Life in the 1920s and 1950s While some similarities were noticeable between the 1920s and the 1950s, the differences were striking. The 1920s was known as the beginning of modern America. The 1950s was known for its lucrative prosperity and anxiety. Both eras’ were similar in their economics. They differed in politics and society.
During the establishment of the United States, the problems the founding fathers faced helped to form a constitution that is still followed to this day. Conditions of the country in the late 1700s and today are similar- debt, foreign threats, and unhappy people. But if the government today were to face a problem big enough to wreck the country, the United States would not be able to survive. It would not be possible to re-establish the government due to a divide among the people, the lack of dominant leaders, and the condition that the government is in.
Before the Stock Market crash of 1929, America went through a decade of prosperity and social change known as the Roaring Twenties. New fads and numerous inventions emerged throughout our country. Many people bought on credit and as a result, our economy flourished. However, many Americans failed to realize this would be one of the underlying causes leading to the Great Depression. For instance, “Most people bought, but many couldn’t afford to pay the full price all at once.
The 1950's was a booming time period when a lot of things were being introduced and built. first of all, it was also a time period where sales were going up because everyone wanted one or they were able to get it. Secondly, the sales of cars were one of the most famously known purchases because during the 1950s there were more highways and interstates being built for people to travel on. Also another cause of the sales of cars going up was the size of family's the 1950s has many names but one name in specific for the people in the 50s is the Baby Boomers. Why that?
During the late 19th century, newly introduced methods of thinking and living swept across the households of Americans. These movements and their corresponding facets captivated millions of people, but in doing so, also created corruption and opposition that, many times, brought out countless negative and precarious situations. Advancements in technology, such as steel, electricity, and the telephone, connected more people than ever before. Industrialization and urbanization moved people closer to the cities but also created danger in many living and work places. Despite the positives that appealed to so many, there also existed the downsides, which largely began to appear in the Gilded Age of American politics.
Thomas Jefferson once said. “There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties”. The reason he said this was because he feared a strong central government. Then for some Americans, fears of a strong central government taking advantage came true. This is when the two political parties split.
And the main difference between the 1920s and now, with millennials, is that now the car
However, automobiles like the Chevrolet, the Rambler and the Hudson Hornet were huge successes when it came to consumerism in the economy. Manufacturers in the automobile industry, would make small changes to every year’s model. These changes would persuade consumers to buy the new model and that they needed to update their cars every couple of years and ultimately expanded purchasing growth in the 50’s society.
America is more today than ever before a consumerist society, which saw its start in the 1920s. Present day Americans just like in the 1920s do rely on the production of goods to keep up with their demands and are spending their money on more than just their household necessities. Another thing that has stayed the same from the 1920s to present day is Americans constant need to be entertained. Because of the boom of the 20s more and more people had more money to spend an that spurred the start of people having more freetime and using their money for entertainment. American society especially right now is obsessed with immediate satisfaction which all saw its start in the 1920’s as an entertainment based culture as well.
The Age of Conformity 1950’s America was a time where medicine, technology and music were becoming more and more advanced. From the manufacturing of cars, to the birth of corny sitcoms, America was very quickly becoming more futuristic. Looking back at the 1950s, it is easy to look over the years and notice the positive aspects of the developing decade, but if one takes a closer look, it wasn’t as perfect as it seemed. Teenage gangs were at an all time high as the new sounds of rock and roll encouraged violence, a war between Russia and the US was brewing and media influence was encouraging conformity rather than individualism.
Automobiles were affordable and were designed carefully. The majority of these cars were produced by the Ford Motor Company, led by Henry Ford, who designed a different model each year to satisfy the insatiable crowd. Many of the automotive innovations that we think of as being modern—like electric powered cars, four wheel drive, front wheel drive, hybrid fuel and electric cars—were introduced during the 1920s. The automobiles had various different colors in order to get the attention of people, especially woman, and through time, they evolved to become more comfortable to drive for men (Scott ,1). The automobiles were beneficial to the U.S because they expanded the area of habitat.
What We Really Miss About The 1950s In her essay, “What We Really Miss About the 1950s”, Stephany Coontz talks about the myth of the 1950s. She begins her argument by stating some reasons why the nostalgia for the 1950s exists. The main thing Americans miss about the those days is the stability. She acknowledges that this fallacy is not insane.
Nothing says “human nature” like love and individuality. Part of what makes humans unique is our species’ ability to show compassion and caring for our peers and surroundings. Many people, particularly older generations, believe that the overuse of social technology has ruined the appreciation that younger generations have for the world around them. In Ray Bradbury’s stories, “The Pedestrian” and “The Veldt”, he gives examples of how technology could ruin our affiliations to what would be considered human characteristics. In “The Pedestrian”, Bradbury describes a futuristic world in which no one socializes or takes walks because they are so consumed with their televisions with the exception of one man; in “The Veldt”, parents using advanced
During the “Roaring 20s”, everything seemed to just keep getting better and better-stocks kept rising, people could buy more things with installment buying-but little did they know, the Great Depression would soon be upon them. In 1929, the stock market crashed which caused millions of people to go in debt. Before anyone knew it, banks were closing, people were losing their jobs and men and teens were forced to roam the country in search for work. People began to turn against the current president, President Herbert Hoover, and to a new person, Franklin D. Roosevelt. Roosevelt came up with a plan to help aid America called the New Deal.
The Rise of the Automobile in 1920s in The Great Gatsby Perhaps no invention affected American everyday life in the 20th century more than the automobile. The invention and improvement of the automobile not only changed the America society, but also the whole world. The rapidly growing automobile industry led by Henry Ford and the Ford Motor Company produced new and better models every year to supply the insatiable public demand. Increased wages and lower cost vehicles made possible through mass production meant that cars became increasingly affordable, although 3 out of 4 cars were bought on installment plans.
