America in the

Growth of the American City It was in the huge, bustling cities of the USA that the Twenties seemed to roar the most! By 1920 the number of US citizens living in towns and cities exceeded the number living in rural areas.

The 1920s a decade of contrasts There was tension between rural and urban USA. Many rural people felt their traditional values - which emphasized religion and family life – were under threat from cities, which they believed were full of atheists, drunks, “fast” women and criminals.

For those who “joined the party” it was a time of liberation and rebellion against traditional values ROARING 20s – the term is associated with entertainment and changing morality. The average work week shortened and workers had more disposable income. RADIO ( by for every 2/3 households in poor areas; In 1921 there was only 1 licenced station, by 1922 there were 508)

Sports Boomed Baseball -became a “big money sport” -Legendary teams and players became celebrities Boxing -heavyweight champs/heroes like Jack Dempsey -Huge bets were placed People went to games/matches or LISTENED on their RADIOES

All that JAZZ! People who didn’t go to SPEAKEASIES could listen to music on their new radios. Black people who moved to the cities brought JAZZ and BLUES with them.

Prohibition The banning of alcoholic drink – 1919 No making, selling, transporting or DRINKING Rural and small-town women – their ‘cause’ Believed it damaged family life - men spent money on alcohol instead of taking care of their families - ruined their health - caused them to lose their jobs

Prohibition and Organized Crime In 1920 Americans “prohibited” the making and selling of alcoholic drinks. They added the 18 th Amendment (=change) to the Constitution to do this. But many people still drank and criminals helped them do it.

Crime Gangs of criminals, known as “gangsters”. Some, like Bonny & Clyde, robbed banks. Some became organizations ruled by powerful leaders. Immigrant groups like the Irish, and the Italians (known as The Mob or the Mafia) grew to be Incredibly powerful and rich. They built empires that “ran” booze, drugs, and prostitution. The FBI was formed to deal with this growing social problem. Gangsters were often glamourized in films.

A Speakeasy was where people went to drink alcohol, listen to the wild new Jazz music. Being black music, naturally the musicians were black – but they were the only non-whites allowed!

SIN!! New dances like The Charleston The corrupting influence of JAZZ!!

"Does Jazz Put the Sin in Syncopation?""Does Jazz Put the Sin in Syncopation?" Jazz originally was the accompaniment of the voodoo dancer, stimulating the half-crazed barbarian to the vilest deeds. The weird chant, accompanied by the syncopated rhythm of the voodoo invokers, has also been employed by other barbaric people to stimulate brutality and sensuality. That it has a demoralizing effect upon the human brain has been demonstrated by many scientists. The Ladies' Home Journal August 1921

Cabaret Entertainment!

DECADENT!

Talkies! Movies! a new world of entertainment Silent until 1927 Became a multi-billion-dollar business By ,000,000 tickets were being sold each week 100s of cinemas in each of the big cities, w 4 performances a day Working people spent more than ½ of their leisure budget on movies

FLAPPERS -Smoked! -Wore their hair short! -Wore make-up! -Showed their legs! OH MY! contraceptive advice was now available

Other Changes in Society Films, songs and paperbacks encouraged new fashions and freedoms It became more acceptable for women to have jobs Church attendance fell and divorce increased Household gadgets gave some relief from housework

Clara Bow “The IT Girl” Men actors and Women actresses were promoted as sex symbols.

Wild and Crazy Times!