The Roaring 20s A decade of radical and rapid cultural change. Americans began living new modern lifestyles.

Women in the 1920s The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote. This newfound freedom encouraged women to take on new opportunities such as education and employment

Women in the 1920s Began to challenge traditional roles Flappers- rebellious young girls- wore shorter dresses, bob haircut, dancing, smoking. Mostly urban and wealthy young girls, but rural girls read about them in magazines

Prohibition

Prohibition 18th Amendment- prohibited the manufacture, sale, or transportation of alcohol Had the opposite effect- Americans began to enjoy the excitement of getting around the law- speakeasies, bootlegging, etc. Speakeasy: illegal bar Bootlegging: smuggling alcohol Led to increase in crime  Mafia – smuggled the alcohol & paid off law enforcement Volstead Act- enforcement of the amendment Hard to enforce, because drinking was not illegal Struggle between the morals of Americans and the progress they wanted to experience

The Great Migration Southern life was difficult for African Americans, many of whom worked as sharecroppers or in other low-paying jobs and often faced racial violence. Many African Americans looked to the North to find freedom and economic opportunities, and during World War I the demand for equipment and supplies offered African Americans factory jobs

The Harlem Renaissance African Americans streamed into cities In the North, such as Chicago and Detroit. The major relocation North is called the Great Migration Harlem, NY became the cultural center of Northern African Americans. Harlem Renaissance: a rebirth of African American culture- music (jazz), art, literature. Langston Hughes, Josephine Baker, etc.

African American Activism Many African Americans did not experience the opportunities they had hoped for and still faced discrimination. Led to race riots Two major political activists W.E.B DuBois Founded NAACP Fight for less discrimination Marcus Garvey Universal Negro Improvement Association Self pride and reliance- make ourselves better Back to Africa campaign

Entertainment Radios become cheaper and are found in every home Radio spreads information and creates a common culture As Americans have more free time and more $, they go to the movies and sporting events – these stars become celebrities Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey, Amelia Earhart, Charles Lindbergh, Charlie Chaplin

Consumerism Incomes rise, people can spend more on wants rather than needs American consumer goods became cheaper Advertising also spurred Americans to wants goods they didn’t need “Make the public want what you have to sell” Toasters, Radio, Washing Machines, etc. Some used installment plans (buying on credit)

American Values Life in America is more conservative and wants to return to American values Fundamentalism- idea that religious texts and beliefs should be taken literally and treated as the authority on appropriate behavior Scopes Trial- Tennessee teacher broke the law and taught evolution to his students Urban America is experiencing cultural reform and filled with more modernists