The Roaring 20’s

Looking at Gatsby’s America

America Before World War 1

• America a rural nation—70% live on farms and small towns.

• Fragmented…trains the main way of travel a nation of regions

• Victorian morality…very conservative

• “Simple life…Simple pursuits”

World War 1 Changes America

• America’s involvement in WW1 had some changes on our nation

• Industry, rise of cities, expanded roles of women and minorities, technology

• Horror of the scale of war puts America in cultural shock

The War ends…the boys come home from “over there”

• The war to end all wars ends in 1918. The toll is staggering…over 10 million people killed in Europe…the nations of Germany, France, and Britain lost almost a whole generation of young men.

• Americans are equally horrified by the slaughter…they want to get on with lives but bring back new ideas.

The 20’s…a dry decade

• After WW1, there is a wish to return to simpler times…a time where America was guided by religious values.

• In 1920, Prohibition became law…America would be a “dry nation”

“Hey doll…how ‘bout a drink…of lemonade…

Prohibition

• Although the intent was good, Prohibition was seen as unpopular by many Americans.

• Organized crime increases, and mobsters such as Al Capone became folk heroes

Speakeasies and Rumrunners

• Americans were ingenious about getting around the Prohibition laws.

• Speakeasies were clubs that secretly served alcohol…secret passwords and memberships.

• People distilled their own alcohol and made good money smuggling alcohol into the country from Canada and Latin America

I really need a drink!!

New Technologies Change Life

• Henry Ford pioneered automobile building and made mass production of cars a reality.

• Cars could be bought new for $300, which made them affordable enough for many Americans

Technologies

• Autos put America on the move in the 20’s like no time before. For the first time, many people took “auto vacations” and recreational driving became a popular past-time. Too bad the roads were bad.

The radio unites America

• The 1920’s saw many Americans fascinated by the radio. It had the same effect on our nation that TV and the computer do today…Americans fascinated by it…helped to unite the nation.

Movies

• Motion pictures had been around for about 10 years, but in the 1920’s “talkies” debuted. Motion picture theaters began to spring up all over the US.

• Rudolf Valentino and Clara Bow…huge stars of the 20’s.

Hollywood

• Movies became a national past-time, and for the first time movie stars became very popular.

• Charlie Chaplin’s career would span 3 decades and is considered one of the true superstars of this decade.

Sports

• The 1920’s are known as the golden age of sports. As people had more money to spend and time to enjoy recreation, sports became very popular.

• Red Grange, Babe Ruth were two of the superstars of the decade

Consumers have more products

• In the 1920’s, consumers had more products to choose from. Money could be spent on all kinds of things. Credit makes many items like cars and radios available to many people. Advertising begins.

Jazz…the Music of the Devil• Young people discovered Jazz

and it became the loved and hated music of the decade. Jazz was seen as “black music” and it prompted greater acceptance of black entertainers by a racist America.

• Many in the older generation hated jazz because they felt that it caused young people to drink and have sex…sound familiar?

• Jazz music would gain acceptance and form the foundation for rock, and later hip-hop.

20’s were a decade of youth

• This was the first real decade where teens find they have time to do things, and interesting things to do.

• Fads appealed to youth and clothes took on a youthful look.

Women’s roles begin to change

• Women, more than any other group saw changes in the 20’s. They received the right to vote, could smoke cigarettes in public, and enjoyed a new independence.

• The “flapper” became a symbol for women of the 20’s.

Fashions show a little skin…scandalous!!!

Flapper culture

• Young women now could do many things that their moms could not…wear pants, talk openly about sex, choose not to marry and have a career.

• Many viewed this as a sign that evil had spread into the young, but this was a very good decade to be a woman.

“The Charleston”

• This is one of the many dances that young people developed and did over the decade. It became a national craze.

• All night dance-a-thons became a fad

“Lucky Lindy”

• Americans had many heroes during the 20’s, but no one matched the popularity of Charles Lindbergh, who flew from NY to Paris in the Spirit of St. Louis.

• He became a national celebrity, and prompted a growing interest in aviation.

Science vs. Religion

• This decade saw many conflicts between these two forces. Science grew in popularity, but was opposed by many religious Americans.

• Conflict over evolution came with the Scopes monkey trial

Racism still a force

• The Ku Klux Klan saw a national revival during the 1920’s. At one point it had a membership of over 4 million people.

• It became a real force in the United States. Even here in Aberdeen.

While many enjoyed the good times, more struggled to get by

• The 20’s are remembered for economic prosperity for some.

• Most Americans were left out of this boom, especially minorities.

• The good times would end at the close of the decade….

The 20’s in review

• A decade that would have been fun to be a part of…if you were middle class white.

• A decade of delightful nonsense

• The last great party before the hangover