The Roaring 20's: A Time of Social Change

1. The Roaring 20’s

2. Society in the 1920’s • The 1920’s were a time of rapid social change • Young people – especially women – adopted new lifestyles and attitudes • The rural population continued to decline and the urban population continued to increase – traditional values were challenged

3. Society in the 1920’s • The 19th Amendment (women’s suffrage) and the increase of women workers during WWI put women in a higher social status • At first many women did not vote because they didn’t feel comfortable, didn’t want to leave children and go, and families discouraged them – but that changed. • A new image of women was developed called the “flapper image” and was rebellious

4. Society in the 1920’s • Only a small number of American women were flappers yet it had a wide impact on fashion and behavior • Hemlines on dresses rose higher, long hair was cut short, and wore heavy makeup – rejected the Victorian style. • Flappers also drank and smoked in public – to express their want to break from the past

8. Society in the 1920’s • Some businesses still remained prejudiced against female workers – but the number of women in the workforce increased • Women began taking part in politics and voting – although transformation was slow • Jeannette Rankin (Montana) first women to serve in Congress

10. Society in the 1920’s • Demographics in America also changed in 1920’s • First time in nation’s history that urban population was larger than rural population • Farmers were struggling – crop prices dropped and production costs rose – bad formula

11. Society in the 1920’s • African-Americans continued the Great Migration from the south to the north during the 1920’s • In 1860 – 93% of blacks lived in the south – in 1910 – 89% and by 1930 it was 80% • However the north was no promised land – blacks faced anger and hatred there as well

12. Society in the 1920’s • The results of WWI also forced many European refugees to enter the United States • Laws were passed to limit immigrants from Europe – but laws did not prevent Mexicans and Canadians • Barrios – or Spanish speaking neighborhoods popped up in Los Angeles

13. Society in the 1920’s • The growth of cities resulted in the creation of suburbs and change in cities • Transportation systems were built – like trolleys which used overhead wires for power • Buses and cars also emerged during the 1920’s which changed transportation and city life

14. YOUR TURN TO WRITE • What is a flapper? Describe what a flapper looks like and discuss the attitudes that flappers had towards society. • Discuss how cities began to change during the 1920s. How did populations change? How did the infrastructure change?

15. Developing a National Culture • Roaring Twenties also saw the creation of many national heroes • Public was recovering from WWI and the new cultural changes – heroes reminded them of the “good old days” • Heroes had bravery and were courageous – representing the values of America

16. Developing a National Culture • Charles Lindbergh – nicknamed “Lucky Lindy” became the world’s best and most famous aviator • Contest for $25,000 for first non-stop flight from New York to Paris – across the Atlantic Ocean • Took off from Roosevelt Field, Long Island May 20, 1927

17. Developing a National Culture • Lindbergh landed in Paris 34 hours later on May 21, 1927 • Flight was very difficult – no co-pilot, no computer, weak radio • Lindbergh was given Congressional Medal of Honor and became global icon

18. Society in the 1920’s

21. Developing a National Culture • Amelia Earhart became first woman to fly solo, non-stop across the Atlantic in 1928. • Broke numerous flying records during the 1920’s – first to Hawaii from California • In 1937 she tried to fly around the world – disappeared over the Pacific Ocean. Declared dead in 1939.

23. Developing a National Culture • Boxing became very popular – Jack Dempsey became a heavyweight legend. • Babe Ruth became a national hero with his record breaking 60 home runs. • Gertrude Ederle – gold medalist in the 1924 Olympics – 1926 first woman to swim across the English Channel (35 mi.)

24. Society in the 1920’s

27. Developing a National Culture • Changes in mass media also helped promote a new national culture and identity • Before the 1920’s America was very regionalized – they did not share common culture • Films, news gathering and the new radio broadcasting changed all that

29. Developing a National Culture • Between 1910 and 1930 the number of theaters rose from about 5,000 to 22,500 – selling 80 million tickets a week • First film introduced with sound – The Jazz Singer in 1927 • Audiences loved it – called them “talkies”

31. Developing a National Culture • Americans used newspapers and magazines to follow the off-screen lives of stars • The use of newsprint doubled between 1914 and 1927 – newspapers grew in size and circulation • Newspaper companies were combined – helping to create a national culture

32. Developing a National Culture • In 1920 Frank Conrad – an engineer – set up a radio transmitter in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Conrad sent recorded music and baseball scores over the air – response was fantastic • First U.S. radio station developed – KDKA – by 1922 500 stations were on the air

35. Developing a National Culture • The radio, combined with the Great Migration of African-Americans to northern cities helped make jazz music popular in the 1920s • Jazz grew out of ragtime and blues music of the south • By 1929 – two-thirds of the radio stations were dedicated to jazz music

36. Developing a National Culture • 1920’s also became known as the Jazz Age • Most popular place to hear jazz music was Harlem – a district in northern Manhattan – place known for speaking out against racial issues. • Harlem had over 500 jazz clubs where musicians – mostly black – entertained audiences

37. Developing a National Culture • Famous musicians like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman rose from Harlem • Dance called the Charleston was the “in” thing to do – wild, reckless and full of kicks • The jazz uprising in Harlem created what was called the Harlem Renaissance

38. Developing a National Culture • The Harlem Renaissance transformed the African-American identity • Painting, and literature also thrived along with music during the Harlem Renaissance • Langston Hughes, Claude McKay and Dorothy West were famous Harlem Renaissance artists

39. Developing a National Culture

42. YOUR TURN TO WRITE • Why is it important to have a national culture? • How did a national culture grow during the 1920s? • What is the most interesting part of the Harlem Renaissance to you? Why?

43. Capone and Scopes • Rapid social change after World War I caused conflicts among people with differing beliefs and values. • The 18th Amendment passed in January 1920 made all alcoholic beverages illegal. • Prohibition – a social experiment had worthy intentions, but went horribly wrong.

44. Capone and Scopes • Eliminate drunkenness and abuse of family members • Get rid of saloons where prostitution and gambling thrived. • Prevent absenteeism and on the job accidents.

47. Capone and Scopes • Not everyone obeyed the law – 95% of the people in Kansas obeyed – 5% of people in New York. • Bootleggers developed – people who provided illegal alcohol in the U.S. • Some operated private stills – others smuggled it in from Canada and Caribbean.

48. Capone and Scopes • Bootleggers sold their alcohol to owners of speakeasies – or illegal bars and saloons. • Speakeasies were hidden, and people entering often had to say a password or show a membership card to get in. • Bootlegging also led to organized crime waves.