America's Culture Clash

The past decade can be described as a time of radical change. Some may argue the change is for the good, and some may argue it is for the bad; but overall, the dramatic changes that our society has undergone has lead to the infamous “culture clash.”
We find ourselves enveloped in a divided society. A faction of our neighbors greet this futuristic, modern, and secular culture with open arms; and yet there is still a substantial group whom values the older and more traditional culture. Great tension arose from this “clash” and can be indubitably seen in politics, economics, and social aspects.
1918. The end of the Great War. The years that followed were turbulent, yet exciting, times. But in order to wholly understand the source of these tempestuous years, one must look back further into our nation’s past. In the past half century, our country has transformed itself from a disjointed, rural nation to a thriving industrial power. The yeoman farmer is no longer the epitome of our beloved country; industrialists, entrepreneurs, and capitalists have seized the prestigious position of being the personification of our nation. The cultural center prior to industrialism, the town, was superseded by urban cities. With such rapid change, complication and tension are inevitable.
While examining the modern times, the 1920’s, one can notice the beginnings of trends: economic growth, technological innovation, and monumental social reforms. These past ten years have been ones filled economic success. A direct cause of this economic boom was the enfeeblement of the European economies due to the war, leaving America to remain as the only stable and healthy economy in the world. Furthermore, technology and industrial expansion facilitat...

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... failures were is all based on perspective. Some may say the iconic flapper degraded societies morals and was a failure, while others would argue it was a tremendous victory for women and was an American success. So which side is right? Does it matter? America is a country with a society shaped by humans, and she is a country with a society that is judged by those same people. But one must remember, humanity is not a homogeneous population in which everyone shares the same values and views. Humanity is diverse. Humanity is contrastive. This variegation of opinions is essential to an effective democracy. The culture clash should be something to be welcomed with open arms. It is a sign of citizens’ active involvement and nationalism, it is a sign of a healthy democracy, and it is a sign of progress.

Works Cited

Brinkley, Alan. American History. McGraw Hill.