The rapid changes in America throughout the 1920s were defined by a multitude of events, people, and advancements. An increase in immigration brought new values and customs to the United States, as there were people coming from all over the world. New lines of work, such as big bureaucratic agencies, changed the workplace, creating an impersonal work culture. Mass media also affected the changes in the 1920s because movies, television, radios, and newspapers allowed for celebrities and heroes to gain success. These celebrities and heroes affected the lives of Americans and made major impacts of American society and culture. They gave Americans hope for their future successes and showed them that anyone can gain success and fame by working hard. …show more content…
Mass media allowed Americans to hear news as it was occurring and to hear news from across the country. “Radio drew the nation together by bringing news, entertainment, and advertisements to more than 10 million households by 1929. Radio blunted regional differences and imposed similar tastes and lifestyles. No other media had the power to create heroes and villains so quickly.” (Digital History). Another aspect of American culture that radios allowed to grow was the rise of celebrities and heroes. People were able to hear about the events that were occurring all over the nation involving famous individuals. It was the first time in American history where the most famous and well-known citizens were not politicians or war heroes. “One way to measure America’s shift away from a hero-oriented stance to an embrace of celebrity was...to survey the biographical articles that appeared in The Saturday Evening Post and Collier… after 1922 over half came from the world of entertainment: sports figures like Joe Louis and Babe Ruth, and movie stars such as Gloria Swanson and Charlie Chaplin.” (OAH Magazine of History). Because these rising stars were not famous for their role in politics or war, they inspired Americans to work hard to achieve their dreams. This created a society of hardworking determined …show more content…
They reformed the “American dream”. Citizens aspired to become like these celebrities and succeed in their workplace. The new “American dream” was to become like the celebrities. Pilot “Slim” Lindbergh is an example of the types of celebrities Americans looked up and worked to be. Lindbergh was celebrated for his accomplishments. “...he returned to a tribute of millions. Le Bourget and Croydon with their hysterical, unwieldy crowds; Paris, with its Boulevards throngs, and Washington with its glittering of formality were all but obliterated by the greetings of New York.” (New York World). Sports stars also began to impact culture in the U.S. With the new lines of work, like big bureaucratic agencies, changing the workplace and creating an impersonal work culture, sports became important to Americans. People saw sporting events and playing sports a new form of entertainment. The American classic sport of football was described in the New York Herald-Tribune as “...a great football team brilliantly directed, a team of speed, power, and team play. The Army has no cause to gloom over its showing. I played a first-class football against more than it could match.”. This is an example of how people idolized sports
During the 1920s there were many culture wars. Some people were upset because others started to work less and have more fun. Others were upset because blacks started to have pride in their own color, instead of trying to fit in with the whites and do as they said. Popular culture started to influence and reform countrymen into people who wanted to have personal enjoyment and work less. Women started to become more like the men because they would drink and smoke, and started to have their own lives. As the culture changed drastically for blacks, women, and the lives of everyone in America in the 1920s, many culture wars were started because sometimes people just don’t like change.
The radio was used extensively during the 1920’s which altered society’s culture. Society’s culture was significantly affected by the radio because the radio allowed people to listen to new entertainment. Radio became deeply integrated into people’s lives during the 1920’s. It transformed the daily lifestyles of its listeners. Radio altered the definition of fame and celebrity which were acquiring greater worth during the 1920’s. (What Was the Impact of Radio and the Movies in the 1920s?, 2010) Through the Radio’s widespread use, culture became more untied as people were listening to the same news and entertainment. People were also listening to the same views and ideas making for a more united society. As people started to have more choices for entertainment, this led to a culture that was very centered on having fun. “In a setting where individual exploits were being reported by multiple outlets and the fascination with these endeavors began to develop into a full blown industry, the growth of… radio helped to satiate the desire to partake in the glory and folly of fame…” (What Was the Impact of Radio and the
The 1920s became known as an era memorable for being a time when new products, new ways of marketing and advertising, and standardization gave the country new ways to interact, enjoy themselves, and introduce them to new products. Although very common today, standardization of mass culture like magazines, radio, movies, music, and sports were exciting new innovations to the people of this time. Not only did they distract from the monotony and stresses of work but they created celebrities that people aspired to be like.
The 1920s remodeled the country into the one we all know today. People 's values, political views, mindset, and lifestyle evolved with this new era. For instance, women roles went from aspiring housekeepers to a new generation known as flappers. Flappers were free and adventurous women who wore loose clothing They enjoyed drinking, smoking, dancing and proudly disrespecting authority. Technology soon advanced as well. Inventions such as radios were developed. The mass production of fords automobiles began and many companies adopted the idea of assembly lines within their factories. The Great Migration not only brought many African Americans, their music also accompanied them. Jazz soon became popular to the point it became a staple for the
Question #1: After reviewing lesson 22 create a newspaper headline or post an image that highlights one of the significant movements of the 1920’s that you learned about. Please provide a brief summary about the image and the impact it had on 1920’s life and culture.
