The Changes during the Roaring Twenties

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Recommended: The introduction of prohibition

Describe the decade known as the “Roaring Twenties”. I chose this question because of the many changes that came about during the 1920’s. One of the changes was how it greatly affected the woman’s position in society and the right to vote. It was also a decade of Prohibition, led by the Volstead Act in 1919. Four presidents were to serve office during this decade. Woodrow Wilson left office in March of 1921, followed by Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge and ending with Herbert Hoover. When we think of the 1920’s what comes to mind is prohibition, bootleg, flappers, speakeasy, organized crime and at the end of the 1920’s the Great Depression.

Prohibition was a crusade lead by William Jennings Bryan. Bryan served two terms as a member of the United States House of Representatives and was the United States Secretary of State under President Woodrow Wilson (1913–1915). His movement against the sale of alcoholic came to fruition after his death. Along with Bryan a women’s group know “Woman’s Christian Temperance Union”, (WCTU) spearheaded the campaign and launched a national prohibition law. They felt that limiting liquor will protect families from the effects of alcohol abuse.

The National Prohibition Act, known as the Volstead Act, was enacted to carry out the purpose of the Eighteenth Amendment, which established prohibition in the United States. The Anti-Saloon League's Wayne Wheeler conceived and drafted the bill, which was named for Andrew Volstead, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, who managed the legislation. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volstead_Act). Unfortunately, The Volstead Act had trouble from the beginning. There were many loopholes, individuals and organizations were allowed to keep ...

... middle of paper ...

...Prohibition Begins

Harlem Renaissance Begins

1922 Insulin Discovered

1923 Charleston Dance Becomes Popular

Talking Movies Invented

1927 Lindbergh Flies Solo across the Atlantic

Babe Ruth Makes Home – Run Record

1928 Penicillin Discovered

Sliced Bread Invented

1929 Stock Market Crashes

The Great Depression Begins

Works Cited

American A Narrative History: George B Tindall and David E. Shi

Copyright 2013, 2010,2007,2004,1999,1992,1988,1984

By: W.W Norton & Company, Inc.

March 30, 2014 Volstead Act

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volstead_Act).

March 30, 2014 States Against Prohibition

http://teaching.msa.maryland.gov

March 26, 2014 The Roaring Twenties http://www.history.com/topics/roaring-twenties/videos/bet-you-didnt-know-prohibition

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