The 1920s in America, known as the "Roaring Twenties", was a time of celebration after a devastating war. It was a period of time in America characterised by prosperity and optimism. There was a general feeling of discontinuity associated with modernity and a break with traditions. New technologies, like automobiles (left), movies and radios, spread the idea of modernity to a large part of the population. There were also new ideas and theories that clashed with old traditions or religion. In 1925, a teacher named John T Scopes was arrested for teaching the Theory of Evolution as this contradicted religion and their beliefs that God created the world. The 1920's was a time of great economic prosperity and many people became rich and wealthy. Some people inherited "old money" and some obtained "new money". However, there was the other side of prosperity and many people also suffered the nightmare of being poor. In the novel eThe Great Gatsbyf, Jay Gatsby is portrayed as a wealthy character who lives in a mansion. However, Nick Carraway, the protagonist of the novel and next door neighbour of Jay Gatsby, is an average man who does not have the fortunes that Gatsby has. He is gtoo poorh. Nick Carraway is part of the middle class in society while Gatsby is in the upper class of society. Along with large sums of money, whether old or new, came lots spending, amusement, fun, pleasure and big, fancy and elaborate parties. In the 1920fs, because of the separation of the rich and the poor, there were separate social classes and with that came conflict between the classes. The upper class developed the eElite American Culturef which gave them the view that they were superior to the others around them. They also developed a bad view of lower class people as they did not mix with them. The upper class represented themselves with rich, opulent and luxurious surroundings. They had large mansions, fast cars and modern technology which they showed off at large, elaborate parties. During this time, there was the emergence of the eflapperf(left) in American Culture. The eflapperf was a figure that women looked to be. She was a powerful individual with sexual allure, who saw herself liberated from the old Victorian ways. She had bright red lipstick and bobbed hair. She wore fashionable clothes, smoked cigarettes and consumed alcohol. She didnft have to listen to anyone and could do what she felt like.
The 1920s or the roaring twenties was post World War I and before the Great Depression. Unfortunately, not everything was pleasing for the 1920s, as this time period experienced social, economic, and cultural alterations that affected the lives of Americans. One reason I would not enjoy living in the 1920s was because during this time a law prohibition was passed abolishing the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol and liquors which led to bootlegging and high crime.The 20’s were a very time changing era. Personally, I think things were to uncontrolled and especially for young women living the cities of America. They could now
Conclusion: The 1920s was characterized by abrupt and extreme changes, the spirit of the Roaring Twenties was marked by a general feeling of discontinuity associated with modernity, and a break with traditions. prosperous years for Canada and Canadians. Wages were up, unemployment was down and memories of the First World War were slowly being left behind.
...g the aristocrats, the middle class being the businessmen and the lower class being mostly the poor farmers. Also the colonies had a very distinct system of the social class, starting with the aristocrats, lesser professional men, farmers, hired hands, indentured servants, jailbird and slaves. These slaves had no equality with the whites and whites often feared their rebellion. The slaves were the closest to Europe's lower classes. But compared with contemporary Europe America of the 1700's was a place of equality and opportunity except for slavery.
The 1920s was a time of conservatism and it was a time of great social change. From the world of fashion to the world of politics, forces clashed to produce the most explosive decade of the century. It was the age of prohibition, it was the age of prosperity, and it was the age of downfall.
As stated in the textbook, the wealthiest people were seaport merchants that made their business on imports, exports, banks and insurance companies, and urban real estate. An example would be the Boston Brahmins who were a cluster of old Protestant families in Boston that constituted the city’s social elite by the early 19thcentury. The upper class enjoyed the prosperity industrialization granted them as they achieved luxury and extravagance. Below the social elite was a growing middle class that included lawyers, salesmen, clerks, retail merchants, and accountants. Industrialization provided occupations that allowed people to lift themselves higher in the social strata The middle class took advantage of their increased wages by living comfortably and providing an education for their next generation in order to maintain their social standing. The only class that did not benefit from industrialization was the poor working class. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, lower class families relied on their farms for a living. Industrialization has caused entire families to leave the fields and work in factories. The working class faced harsh working conditions and low wages did not provide them any comfort or security. The Industrial Revolution has indeed formed the American social strata, but not all social classes benefited
The 1920's was a time of change in the United States. “The Roaring Twenties” had an outstanding impact on the economy, social standards and everyday life. It was a time for positive results in the industry of consumer goods and American families, because of higher wages, shorter working hours, and manufacturing was up 60% in consumer goods. But it was also a time of adversity and opposition for others, such as immigrants and farmers. Immigrants had lots of competition when they were looking for work and they weren't treated fairly by Americans, depending on where they came from and what they believed. Farmers were paid very little because the price of food kept going down, they also had the Dust Bowl to worry about. African Americans became further infused with mainstream America during the Harlem Renaissance. They were also able to organize and elect officials who would make life better for them. The Roaring Twenties was a very exciting time to live in and we can all learn what the real world is like, and how we can prepare to be ready for it, today and in the future.
