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National Prohibition and American Society in the 20th Century
Culture in the 1920s
Culture of the 1920's
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Events that occurred in the 1920s altered society greatly, becoming an important part of modern day reality. The way society thinks in the 1920s is quite similar to modern society, illustrated through the ideology of the “American Dream”. During the 1920s, people aspired to grow to their fullest through achieving a high social status, and wealth. Likewise, in modern society, people continue to carry this idea as they aspire to have a good job; earn money; and obtain a high social status. This idea of opportunity of prosperity and success has continued on into the modern society, having a great impact. These impacts are also visible through the lessons carried on from events that occurred in the 1920s. Many mistakes were made in this era which are …show more content…
used as reference to learn from the present. This can be demonstrated through the events of the prohibition and how society deals with such occurrences in comparison. In the 1920s, prohibition was established to make manufacture, imports, exports, transportation, and sale of alcohol illegal. However, this law caused the alcohol in the black market to sell, creating other issues such as: alcohol becoming dangerous to consume; police officials becoming corrupt; and prisons becoming overloaded. This event illustrates what should not be done during similar situations. For instance, marijuana is a green, leafy drug that can be used as a medicine, yet it can also cause hallucinations or have other harmful effects to the body.
This drug, however, is legalized in Canada. By legalizing this drug, the government is able to put restrictions on obtaining it, and the consumer can be safe from other toxicants that could have been added to it during the making process. This was able to occur due to the understanding of the lesson taught by the prohibition in the 1920s. Lastly, the 1920s created legacies that has changed the way society behaves. Individuality and freedom was dominant in this era which can be seen through the way people act. The 1920s created an idea of individual strength through the way one dresses, speaks, behaves, and one’s ideology. Women started to wear loose clothing; citizens began to behave the way they wanted to; and people started to idolize themselves more. This ideology that was born in this era has become a norm in today's society. Today, citizens are able to appreciate their individuality more. This way of thinking has been born from the 1920s and is a what one sees this era for. Therefore, the 1920s has altered society, creating multiple aspects of today's
society.
In Daily Life in the United States, 1920-1939: Decades of Promise and Pain, author David E. Kyvig, creates historical account of the Great Depression, and the events leading up to it. Kyvig’s goal in writing this book was to show how Americans had to change their daily life in order to cope with the changing times. Kyvig utilizes historical evidence and inferences from these events and developments to strengthen his point. The book is organized chronologically, recounting events and their effects on American culture. Each chapter of the book tackles a various point in American history between 1920 and1939 and events are used to comment on American life at the time. While Kyvig does not exactly have a “thesis” per se, his main point is to examine American life under a microscope, seeing how people either reacted, or were forced to react due to a wide range of specific events or developments in history, be it Prohibition, the KKK, or women’s suffrage.
As a nation coming out of a devastating war, America faced many changes in the 1920s. It was a decade of growth and improvements. It was also a decade of great economic and political confidence. However, with all the changes comes opposition. Social and cultural fears still caused dichotomous rifts in American society.
The 1920s were known as carefree and relaxed. The decade after the war was one of improvement for many Americans. Industries were still standing in America; they were actually richer and more powerful than before World War I. So what was so different in the 1930’s? The Great Depression replaced those carefree years into ones of turmoil and despair.
Out of some of the most turbulent times in history have come the greatest ages of success and prosperity. The 1920’s and 1950’s are two eras that exemplify the spirit of triumph and wealth. In both decades, a nation thrilled by the victorious conclusion of war and the return of their loved ones from war entered into an age of capitalism and materialism, bolstering the economy and with it national pride. Some of features most common to the 20’s and 50’s were consumerism and the accompanying optimistic mindset, the extent to which new ideas entered society, and discrimination in terms of both sexism and racism.
After women fought for their right to vote and Congress passed the19th Amendment of the Constitution, women believed they were capable of doing anything. Before the 1920s, women were considered lower than men, treated poorly, and didn’t have equal opportunities. Women were not given the same opportunities as men because it was believed that women could not tolerate as much work as a man. Women were not educated and therefore didn’t have jobs. They were housewives who cooked, cleaned, and took care of their children. Women also weren’t able to display their body, for example skirts were worn down to their ankles. Revolutionary fashions during the 1920s made it acceptable for women to separate themselves from unrevealing and unflattering styles. Miss America and Flappers helped the world reconsider the part that women play in society. A door of opportunity opened for women in careers, sports, and even education. As a result women were able to desert the constrained fashions and get involved in male controlled jobs and sports.
