As with all cultures, the philosophies, politics, and ideas that provoke the hearts of individuals find their way to the pens of authors, brushes of painters, and notes of musicians. The 1920s were no different. But, what influenced the themes, philosophies, and politics of this time and how were they expressed? America in the 1920s was a time of economic growth and cultural upheaval. World War l had just ended and millions of young lives had been lost or painfully impacted. According to Larry Schweikart, "The numbers of dead were mind-numbing: 1.8 million Germans, 1.7 million Russians, 1.4 million French, 1.3 million Austrians, and 947,000 British Commonwealth troops American losses…stood at 48,909, although a total of 112,432 soldiers and sailors had die,"(Schweikart 520-521). Those who had survived were deeply impacted by horrors related to new technology (527). Skepticism and hedonistic philosophies invaded American culture while the Progressivism philosophy worked on steering political decisions that ultimately failed their purposes. The main Progressivism policies that attempted, but failed, to reform society were Prohibition, civic equality, and public hygiene education (516). The Women's Rights organizations led to the ratification of the 19th Amendment, however, it came at a cost. Alongside this reform came the abandonment of …show more content…
His books, reflecting the inner thoughts and struggles of those in this generation, led him to becoming one of the most well known American authors to this day. However, he was also a brave soldier who drove ambulances during the Great War. During a mission in June 1918, an Austrian mortar fire wounded him. Though he was wounded, he rescued an Italian soldier, while doing so, he was injured again by machine gun fire. His bravery led him to being one of the first Americans honored by the Italian government with the Silver Medal of Valor (Putnam,
They sought to break free from the traditional "Victorian straitjacket" that imposed restrictive societal expectations on women, and instead, aimed for greater personal freedom and self-expression. This included advocating for sexual liberation and the right to make their own choices about their bodies and sexuality. Political and policy implications the favoring tendencies of the 1920's influenced America's foreign policy and contributed to the rise of conservative movements and beliefs. The contradictions of optimism and conservatism in the 1920's had a significant impact on America's development. The economic prosperity and cultural changes encouraged optimism, consumerism, and a changing societal outlook.
The 1920s were a time of change in the United States, change demarcated by the rise of consumerism and progressive feelings about minority groups; however, certain aspects
America changed and progressed politically, economically, socially, culturally, and artistically during the 1920s. These changes set precedents for the years to come in American history. For the first time more Americans lived in cities than in rural settings during the 1920s. With all the new technological advances people’s lives were made easier by moving to the city. Automobiles become more available to everyone which influenced the migration to urban areas.
The 1920s was a boom time for the American people. This is a well known fact, but behind this time is the politics that made it all possible. Politics is an important staple of the American lifestyle usually boiling down to either loving or hating it. The 1920s, while not only an extremely socially active period, was also a period of political change and Importance. The 1920s was one of the most politically diverse eras in U.S. history, from Prohibition to the prosperity of the Coolidge era.
Dualism in the 1920s World War I rocked the Western world. A collective innocence was lost, along with the lives and financial stability of millions. Trade and farming were disrupted; the number of men in Europe had dropped; and extraordinary amounts of money was expended for weapons and other wartime staples. However, in America, economic stimuli designed for the war, such as the Naval Construction Act of 1916 and the Food Administration Act, were just beginning to take effect.
Although some Americans looked into modernism, radicalism, and had socialist political views, politics in the 1920s became increasingly conservative because of the Republican leaders that governed the era, fundamentalist movements challenging modernist ideals, and the redesigned assembly of delegates and
Many Americans in the ‘20s had unprecedented prosperity. Entertainment and leisure became very popular, the wealth it brought in led to new technology such as movies, sports, and the TV; African Americans pushed for freedom and rights. This era was also referred to as the “Roaring Twenties.” Most of the defining features of Modern American culture emerged during the 1920s. This time period primarily stands out as one of the most important in American history because that decade produced many artists, musicians, and writers who were some of the most innovative and creative people in the country’s history.
Rose Hernandez Professor Flowers History 106 15 October 2015 The Progressive Era In the 1920s, America entered a new movement that dealt with finding solutions to society’s problems. Fair wages for the working class, better living standards for the working and poor, and rights for women were hot button issues that Progressives tried to fix. During that time, books such as Bellamy’s Looking Backward and Riis’s How the Other Half Lives exposed what they considered was the main problem that caused America’s social problems. Both authors wanted to shed light on what they have witnessed and give out solutions to repair the damage society suffered from.
The 1920s was an era in the history of America in which economic, social, and political change coursed through our country. A dramatic population shift occurred during this decade in which, for the first time, more people lived in cities than in rural areas. This shift contributed to a large increase in ethnic and religious diversity in America’s cities. During this time, the economic engine of America brought consumer culture and advancement in technology, resulting in our economy becoming the envy of the world. However, the American people and the government were extremely fearful during this period and strived to find a way to ensure the safety of themselves and our nation.
In 1920, the United States was celebrating the “Roaring Twenties”. It was a time of great prosperity, but not for all of Europe. We were celebrating relief from World War I and the money we received from it. We were getting back to normalcy. We were almost solely an isolated country, but our foreign policy was going to change within the next ten years.
The 1920’s was an interesting time in American history. This era was also known as the roaring twenties. Although it is remembered as a fond time before the Great Depression there was also a lot of conflicts arising, Cultural conflicts in particular were at the center. Prohibition and Immigration were two of the main cultural conflicts during this time period.
America experienced a sudden disregard of Victorian values following World War I, causing the generation of the 1920s to dramatically contrast the previous. This severe degree of change produced three major manifestations of the contradictions in the twenties. There were massive conflicts to the Jazz Age, technological advancements, and Black Migration. The contradictions of the 1920s reflect America’s conflicted state between advancement and convention, as the cultural and technological developments of the era coincide with the inability of individuals to stray from traditional norms and racist attitudes.
The 1920s carried much change in society. Some of these changes were more rights for women, jazz music, and prohibition. The people of the 1920s were disillusioned by society lacking in idealism and vision, sense of personal alienation, and Americans were obsessed with materialism and outmoded moral values (The Roaring Twenties).Cultural changes were strongly influenced by the destruction of World War I ending 1918. America needed to recover and with it youth rebelled against the norms of the older generations.
Breaking Social Boundaries The era of the 1920s was a pinnacle time in American History and the literature that was produced from this era showcases the social change happening. This was the time of social upheaval where the people were challenging social boundaries. The values that had been sought after in the period before this were becoming less and else prevalent in the new society. There are many viewpoints of this time period so the literature of this time was very diverse and many works showed the changing cultures.
The 1920s were the first years of the new, modern America, with a growing consumer society and new ideas and rules. America saw many changes throughout this decade, including but not limited to social, economic and political changes. Throughout this time, new values were made with the growth of new forms of entertainment and education. After the Progressive Era, the ideas of political figures changed with a new focus on conservative politics and less labor issues. With the new ability for people to buy other products than basic needs, their money went to new inventions, causing new industries to grow.