It was a known as a colorful time, the jazz age and the dollar decade. As World War I (WWI) came to a close many Americans wanted to simply forget about the Europeans and the war and live life to the fullest. Some chose to amuse themselves with soaring stock profits, illegal liquor, short skirts, and what many would look upon as shocking morals. This was a time of dramatic social and economic change. Many people were uncomfortable with this sometimes-racy “mass culture.” The Roaring Twenties was a time filled with youth hosting wild parties. Everything had a feeling of carelessness to it. People from all around the world were doing the same type of things as Americans were. As for the economic change, the total wealth of the U.S. nearly doubled from the year 1920 up until the great crash in 1929. Most African Americans knew this period to be the Harlem Renaissance. Many famous Jazz artists, playwrights, and sculptures came from the Harlem Renaissance. Some of which were Duke Ellington, Langston Hughes and Augustus Savage. Many other discoveries included sports legends, writers and gang life. Some of which were Babe Ruth, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Rudolph Valentino.
In 1918 when World War I ended, American society and culture changed immediately after. World War I resulted in the death of nine million soldiers and twenty one million wounded. Families were left mourning the loss of their relatives and people titled World War I as a “war to end all war.” With the nation going through such tragedy, change was bound to happen. During the 1920s there was a change in consumer culture, art, music and literature. So much changed happened during the 1920s that it’s referred to as the roaring twenties. Entertainment was on a rise and the way that Americans were used to living started to change. Along with that came immigration laws that changed American culture as well.
The world in the Roaring Twenties, shown in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and the world today all hinge on the same ideas and issues, the most basic of which is the difference between the poor and the rich. The book takes place in the Roaring ‘20s, a time when everyone was rich. New money clashed with old money, and the sophisticated breeding of the wealthy class was not happy. The vulgar, newly rich citizens were ruining society as morals loosened all around. Old money became hypocrisy, claiming they were pure when they were just as ruined as the new money.
The roaring twenties were a time of cultural, artistic, and social explosion for the United States of America. This era was distinguished by several inventions and discoveries, rapid industrial growth, accelerated consumer demand and significant changes in American lifestyle. It was a time when people lived life to the fullest and pursued having a good time. The census of 1920 showed that for the first time in American history, more people lived in urban areas such as cities than out in the country. While the amount of modern technology would be somewhat lackluster in comparison to what we have today, I would be glad to live in the 1920’s.
So basically, the 1920's or “Roaring Twenties” was a time of major change for America as a nation. Just following the Great War America was on the fast track to new times. There was the model t car, the stock market boom and crash, the banning of alcohol, the radio, jazz music, women seeking independence, Americans seeking higher education, union strikes, the red scare, the death of President Harding and many more. Many people say this was an enjoyable time of constant dancing and entertainment galore, while others would say that the hardships of racism and poverty made this time period one of struggle and hardships. While others only remember the 1920's as the creation of mickey mouse or babe Ruth. This decade truly was “The Roaring Twenties”.
“There is a wide belief that Americans are less class conscious than Europeans” (Vanneman). Because the United States consumes more than any other country, the global economy relies on our consumption. “The middle class is an ambiguous social classification, broadly reflecting the ability to lead a comfortable life” (Kharas). During the industrial revolution, there were aristocrat traditions in royalty, class, and rank in Europe. In America, the industrial revolution was coming of a wealthy nation. The United States is has a two party system, Republicans and Democrats. The Democrats wanted more people in the middle class, mainly blacks and immigrants. The Republicans wanted to protect the people who were already in the middle class, whites, and successful working people. The middle class in America is sometimes threatened by its own success. “The definition of the middle class is the people of generic roots like Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Robert Johnson, and Sam Walton can become billionaires” (Hockenberry). Not everyone who is in the middle class can become a billionaire and using their stories as an example is the death of the American
The 1920s marked the start of the Jazz Age, also known as the Roaring Twenties, as World War I came to a closure. It was a period of significant economic boom, cultural shifts and social changes. Prominent progress in technology brought about rapid modernization and urbanization after the war. This then resulted in many changes in people’s lifestyles. A bigger part of the population was able to enjoy higher standards of living due to higher affordability. Cultural wise, war affected the way both men and women viewed themselves and hence there was a major shift in mindsets and what was socially deemed acceptable.
And these had further subdivisions, which only goes to spell out just how particular this compartmentalization was. However, these classifications were rooted in the earlier British culture; they were based on hereditary institutions and predetermined identity. On the verge of the Industrial revolution, the aristocratic, hereditary institution was replaced by tags such as “upper class” because the primary source of class changed from inheritance to commercial wealth. This type of classing is seen in Great Expectations, in the division of skilled labor and the identification of skill level with wealth level and ultimately class
In the American Social Classes in the 1950s: Selections from Vance Packard’s The Status Seekers, which was edited with an introduction by Daniel Horowitz, Packard discusses the the social construction of America in the 1950s after the Cold War ended and McCarthyism began to diminish. There was much too cheer about during this time period, but also much to worry about Mccarthyism and the atomic bomb produced fear among millions of Americans. At the time there was much economic growth and prosperity in the United States, and the baby boom occurred. This was a time characterized by fear of communism. Many people were dissatisfied by society and unsure how to create a better one. It was widely believed that this time period created a classless society. It was an era of abundance and economic growth. Packard believed that in reality, there was a drift in society and social stratification. Page 45 in Horowitz’s book shows Packard’s view of the social structure of America at the time, The Diploma elite being higher socially, and the supporting, or working and lower classes being lower. Page 45-48 describes each class in detail, from the “real upper class”, being “people who are likely to be on the board of directors of local industries, banks, universities, and community chests to to lowest group of people on the totem pole, being the