A new type entertainment, new music, and different fashion, pop culture changed the U.S for the better. Not only did music and dancing change the U.S but, literature also played a huge part in shaping Today's America. Not only did they call the 1920’s “roaring” it was also known as the “Jazz Age”. Jazz was becoming very popular and was growing fast. New music came out constantly and new singers were discovered.
The 1920’s mark the shift in American politics, culture, and economics from traditional to modern. The industrial and economic expansion of the 1920’s created more room for women in the workforce, and a society centered more on consumption than politics. Radios and silent films became widespread, and dissolved physical and cultural boundaries between urban and rural communities. The expansion of advertising alongside the development of the music and film industries exposed citizens to a society held together by consumption. The idea of consumerism was new to Americans. Due to the recent increase of pay and decrease in work hours for blue-collar workers, Americans were able to spend more money on items previously considered luxuries. The prevalence
Life Changes of Americans in the 1920's In the 1920's many American lives were improved greatly, but some lives were as bad as they had been before. The economy was booming, with cars being mass produced, and many other consumer goods such as radios, were widely available. Also more jobs became available, and many people recieved a par rise. However there were bad things such as racism about.
Change in a society is only accomplished after you change your mindset. You can not change if your mind is stuck in an old way of thinking. The country was celebrating the end of “The Great War” and was in need of a drastic change. The 1920s formed the beginning of a distinct era. The Roaring 20’s were about living life to the fullest, this era was a time of change.
The students for a democratic society explain the changes took over the culture of America within the past few years. The government systems or organizations are manipulated and shows no interest towards people rather than “of, by, and for the people.” The threat of war, overpopulation and technology are testing the country’s commitment towards democracy and freedom. The fact is that each individual shows interest in his/her own progress and does not show any interest towards its own fellow people. The institutions and government organizations show a lot of interest towards their profit, but least interest towards the growth of the nation as a whole. Investors bought the skills and potentials of intelligent people for their own profit. There
The 1920’s brought a new identity to the consumer as well as the to the economy, the economy was booming and people weren’t sure what to do with the wealth they were unfamiliar with. “The Twenties witnessed the large scale use of automobiles, telephones, motion pictures, and electricity, accelerated consumer demand and aspirations, and brought about significant changes in lifestyle and culture. Social and cultural innovations began in leading metropolitan centers such as Chicago, New York, New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia, then spread more widely. Popular culture in the 1920s was characterized by innovation in film, visual art and architecture, radio, music, dance, fashion, literature, and intellectual movements. Jazz
The introduction of movies at the theater and radio broadcasting open a new era of how information gets around to people. It made it easier to pass on information to people in hard to reach places. It also open new opportunities for employment. It created movies stars and radio personalities. In the 1920's, the radio was well-thought-out to be one of the most powerful way of communication. the radio broadcasts popular music, classical music, sporting events, lectures, fictional stories, newscasts, weather reports, market updates, political commentary, religious stories, events, and even operas during certain seasons. “New communications media reshaped American culture in the 1920's, and much of the new mass culture was exported to the rest
During the 1920s, numerous companies grew larger and created many new jobs. For most Americans, their wages increased which lead to more people having enough finances to buy new products and services. Many changes were occurring during this time frame, and the 1920s is also known as the “Roaring Twenties”. This period brought up feelings of patriotism to mostly young Americans. After the world war, young soldiers would return home with new ideas after gaining a new perspective of the world. An example of someone who caused changes during this time was famous motion picture star, Rudolph Valentino. With this in mind, Valentino was played an important role in the 1920s, because of setting trends, helping build the entertainment industry, and his death.
Many events occurred during all the eras, but they all differ from each other in many ways. The 1920’s was an age of dramatic social and political changes. For the first time more Americans lived in cities instead of farms. Which eventually led to enormous cultural changes for women; as well as religious divisions. For example, this era is known as the sexual revolution, because of the historical change that occurred to the women. After earning their right to vote with the nineteenth amendment in 1920. This created a new image for women in society. Flappers became well known in the twenties, because of their outspoken and independent personalities, they were viewed as unlady like. They had short hair, drank, smoked, wore miniskirts and became more sexually free. Margaret Sanger was a popular voice during this change because he was the leading advocate for birth control. There was also religious division that took place, due to the Monkey Scopes Trial, which caused a huge conflict between modernists and fundamentalists. Fundamentalists believed in the bible while on the other hand modernists believed in Darwin’s theory of evolution. The 1930’s was extremely different from the 20’s because they had to experience the struggle that was brought by the Great Depression. It occurred when the stock markets had crashed and the banks fell. People were desperate to escape this tragic issue, and hoped that someone would come save them from this tragedy. That savior is known as Franklin
In the 1920s there was no ABC news. No sports announcements. No CD players. No television. Before the 1920s they only had newspapers and live sports. Then, the radio came. In the 1920s and 30s the radio impacted culture by informing the public of news, bringing together America’s music and sports, and even uniting America to stop the Great Depression and restore faith in government.