THE ROARING 20’S OVERVIEW The Jazz Age

POPULAR AMERICAN CULTURE IN THE 1920S Americans enjoy more leisure time and disposable income Americans enjoy more leisure time and disposable income More people had moved to cities, where the workweek and hours were shorter, and new forms of entertainment arose. More people had moved to cities, where the workweek and hours were shorter, and new forms of entertainment arose. Innovation in the movie industry Innovation in the movie industry For most of the decade, the studios made silent pictures. For most of the decade, the studios made silent pictures. Attainable for everyone, and crossed cultural boundaries Attainable for everyone, and crossed cultural boundaries Charlie Chaplin was the most popular silent film star Charlie Chaplin was the most popular silent film star The Jazz Singer (1927) was the first movie with sound synchronized to the action The Jazz Singer (1927) was the first movie with sound synchronized to the action The radio The radio Millions of radios and phonographs were marketed in the 1920s, helping to produce a standardized culture. Millions of radios and phonographs were marketed in the 1920s, helping to produce a standardized culture.

AMERICAN ROLE MODELS The 1920s become the “age of celebrity” The 1920s become the “age of celebrity” Media coverage (increased newspaper readership and radio) creates sports heroes Media coverage (increased newspaper readership and radio) creates sports heroes Babe Ruth (baseball “The Sultan of Swat”), Jack Dempsey (boxing), Bobby Jones (golf), Gertrude Ederle (1 st woman to swim the English Channel) Babe Ruth (baseball “The Sultan of Swat”), Jack Dempsey (boxing), Bobby Jones (golf), Gertrude Ederle (1 st woman to swim the English Channel) A Transatlantic Flight A Transatlantic Flight Even the biggest sports stars could not match the adoration given to aviators. Even the biggest sports stars could not match the adoration given to aviators. Improved aviation technology leads to Charles Lindbergh, in the Spirit of St. Louis, flying from New York to Paris across the Atlantic ocean. Improved aviation technology leads to Charles Lindbergh, in the Spirit of St. Louis, flying from New York to Paris across the Atlantic ocean. Charles Lindbergh becomes the greatest hero of his time. Charles Lindbergh becomes the greatest hero of his time.

THE ROLE OF WOMEN CHANGES During the decade, many women challenged political, economic, social, and educational boundaries to prove that their role was as vital outside the home as inside it. During the decade, many women challenged political, economic, social, and educational boundaries to prove that their role was as vital outside the home as inside it. 19 th Amendment 19 th Amendment Many women got more involved in politics and equal rights movements Many women got more involved in politics and equal rights movements The Flapper: a young woman with short skirts and rouged cheeks who had her hair cropped close in a style known as a bob. The Flapper: a young woman with short skirts and rouged cheeks who had her hair cropped close in a style known as a bob. Many more women entered the workforce Many more women entered the workforce The consumer economy benefitted women by making life more efficient The consumer economy benefitted women by making life more efficient Vacuum cleaners, irons, washing machines, refrigerators Vacuum cleaners, irons, washing machines, refrigerators

SOCIAL ISSUES ARE REFLECTED IN ART AND LITERATURE The war inspired a more pessimistic, skeptical worldview, which sparked an artistic movement known as Modernism: art and literature movement that reflected interest in new technology, and uncertainty in a rapidly changing world. The war inspired a more pessimistic, skeptical worldview, which sparked an artistic movement known as Modernism: art and literature movement that reflected interest in new technology, and uncertainty in a rapidly changing world. Sigmund Freud: his psychological theories led writers and artists to explore the subconscious mind. Sigmund Freud: his psychological theories led writers and artists to explore the subconscious mind. Edward Hopper and Georgia O’Keeffe were both famous artists in the modernist movement Edward Hopper and Georgia O’Keeffe were both famous artists in the modernist movement The “Lost Generation” of writers: F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Sinclair Lewis, William Faulkner, T.S. Elliot The “Lost Generation” of writers: F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Sinclair Lewis, William Faulkner, T.S. Elliot Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (1925) explored the reality of the American dream of wealth, success, and emotional fulfillment. Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (1925) explored the reality of the American dream of wealth, success, and emotional fulfillment. Earnest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms (1929) novel about WW1, and disillusionment with the “American Dream” and war. Earnest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms (1929) novel about WW1, and disillusionment with the “American Dream” and war.

THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE New York City’s Harlem became the focal point for the aspirations of hundreds of thousands of African Americans. The Harlem Renaissance: African American culture was explored and celebrated, and helped give a new vocabulary and dynamic to race relations in the US The Harlem Renaissance: African American culture was explored and celebrated, and helped give a new vocabulary and dynamic to race relations in the US Marcus Garvey was the most prominent new African American leader to emerge in the 1920s. Marcus Garvey was the most prominent new African American leader to emerge in the 1920s. Advocated for the separation of the races, and organized a “Back to Africa” movement. Advocated for the separation of the races, and organized a “Back to Africa” movement.

THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE Music: The Jazz Age A Unique musical style, and symbol of the Roaring 20s, based on improvisation became extremely popular, especially in black communities. A Unique musical style, and symbol of the Roaring 20s, based on improvisation became extremely popular, especially in black communities. Trumpet player Louis Armstrong became the unofficial ambassador of jazz Trumpet player Louis Armstrong became the unofficial ambassador of jazz Literature and Art Literature and Art Artists explored the pains and joys of being black in America Artists explored the pains and joys of being black in America Langston Hughes was probably the most powerful African American literary voice of his time. Langston Hughes was probably the most powerful African American literary voice of his time. Lasting Impact Lasting Impact 1. Gave a voice to African American culture 1. Gave a voice to African American culture 2. Altered the way many white Americans viewed African American culture 2. Altered the way many white Americans viewed African American culture 3. The sense of group identity and solidarity that it created would become part of the bedrock on which the later civil rights movement would be constructed. 3. The sense of group identity and solidarity that it created would become part of the bedrock on which the later civil rights movement would be constructed.

KANSAS CITY IN THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE 18 th and Vine 18 th and Vine