At the beginning of the 1920s, the United States was still in recovery from the effects of World War I. People wanted to forget the devastation of the Great War and just have fun. The entire decade was filled with experiences of exciting social change and intense cultural conflict. Popular culture roared into life and the economy boomed. New technologies lead to innovation, soaring profits lead to affluence, and higher wages lead to a culture of consumerism. The majority of Americans experienced prosperity, thus generating an increase in spending and the enjoyment of leisure and entertainment. Radio broadcast, cinemas and live music venues flourished along with the growth of local towns into small cities. But unfortunately for some citizens,
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Many rural residents uprooted their families and relocated to the city. As a result, the number of American city dwellers outnumber those who lived in rural areas for the first time in U.S. history.
Airplanes also became a significant part of American culture after stunt pilot Charles Lindberg soared to international fame after making the first solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean (from New York to Paris) in his single-engine plane, the Spirit of St. Louis. His achievement gave an tremendous boost to the rapidly growing aviation industry.
The Hollywood motion picture industry also emerged during the 1920s. Although movies were nothing new to Americans, the first “talkies” added voices to moviemaking which shifted the business of cinematic production into high gear. Glamorous actors and actresses soon enjoyed royal status and came to dominate American pop culture. It is estimated that, by the end of the decades, three-quarters of the American population visited a movie theater each …show more content…
Undoubtedly one of the greatest musicians of all time, Louis Armstrong is credited with putting “Jazz” in the coined title of the decade, the “Jazz Age”. Some older adults objected to “vulgarity” and “depravity” of jazz music, but the majority of young Americans loved the freedom they felt on the dance floor. Along with new music came provocative new dances such as the Charleston and the Jitterbug. Jazz became a national phenomenon thanks to the invention of the radio. The radio created a new bond within American homes by bringing the family together like never before. Electricity become more readily available throughout the decade, and by 1930, most American households had radio receivers.
Baseball’s growing popularity in the 1920s can be measured by both culture and structural changes. This included the building of new ballparks; the emergence of sports pages in daily urban newspapers; and the extreme popularity of radio broadcasts focused on the great American pastime and the great American hero, Babe Ruth. Undoubtedly the most popular athlete in the league, his legendary high style and home run hitting skills fascinated a
Many rural residents uprooted their families and relocated to the city. As a result, the number of American city dwellers outnumber those who lived in rural areas for the first time in U.S. history.
Airplanes also became a significant part of American culture after stunt pilot Charles Lindberg soared to international fame after making the first solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean (from New York to Paris) in his single-engine plane, the Spirit of St. Louis. His achievement gave an tremendous boost to the rapidly growing aviation industry.
The Hollywood motion picture industry also emerged during the 1920s. Although movies were nothing new to Americans, the first “talkies” added voices to moviemaking which shifted the business of cinematic production into high gear. Glamorous actors and actresses soon enjoyed royal status and came to dominate American pop culture. It is estimated that, by the end of the decades, three-quarters of the American population visited a movie theater each …show more content…
Undoubtedly one of the greatest musicians of all time, Louis Armstrong is credited with putting “Jazz” in the coined title of the decade, the “Jazz Age”. Some older adults objected to “vulgarity” and “depravity” of jazz music, but the majority of young Americans loved the freedom they felt on the dance floor. Along with new music came provocative new dances such as the Charleston and the Jitterbug. Jazz became a national phenomenon thanks to the invention of the radio. The radio created a new bond within American homes by bringing the family together like never before. Electricity become more readily available throughout the decade, and by 1930, most American households had radio receivers.
Baseball’s growing popularity in the 1920s can be measured by both culture and structural changes. This included the building of new ballparks; the emergence of sports pages in daily urban newspapers; and the extreme popularity of radio broadcasts focused on the great American pastime and the great American hero, Babe Ruth. Undoubtedly the most popular athlete in the league, his legendary high style and home run hitting skills fascinated a