United States History The Roaring Twenties (1920s)

University:
Concordia University Wisconsin
Course:
HIST 1215 | American Civilization II
Academic year:

2021
Views:

104

Pages:

1
Author:

Elaina Rivers

The Roaring Twenties (1920s) The 1920s, also known as the Roaring Twenties, was a period of great change in America; the time when America became a truly “modern” nation. Initially, many new, modern ideas came into conflict with traditional ideas. (Some examples: jazz music was seen by many people as a kind of evil, especially the dancing. The flapper was a symbol of freedom for many young women, but other people saw the flapper as a sign that America was headed down the wrong road.) ● The Scopes Monkey Trial was a symbol of the battle between science and religion in the US. New scientific ideas (like “evolution”) challenged traditional religious beliefs (like “creation”). th ● The failure of Prohibition (the 18 Amendment): banning liquor was supposed to “clean up” America; instead, it created problems (e.g., the rise in organized crime). The 1920s are known as a time of an “economic boom”: a strong economy fueled by developments such as Henry Ford’s innovations in factory production (the assembly line) and the tremendous growth in the market for new consumer products. ● The 1920s are also remembered as a period that saw an increase in nativism (prejudice against immigrants). (Examples: the rebirth of the KKK, the Sacco and Vanzetti Trial, the Red Scare, and the Immigration Acts of 1921 and 1924.) ● The Harlem Renaissance was a movement of African American arts and culture. The center of this movement was in Harlem, where many African American writers, artists, musicians, and actors came to live and work. Langston Hughes and Duke Ellington were the main figures.