Rarely has the world seen such a unique decade in time as the Roaring Twenties. It was an age of prosperity and change. The United States experienced a recession that was followed by and unlimited period of prosperity.
Although the United States encountered both positive and negative experiences, it proved to be very influential in the future. The 1920?s were definitely ?Roaring? in more ways than one. There were major changes in American Society during the 1920?s that took place. Many new industries emerged during this decade that influenced society and the American way of life. Even the federal government had different feelings about the business industry. The characteristics of this decade made the 1920?s one never to be forgotten in America because of its influence.
During the 1920?s a dramatic change occurred in American Society. American people experienced a period in their life that would not only affect the economy but even their own personal lives. African Americans had little to celebrate in this period except for the cultural movements such as Harlem Renaissance, which they introduced themselves. The 1920?s were a period that reached both blacks and whites and forced everyone to pay attention.
Racial incidents still took place throughout the United States before the 1920?s. In 1920 the women?s suffrage was finally achieved with the nineteenth amendment. This was also a change because it left the women?s movement confused and uncertain about its goals and its future strategies.Prohibition played a key role in the Roaring Twenties and the early years of the depression. It was the sale or manufacture of illegal alcohol.
To prohibit the sale of illegal alcohol was an attempt to use law and government to help change individual behavior. Advocates of Prohibition sought to justify this policy. The eighteenth amendment was adopted in 1919 and took effect in 1920. During Prohibition, rival gangs in many gig cities tried to control the illegal sale of alcohol. Al ?Scarface? Capone and George ?Bugs? Moran were known as the 20th Century Gangsters. In 1929, on Valentines Day, Al Capone?s men dressed up in police uniforms and shot members of the Moran gang.
Prohibition during the Roaring Twenties was one of many changes that American Society encountered.One of the major assessments that changed American Society was the Stock Market Crash of 1929. In the early 1920?s the stock market skyrocketed because of the average individual investor. Prices on the New York stock began to surge ahead.
Americans felt like they could make a lot of money by investing it in banks. This led investors to pour all of their savings into common stocks. Later in September, the market wavered and a drastic downward change took place in the stock market. Banks were shut down and investors lost all of their savings literally overnight.
The stock market crash of 1929 was a drastic economic event that Americans still fear could happen again. This also was a major change in American society and in the American way of life.Many new industries emerged throughout the Roaring Twenties that are still playing a major role in today?s society. The consumer product industry electrically powered products introduced during the 1920?s.
Some of these products consisted of the electric iron and the electric refrigerator. During this time, The Installment Purchase Plan was introduced. This was a plan where Americans could put a little money down for each month. With this plan, Americans could afford many necessities such as the electric stove or refrigerator. Another very influential industry was the automobile industry.
The automobile was a consumer durable product that was introduced by the Germans. Henry Ford introduced the Model T. The Model T was a four-door car with seats and glass. It was sold for about 250 dollars.
Ford introduced the Assembly line, which began at one point and moved slowly to another. The automobile could be assembled in less than one day and after it was assembled it was marketed. The automobile was efficient, reliable and dependable. It would have expanding influence throughout the 1920?s till present.
Commercial aviation was introduced in the 1920?s. Charles A. Lindbergh was an exhibitionist who put on many shows. He proved to be very influential and was a hero to American people.
Lindbergh flew a single engine airplane across the Atlantic Ocean. He flew from New York to Paris in 33 hours and 30 minutes. Communications Industry also emerged throughout the Roaring Twenties. World War I influenced the commercial industry.
The Radio was the main influence during the 1920?s. It was an Italian invention used during World War I. The radio was found in almost every American home for entertainment. The President broadcasted his in inaugural speech for the first time on the radio. The Radio allowed the American people to listen to political speeches. This was also an advantage for baseball fans.
Baseball fans could listen to a live broadcast of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Overall the Radio was a huge influence in the 1920?s and is still now very important.
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