The New Immigrants In The 1920's

I chose to write about the 1920’s. The 1920’s was the time period following World War I. During this time, the United States, in particular, was on the mend to rebuilding themselves. Customs and values were put into place before the war, most of which were “irrelevant” after the war. The 1920’s was the period where the term “youth” really developed Parents had different norms than their children did.

Women and men from the 2000’s differ from the women and men of the 1800’s. They play many different roles now than, they did back then. Women and men have always been separated by certain standards until recent times. They have very little to no similarities between the two times in history. Women and men of the 1800’s often played different roles and were treated differently.

In the 1920s and 30s, men did not treat women with much respect, and men did not allow women to do anything, other than be a housewife. Men took charge of women, and if women did earn any money their husband would take it away from them. Women did not have any rights, and nothing was done to change that for a long time. As women did not have a say, they continued to do as they were told and lacked a voice.

The Medieval society was very traditional, in the aspect that men were the most dominant figure as oppose to women. Women had to learn their ‘place’ in the society. They were treated with very little respect and played a very slim role towards the country’s behalf. Her main duty was to support her husband and family and take care of all of her responsibilities. Women had very limited freedom and for the majority of the time, her father or husband would make all of the decisions on their wife/ daughter’s behalf.

The 1920’s, or “The Roaring 20’s”, was a decade that witnessed exciting social changes. It was a time of prosperity and dissipation, bootleggers and jazz dancers, and most importantly, it was a decade of The Prohibition Era. The Prohibition Era is basically an era which banned the manufacture, transportation, import and export, and the sale of alcoholic beverages. It was meant to reduce crime, corruption, and social problems and increase the overall hygiene of America. However, this social and political experiment failed.

Women have had a harsh reputation since the beginning. The first woman, Eve, was condemned for eating an apple and no one will ever overlook that, but many people do overlook or don’t know that Adam ate the apple as well. Only Eve, the woman was faulted for it. In the nineteenth century, there were gender role expectations and to go against it would lead to a misfortune. The story, “A Patchwork Fever”, by Charlotte Mary Yonge, is the story of a young girl, Frances, who must uphold the responsibilities of the house and family while her mother goes on a trip to visit her ill mother.

The total amount of immigrants during the 1920s was 4,295,510. These immigrants came from Germany, Britain, Ireland, Italy, Australia, France, Poland, and Canada Some people from other countries moved her because of our nation 's title “the Golden Land” or to live the “American Dream.” Here in America we have many opportunities such as land, jobs, money, crops, learning abilities, and of course freedom. “ In Europe, there had been a disease which killed nearly two million people and had caused famine. ”(nguyeh 1)

The United States experienced an influx of immigrants between the 1890’s to the 1920’s. Immigrants entered the United States from Eastern Europe and Southern Europe. From these demographic shifts we can also see that there were changed in the United States attitudes towards recent immigrants. These attitudes are grounded in racialized notions of foreign peoples and African Americans. Nativist notions are set in ideas of whiteness and different factors make Eastern Europe and Southern Europe immigrants not quite white.

The center of regular life in Athens was the home. The design of their houses was very simple, which are few windows, doors, and pieces of furniture. Everyone have played important role in house as well. However, there was the different part for everyone.

One of the most prominent social biases, both in the 1920’s specifically and throughout American history, is race. In the period after WWI, race tensions were heightening. Tom clearly does not approve of the idea that black people could rise socially and “infiltrate” his world. Even though Tom himself has a mistress, he says, “Nowadays people begin by sneering at family life and family institutions and next they'll throw everything overboard and have intermarriage between black and white. ”(Fitzgerald p130)