U.s. History 1920-1940

U.S. HISTORY

1920 – 1940

During this time period of American history, the country could not have been more contrasting than from 1920 through 1940. The twenties were a period of fun, partying, and economic security hence the term “roaring twenties”. While the nineteen thirties were known as the time of the “Great Depression.” From 1920 to 1940 our country saw five presidents, the first flight around the world, the completion of the worlds largest dam, a depression, prohibition, women given the right to vote, and new musical expressions.

The 1920’s began shortly after World War I when the Americans and the Allies defeated the Germans in 1918. It was a dawn of new politics in America when congress finally passed the women’s suffrage bill and the 19th Amendment became law, giving women the right to vote. Some twenty five million women had won the right to vote. This would play a major role in the up coming election. Many Americans were fed up with Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president from 1913 to 1921. The first election of the twenties saw Warren G. Harding win and become our nations 29th president. Unfortunately, Harding died before finishing his term and vice president Calvin Coolidge took over to become our 30th president. At the end of this term Coolidge was reelected in 1924. The United States had one of the greatest periods of prosperity ever during his presidency from 1923 to 1929. Great technological advances were also made in the 1920’s. Our nation witnessed the first flights around the world. Inventions such as cars and radios improved the standard of living for the common man. These inventions as well as the conservative economic pollicies added to a huge economic boom. “The economy experienced growth of seven to ten percent in six years of the twenties” (Vanguard, facts on funds). Later, many of the economic procedures in the decade would lead to danger especially in the stock market. “The nations total income rose from 74.3 billion in 1923 to 89 billion in 1929.”(Vanguard facts)

In the 1920’s, pop culture thrived. Radio became a large form of entertainment. Jazz developed as a new form of music. Louis Armstrong, a trumpeter from New Orleans among others, led the emergence of jazz. During th...

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...ames over Lakehurst, New Jersey. After having made ten successful round-trips across the Atlantic Ocean, the Hindenburg exploded in flames as it came in to dock at the Naval Air Station in Lakehurst, N.J., on May 6. The craft was destroyed in just one minute, with 35 of the 97 people aboard perishing in the flames. The cause of the disaster was never identified, though there was speculation that a spark from the zeppelin's engines or atmospheric static electricity ignited highly inflammable hydrogen gas leaking from the craft, causing the explosion. The possibility of sabotage against Nazi Germany was widely rumored but never proven.

In conclusion, the 1920’s were one of the most prosperous periods in American history because it reflected in every aspect how to enjoy life. The prosperity of the people influenced society, culture, and politics. The thirties were a complete 180 degrees from the twenties. During the 1930’s prosperity crashed with the stock market and the nation fell into an economic slump that took years to climb out of. I don’t know if our country will see such contrasting decades ever again, but one thing will definitely hold true “learn from your mistakes.”