Americans in the 1920s were fresh off of World War I and fresh into the Prohibition Era. The American Dream is well defined- a life of wealth, comfort, and exuberance. After a World War I victory, the dream was thought to be in the near future for every American. The country was seen as a world superpower, wealthy after the devastation of a war fought entirely overseas and brimming with hope and possibility- at least on the surface. Despite the highs experienced by much of the country, it wasn't without its problems.
During the years between 1920 and 1960, America saw change in many aspects of life. The United States was a part of two major wars and a crash of the banking system that crippled the economy greater than ever seen in this country’s history. Also the country had new insecurities to tackle such as immigration and poor treatment of workers. These events led to the change of America lives socially, economically, and politically. The people of America changed their ideas of what the country’s place in the world should be. The issues challenging America led the country to change from isolation to war, depression to prosperity, and social change. The threats to American way of life, foreign and domestic, were the changing forces to the country in the twenties to the sixties.
Comparing the perspective of the American dream in the 1920’s to the American Dream in the 1940’s and present day seems to be a repeating cycle. The American dream is always evolving and changing. The American dream for present day is similar to the dream of the 1920’s. An Ideal of the American life is to conform to what our society has determined is success. Money, materialism and status had replaced the teachings of our founding fathers in the 1920’s. A return to family values and hard work found its way back into American’s lives in the 1940’s. The same pursuit of that indulgent lifestyle that was popular in the roaring twenty’s has returned today for most Americans, many Americans are living on credit and thinking that money and the accumulation of material items can solve all problems. Through film, literature, art and music, an idealized version of what it means to be an American has changed from money, materialism, and status of the 1920s to hard work and family values of the forties.
Between the 1920’s and 1930’s it brought the changes of many African Americans lives. The African migrated to New York City (Harlem). They wanted to escape the racial prejudices and hard time of the economic. They want a higher education including the right to attain work. The social power brought a challenge to increase the awareness of black culture and treatment. During World War, I and World War II the job for many artists brought about significance changes. Aaron Douglas was one the artist whom painting captures the heart of many. Douglas knew that Harlem was the place for big talent .However, in 1920’s the start of Harlem Renaissance create a movement. This movement was created during the modern urban events through most of Harlem
There was a vast amount of differences as well as comparisons between aspects of life for women between the 1920s and the 1930s. “But although each decade had its distinctive qualities, overarching developments, especially in work and politics, link these seeming disparities into the larger trends in American women’s history”. During this time the lives of women began changing and were impacted socially, politically, and economically.
Beginning in the early 1920’s modern values began to define the country. Increasingly citizens throughout the nation began to migrate to larger cities like New York and Chicago, a way of life developed that was dramatically different than the rest of rural society. The new urban way of life became the hallmark of the entire decade. In the years leading up to the 1920’s urbanization took place at an extraordinary pace. Jobs such as farming, mining, and other forms of physical labor are now being replaced by professions such as law enforcement, public services, and business. The introduction of the automobile became a crucial role in modernizing society during this decade. When the automobile was first invented it was only available to the extremely
The 1920’s were a time of economic progress for most Americans. During this era, many companies grew larger, wages, for the most part. were increased, companies grew larger, and people had money to spend on new things. The prosperity of the 1920’s brought about a large and growing middle class, however the rural American did not feel the benefits of the booming prosperity. This feeling of inequality and isolation led to frustration and conflict during this time period.
Many people say the 1920’s wasn’t actually roaring, The 1920’s was indeed “Roaring”, People like Babe Ruth, Al Capone, Charlie Chaplin and many more innovated not only their life but they way things work today and maybe even into the future.
The 1920’s came in with a golden roar and introduced a new look: Bombs on Wall Street, increasing popularity of the Ku Klux Klan, Prohibition, and introduction of new economic resources. Some individuals felt they were losing the good life to new forms of leisure and economics. There was trouble with other organizations, prohibitions, and mass consumption that was making individuals backlash against each other and the government. Many were on top of the world and lavishing in the golden twenties until 1929 when the stock market crashed causing the Great Depression. The 1920’s were a lesson learned on how to go from riches to rags almost overnight.
During the 1920’s, a period of exciting change occurred in America. It was a decade where America saw a shift toward business expansion. The economy prospered and it was driven by recovery from wartime devastation. This was a time where Americans were living the American dream. The 1920’s were also referred to as “the roaring 1920s” because it was the first time in American history that people could afford to buy in abundance of things that they pleased. The production of the Model T’s, Baseball, Fashion and Prohibition affected the 1920s; Americans were learning how to live the life. The Roaring Twenties was a decade of great economic growth and widespread prosperity; however this led to a decade of great depression.