1920s American Culture Essay

Americans turned toward domestic isolation and social conservatism in the 1920s because of the red scare. Many people used the red scare to break the backs of all struggling unions. Isolationist Americans had did not have a lot of hope in the 1920s. There began to be a large amount of immigrants flowing into the US. During 1920-1921, over 800,000 immigrants had come. This type of immigration was known as the "New Immigration". The Emergency Quota act of 1921 and the Immigration Act of 1924 severely limited immigration and was taken from the census of 1890 rather than 1910, because 1890 was a huge immigration

As a nation coming out of a devastating war, America faced many changes in the 1920s. It was a decade of growth and improvements. As immigrants fled from Europe, the economy improved, and new machines offered convenience and luxury from the kitchen to the streets. However, with all change comes opposition. The 1920s revealed a conflict between traditional America and the new attitude and lifestyle through the changing role of women, continued dominance of Christian values, and racism.

In the years following World War I, the United States was comfortable with returning to its prior state of traditional values. In the government, this was reflected as the 1920 election was won by Republican candidate Harding, who ran with the slogan “A Return to Normalcy.” Americans simply wanted to recuperate after the intense global conflict that had just ended; however, changing and new attitudes were at battle with their desire of normalcy. It was movements like “New Morality” that contested traditional stances of those who sought security in their lives. As a result of the constant battle between old and new values, tensions were mounting between citizens. The Roaring Twenties was a time of innovation in American life; however, tensions surfaced between traditional and new values, shown through court rooms, national politics, grass roots campaigns, and media revolutions, due to a rise in differing theological views, women’s fight for independence, racial conflict, technology, and advertising.

Newspapers had once been the only mass communication & entertainment. The demand for new products that emerged in the 1920s created a new industry, advertising, which enticed buyers to purchase new products, and now that the radio had emerged, advertising was integrated into this media outlet . Radio shows like Amos n' Andy, became a nationwide hit. The advertising industry grew with the emerging industries of mass culture, especially radio and cinema. For the first time, from coast to coast, Americans experienced the same shows and used the same advertised products due to mass culture. The first commercial radio station aired in 1920 and broadcast music to a few thousand listeners. By the end of the decade, thirty-three

Beginning in the early 1920’s, America found itself in a frenzy of revolutionary movements that would shift the everyday lives of American citizens and pave the way to the modern era. A struggle between old ideas of conservatism and new liberal movements surfaced during the “roaring twenties”. The new movements that began rearing their heads during this time period consisted of liberal political ideas, the advancements of rights for the common man and woman, and reforms to our social culture.

In the end, no one can dispute that the 1920’s presented seemingly insurmountable tension between, “Old America,” and, “New America,” in terms of religion, social conflicts, and cultural values. This tension was masked in some places by the prosperity, brought on by the roaring twenties, but still remained at large. One good side effect of these tensions was brought about though, in the sense that many precedents, which are still followed

With the arrival of the 1920’s, new battles fought between traditionalist rural society and modernist urban civilization arose in the postwar United States. These urban-rural culture wars of this time period represent the everlasting conflict between conservatives and liberals. The 1920 census demonstrated to traditionalists that their views were under attack by the modernists who gradually came to outnumber them. Traditionalists were disturbed that they were losing a battle against immigrants who didn’t understand or appreciate “old American values” and against their own children, a new generation of rebellious youth who brought about sexual revolution, materialism, and skepticism.

Prior to the 1920s people were already not given equal prosperity. This can be seen in 1882 by the Chinese Exclusion Act, the first significant law restricting immigration into the United States. However, the ban was only against the immigration of Chinese laborers. Furthermore, Andrew Carnegie owner from the steel industry from 1973-1901 controlled the most extensive integrated iron and steel operations ever owned by in the United States. Although Carnegie gained millions, he paid his workers little. Therefore, the 1920s did not give prosperity to everyone including those who were immigrants, the new technological advancements, and the economic difference in social classes.

The counter culture of the 1920’s has affected the way the American lifestyle is today. Counter culture is a culture that primarily consists of younger people, with values and lifestyles opposing those of the original established culture. (Dictionary.com) A need for change. The 1920’s are also known as the “Jazz Age,” which was coined by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and the “Roaring Twenties.” It was a decade of change. (Hakim, 41) The counterculture of the 1920’s resulted from the Age of Jazz, Flappers, and the Harlem Renaissance.

disappointment. It was a decade classified as the "roaring twenties." Men returning from World War I had to deal with unemployment, wheat farmers and oil companies were striking it rich, new modern conveniences were being thought up, and fashion was a major issue among the rich.

During the “roaring twenties,” there were many different events that went on that either caused revolutionary or traditional changes. However, from information of occurrences during the 1920’s, we learn that revolutionary events were more beneficial than traditional changes were. The KKK, Birth of a Nation, Aimee Semple McPherson, and the Scopes Trial all present examples as to why our country in the 1920’s should’ve focused on revolutionary changes to progress our society and homeland. Henry Ford, Harlem Renaissance, Charles Lindbergh, and Flappers are all examples as to why revolutionary events were more beneficial in progressing the country. Traditional values are less advantageous because they do not help progress and traditional ideas often lack innovation.

The 1920’s were a period of tension between new and changing attitudes on the one hand and traditional values and nostalgia on the other. What led to the tension between old and new AND in what ways was the tension manifested? Following the WWI and the election of Warren G.Harding in the 1920s, America was transitioning from the antique, traditional ideas to modernization, such as from creationism to evolution, from migrations to xenophobia, and from the roles of African Americans to the Harlem Renaissance. Although many Americans wanted to return to normalcy after the World War I ended, the emergence of new and changing attitudes prevented the returning to a normal society. As a result, many were feuding over the rapid advancement of the American society, which were manifested through trials and political actions, leading to further tensions.

One of the grooviest time periods in American history was the 1920s. The roaring 20s, as its often called, deserves the title of "roaring" as it was a time of great cultural uproar for both splendid reasons, such as jazz and independent women, and some awful reasons, such as the treatment of immigrants and organized crime. Numerous factor of the 1920s made it "roaring", between the creation of jazz, flapper (outgoing and independent women), and "More people had money than ever before. And, mostly, they were intent on having a good time.", which made the 20s a time of radical and groovy cultural change in America. Jazz music was created from a mixture of songs with a syncopated rhythm, blues, and the band music played at New Orleans funerals.

The years following the first World War were years of change for the United States. Not all the change was good – the decade began with a brief depression and was plagued with issues regarding civil rights, income inequality and unemployment. The latter two issues were underlying signs of the impending doom that would mark the end of the “roaring twenties”. But until then, the twenties did roar. The economy flourished and industry reshaped the way Americans lived, worked and thought. New art forms came into popularity and culture shifted away from many traditional values. Society changed in major ways, and gave birth to some of the ideas, beliefs and trends that still rule the country to this day.

modest to the people of the 21st century, but to the Americans of the 20’s, it would be an outright scandal. Many of the trends of the era stemmed from important events happening at that time. The end of WWI led to the new carefree philosophy of the youth, the Prohibition led to the popularization of speakeasies and casual drinking, and the recent suffrage movement led to women being more liberated than ever before. The end of the 1910’s brought a sense of rebellion to American, shaping fads to be more scandalous and even more dangerous than ever before.