcohol) Act, improved transportation, and the changing role of women. By creating the Prohibition (of alcohol) Act, the leaders thought that it would lower the crime rate, but instead, it actively demonstrated an increase in the crime rate. Although the transportation system was significantly improved, it still had some flaws. Likewise, women and men's wage gaps decreased drastically, but they are still not equal to this day. Considering all this, there are both positive and negative reactions to the changes that were made in America, in the 1920s.
In the 1920s, World War 1 ended and soldiers were coming back with many casualties. A dramatic change completely altered the cultural structure of America and a great economic growth happened because of consumer goods. People became increasingly urbanized. Throughout the 1920s, cultural factors like the Jazz Age, Flappers, and the Harlem Renaissance made Americans flourish and go through a time period of wealth and prosperity. These cultural changes and and a looser society in general was what really made the 20’s a ‘roaring’ time for Americans.
When the term “The Roaring Twenties” is thrown out into conversation, glittering views of Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby fill the heads of many, and rightfully so. The 1920s were ultimately an iconic, defining era in American history. Before this period, many traditional, Victorian values were continuously instilled in the population for generations. Then, the way people dressed, spoke, and behaved took a drastic turn that can even be traced back to the enactment of Prohibition throughout the United States.
The culture of America changed forever when the 1920’s introduced itself to the public. As the Eighteenth Amendment passed and black culture cross over into white culture, ideas of independence began to sweep across the nation. The Roaring Twenties was an impactful generation that had a culture based on unrestricted ideas of women’s roles in societies, music and dance performance, and alcohol consumption. Before the 1920s, women had a conservative look to the public. Body images required curvy and unattainable figures, style recommended a feminine, soft look, and men wanted a woman who was soft-spoken and gentle.
The 1920 will always be remembered as the area for massive changes. The men were speechless as the women's hemlines progressively shortened, reaching the mid-twenties flapper style. The American dream dominated an area rich in entertainment, like the glamorous movies and smooth jazz. Makeup became a household staple and the hairstyles became sleek and short. The Art Deco influences gave clear inspiration to twenties fashion: the structured lines, squares, and pyramid shapes from the architecture can be clearly identified with the style of the short, drop-shouldered dresses popular in the period.
One of the main cultural changes in the 1920s that led to the outbreak of the great depression was increasing consumerism. The minor things inside increased consumerism were people lost jobs, companies lost money, and banks shut down. These are all ways that increasing consumerism and the roaring 20s led to the great depression. The banks shutting down was one of the most major out of these three reasons that the great depression became a thing. The reason banks are so important is due to the fact that everybody needed banks due to the fact that everyone needed a bank to manage their money.
Roaring Twenties Photography Post War, people needed a new escape, a new way to express themselves. War was a very serious time in people's lives. Everyone saw things that no one should have never experienced. A lot of these people could use all this, traumatic experience and turn it into art. Photography in the 1920's became a way to express your emotions.
Following the First World War, women’s fashion in the early 1920s experienced dramatic changes. The time period was referred to as the “roaring 20s,” or the era of the “flapper.” The demise of bustles and corsets gave clothing designers a lot more freedom of expression than they previously had, which led to new innovative styles. Women dressing in new and colorful fabrics reflected the joy felt by a war weary population following the end of tragedy. The demand for dresses increased in the 1920s due to the decline of purchase costs, and clothing styles for women and children changed dramatically.
1930s Art Imagine waking up one day and being in the 30’s. Everything would be completely different. The music, the fashion, the technology, even the arts would be very different. All things, big or small, changed for one reason or another.
Fashion and Money: Victorian Era and the 1920s Fashion has long been used as means of interest for many people around the world. People have used fashion to display their prestige, their culture, or simply as a device to spend their money. The frivolous habit of buying clothes can be seen many times throughout history. In both 1920s America and the Victorian Era, we often find that financial indiscretion is displayed through fashion. The Victorian Era brought on new fashion trends; these trends influenced a new clothing style in Victorian England.
In the 1920s, jazz music played a big role for most individuals. It inspired people to be different and taught individual thought and expression. Jazz music originated in New Orleans in the early 1900s, and then began to spread and develop around the country (“Jazz History: The Standards”). It created job opportunities in the north, especially around Chicago (“Jazz History: The Standards”). A type of jazz instrument is a clarinet, which was invented in 1690 by Cristoph Denner (“The Clarinet-History”).
