The Evolution of US Society in the Roaring Twenties

1. “Learning to Lead our Lives” Title: In what ways did US Society change during the 1920s. Skill: Political Awareness and Organisation and Communication NGfL: USA 1929 -1990 All images/ cartoons are believed to be in the public domain. Many of the images were sourced from the internet encyclopaedia wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org

2. What characteristics does each animal posses? Images courtesy of Microsoft clip art

3. How does this relate to the major political parties in the US? The Republicans The Democrats

4. Who are the Americans Today? Images courtesy of Microsoft clip art

5. BUT, THIS IS A STEREOTYPE. Images courtesy of Microsoft clip art

6. What was US Society like in 1920s? How does this music make you feel? What does this music suggest about how life was changing in the 1920s? http://www.geocities.com/flapper_culture/jane.html

7. Try the Dance steps yourself!!! Charleston Basic: • move left, • step right • Kick left, • step left, • kick right, • knee right, • kick back right, • step right Images courtsey of wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org

8. Task: Create a three column chart to show the changes that took place in US society in the 1920s In what respects did US society not change?

9. Changes that took place in US society in the 1920s In what respects did US society not change?

10. In order to find out if the 1920s deserved to be called the ‘Roaring Twenties’ click on the information icon below. • Women • Art • Music • Film • The Economy • Organised Crime • Did everyone benefit?

11. The ‘Roaring Twenties’. Film • The first talking movie, The Jazz Singer, with lead role by Al Jolson appeared in 1922. • By 1930 about 100 million Americans went to the cinema each week. • Films promoted new fashions and taught people new ways to behave girls wanted to copy the on- screen stars such as Joan Crawford and Marlene Dietrich. Back to menu Images courtsey of wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org

12. The ‘Roaring Twenties’. Music • Popular music flourished in the 1920s helped by radio programmes and gramophone records. • Jazz, with its black and African American origins became the most popular of all. • Famous Jazz stars include Louis Armstrong and Benny Goodman • Many parents and older people objected to openly sexual nature of some if its songs and dances. Back to menu The King & Carter Jazzing Orchestra photographed in Houston, Texas, January 1921. Images courtsey of wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org

13. The ‘Roaring Twenties’. Women • Well – off middle and upper class women who led the fashion in women's clothes become known as ‘flappers’ because of their short shirts. • They behaviour shocked the order generation as they wore makeup, smoked, wore their hair short, drove cars and went out with men unchaperoned. Back to menu Images courtsey of wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org

14. The ‘Roaring Twenties’. ART • Art Deco was the style in design and architecture that marked the era. Starting from Europe, it spread to America towards the end of the 1920s, where one of the most remarkable buildings featuring this style was constructed as the tallest building of the time: the Chrysler Building. • The forms of art deco were pure and geometric, even though the artists often drew inspiration from nature. In the beginning lines were curved, but later on rectangular designs became more and more popular. Back to menu Images courtsey of wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org

15. The ‘Roaring Twenties’. Economy • During the 1920s, mass production developed which allowed for cheaper prices of technology. Most of the devices that became commonplace in this decade had been developed before the war, but had been unaffordable to the majority. • The automobile, movie, radio, and chemical industries skyrocketed during the 1920s. • Between 1914 and 1926 the purchase price of a model T Ford fell from $850 to $295. • The automobile had wide effects on the economy and society. The automobile industry rapidly became one of the largest and a number of peripheral companies running gas stations, motels, and providing oil also became important. • Finance companies fuelled the demand for goods by allowing people to purchase goods on the ‘never never’ or Hire Purchase. • Many Americans bought shares in the stock market or speculated in an attempt to’ get rich quick’. Back to menu Images courtsey of wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org

16. The ‘Roaring Twenties’. Organized Crime • In 1920, the manufacture, sale, import and export of alcohol was prohibited by the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution in an attempt to alleviate various social problems; this came to be known as "Prohibition". • The alcohol trade was driven under ground and became a hugely profitable business. • Bootleggers supplied the drink • Speakeasies (illegal bars) supplied this. • Al Capone, in Chicago, led the most powerful and notorious gang. Back to menu Images courtsey of wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org

17. Did Everyone benefit from the Boom? Unemployment remained a problem. The growth in industry did not create many new jobs. These Americans which included many poor white people an even greater proportion of Black and Hispanic people and other members of the USA’s large immigrant communities. These people were unable to purchase goods. This meant that the consumer led boom of the twenties would tail off very soon if these families continued to be paid so appallingly. • Workers in many of the older industries, such as coal, leather and textiles did not benefit from the boom. • In 1928 there was a strike in the coal industry in North Carolina, where the male workers were being paid $18 and women $9 for a 70 hour. At a time when $48 week was considered to be the minimum for a decent life Back to menu

18. Task: Create a three column chart to show the changes that took place in US society in the 1920s In what respects did US society not change?

19. Countdown to US society in the 1920s Conundrums Flapper rfpepal iiphitrboon ntelrscaho Charleston Prohibition Art deco caretdo