The Roaring 20s “The Jazz Age” 4.7

1920s A time of rapid change in American society Industrialization and immigration began transforming the Unites States into an urban nation –Helped form a new complex urban culture WWI accelerated changes –Young people returning from war

The 1920s is a time of social change.

1920s Women-The Flapper Flapper-a new type of young woman: rebellious, energetic, fun-loving, and bold Defined a new style of dress Many older Americans had more traditional views of how young women should behave in public

1920s Women The “new woman” –Not bound by traditional dress or behavior codes of “being a lady” –Flapper image had a wide impact on fashion and on behavior Shorter dresses Short hair Heavy makeup Smoking/drinking –Style was copy of Jazz club dancers –Small minority of women were flappers Some women wore shorter skirts and bobbed their hair because it was more convenient –Flappers favorite dance was “The Charleston”

Many women felt free to experiment with bolder styles and lifestyles Old… New! Between 1913 to 1928 the average amount of fabric used to make a women’s outfit shrank from 19.5 yards to 7 yards

“New morality” encouraged by media, such as novels, plays, and movies. comedy/musical film-1929 Based on the 1919 play The Gold Diggers

1920s women Working women –Could be nurses or secretaries; not doctors or lawyers Many hospitals refused to hire female doctors Many legal firms rejected female lawyers –Employers seldom trained women for jobs beyond the entry level –Paid less than men for same jobs.

1920s women Voting women –Early on women did not exercise their right to vote Women who lived in rural places had children to take care of and had to make a trip into town to get to the polls Women’s families discouraged them from voting –In 1920: Suffrage granted Only 35% voted –Why? Many lacked interest Felt that women should not vote.

Americans Moving Demographics –The statistics that describe a population data on race or income Rural / Urban split –For the first time more Americans lived in urban areas than in rural areas Majority of Americans now lived in cities. –Split is more than geographical. Many farmers were economically stressed Industrial and commercial economy began to boom Young vs. Old Rural and urban America also split over cultural issues Cities shift away from traditional values Rural populations-preserve traditional values

Americans moving Urban growth –Farmers passed over by post- WWI industrial boom –Market prices dropped while the cost of operation rose 6 million migrated –African Americans –Jim Crow laws and job opportunities caused the Great Migration from the South to northern cities (late 1800s through WWI) – head to northern cities during WWI Booming industrial jobs

Americans moving Congress limited European immigration during WWI After WWI refugees applied for entry into the U.S. Congress acted to limit immigration Especially from southern and Eastern Europe North Americans These limits did not apply Turned to these immigrants to fill low paying jobs Work on farms, ranches, paper mills, potato fields Canadians – Northeast Mexicans – (west to California and south Texas) –Barrios- Spanish-speaking neighborhood Puerto Ricans – NYC attracted Puerto Ricans in hope of a better life

Americans moving White flight –Influx of newcomers American Suburbs grew Started in the late 19 th century cities built transportation systems that used electric trolleys –Transportation improvements Buses replace trolleys Continued growth of the suburbs Automobiles became more affordable to middle-class –Offered flexibility

American HEROES Charles Lindbergh –1st person to fly from NYC to Paris –Radio and navigation equipment were primitive –No autopilot –Landed safely 33½ hours after he left New York –Huge media event –Symbol of traditional American values –Son kidnapped & later found murdered

American HEROES Amelia Earhart –1st woman to fly across Atlantic –1st person to fly solo from Hawaii to California –Tried to be 1st person to fly around world Disappeared mysteriously over Pacific

American HEROES Jack Dempsey –Heavyweight champion of the world –Top 5 all-time boxer Jim Thorpe –Pro football player –Pro baseball player –Olympic gold medalist (decathlon) –Native American

American HEROES Gertrude Ederle –Olympic gold medalist age 17 –Symbol of “new woman” –1st woman to swim the 35-mile English Channel 14 hours, 31 minutes (2 hours faster than previous record)

American HEROES Babe Ruth (George Herman) –Possibly greatest baseball player ever –714 Home Runs lifetime –60 Home Runs in a single season –94-46 (2.26 ERA) as a pitcher

American HEROES Our admiration for our national heroes came from our longing for “old fashioned virtues” They represented “the good old days”