The Roaring 1920’s
Much like the month of March, the 1920’s roared in like a lion, and went out like a lamb… well, maybe more like lamb chops, as the economy and morale of the country were utterly slaughtered by the end of the decade. America’s short official involvement in World War I had fortified the economy with wartime industry and increasingly productive technologies supporting manufacturing. Business was soaring and the stock markets followed suit, with an unprecedented surge that continued almost the entire decade. Even so, the World War left a sour taste in the mouth of Americans who had supported President Wilson through both neutrality and entry into the war, and were quickly disillusioned by the extreme loss of life in their short …show more content…
The automobile industry gave kids and women tremendous freedom to become more independent outside of their families, leading to greater social liberties. Women started to work outside the home considerably more, especially in large cities. They also took up smoking and drinking, using makeup, and started wearing increasingly revealing bathing suits. The younger generations used movie theaters and their vehicles as makeshift hotel rooms and started to rebel against the sexual repression of earlier in the decade. Jazz music, originally created by African Americans, was wild and raucous, and became especially popular with young white people, eventually inspiring numerous white jazz …show more content…
Massive technology and industry led to the capitalistic society America has become iconic for, but the excesses of the decade demonstrate the need for sustainable practices and moral equilibrium, a balance of extremes. The moral oppression and conservatism of the early decade led to young rebelliousness, organized crime, and a crashing economy. While it ushered in the new technologies like cars and movies, it also pushed a homogenized “popular culture” that glamorized consumerism and sexuality. Ultimately, the 1920’s demonstrated that the market will ultimately fix itself if we don’t, and the need for oversight and planning in order to avoid the massive fluctuations that made the decade so
Much like the month of March, the 1920’s roared in like a lion, and went out like a lamb… well, maybe more like lamb chops, as the economy and morale of the country were utterly slaughtered by the end of the decade. America’s short official involvement in World War I had fortified the economy with wartime industry and increasingly productive technologies supporting manufacturing. Business was soaring and the stock markets followed suit, with an unprecedented surge that continued almost the entire decade. Even so, the World War left a sour taste in the mouth of Americans who had supported President Wilson through both neutrality and entry into the war, and were quickly disillusioned by the extreme loss of life in their short …show more content…
The automobile industry gave kids and women tremendous freedom to become more independent outside of their families, leading to greater social liberties. Women started to work outside the home considerably more, especially in large cities. They also took up smoking and drinking, using makeup, and started wearing increasingly revealing bathing suits. The younger generations used movie theaters and their vehicles as makeshift hotel rooms and started to rebel against the sexual repression of earlier in the decade. Jazz music, originally created by African Americans, was wild and raucous, and became especially popular with young white people, eventually inspiring numerous white jazz …show more content…
Massive technology and industry led to the capitalistic society America has become iconic for, but the excesses of the decade demonstrate the need for sustainable practices and moral equilibrium, a balance of extremes. The moral oppression and conservatism of the early decade led to young rebelliousness, organized crime, and a crashing economy. While it ushered in the new technologies like cars and movies, it also pushed a homogenized “popular culture” that glamorized consumerism and sexuality. Ultimately, the 1920’s demonstrated that the market will ultimately fix itself if we don’t, and the need for oversight and planning in order to avoid the massive fluctuations that made the decade so