The Roaring Twenties

Economy Since the US was only in a state of war for a little over a year in Europe, our economy was at an all time high. Trade continued with other nations around the world. Consumers bought items on credit – borrowing money from the bank and paying it back with interest. Installment buying (buying things in small monthly payments).

Consumerism Production/Assembly Lines became a dominating business model. Items could be mass produced at a cheaper cost. Employees became more efficient at their job. What cars are being shown and who was famous for properly utilizing the assembly line?

Movies Movies were made in black and white in the 1920’s. They were all silent, only featuring music and written dialogue. In 1927, Warner Brothers released “The Jazz Singer,” the first movie to have synchronized dialogue. How are movies different in today’s society in comparison to the 1920’s? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdK37odGSEo

Music The 1920’s known as “The Jazz Age.” In 1922, the first commercial radio station KDKA, located in Pittsburgh, began broadcasting and soon many more stations began to emerge. This helped spread jazz music. Louis Armstrong popularized scat singing and Duke Ellington helped begin the Big Band Era. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihpvjj5_mjw

Harlem Renaissance Harlem, New York became the largest African American community. The Harlem Renaissance, a period of remarkable artistic accomplishment, took its name from the area. Famous writers of the time: Countee Cullen, Zora Neale Hurston, and Langston Hughes.

Literature Writers who criticized American culture in the 1920s became known as “The Lost Generation.” Some moved to Europe and lived as expatriates (people who leave their native country to live elsewhere). Members of the Lost Generation included: Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Sherwood Anderson and John Dos Passos.

Dance Starting in the 20’s ballrooms started sponsoring dance contests. New dances were developed. The most popular new dances were the Foxtrot, the Waltz, the Tango and the Charleston. The dances borrowed aspects from African American music styles. Foxtrot - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyOWM6S1ITA Waltz - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J-yR_uYBzw Tango - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkjBLmM6KEg Charleston - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-8kK4J3s2I

Fashion Women were labeled as flappers in the 1920’s. They stopped dressing in the Victorian manner and instead opted for knee-length dresses that exposed their legs and arms. They wore their hair short and cosmetics began to be acceptable to wear in public.

Sports Babe Ruth was the most prolific baseball player of the era, possibly of all time. Bobby Jones was the most dominant golfer of the 1920’s. Jack Dempsey was a bare knuckled boxer who became the heavyweight boxing champion of the world. Charles Lindbergh became the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927.

Alcohol and Prohibition The United States banned the selling of alcohol with the 18th amendment (Prohibition) Underground production of alcohol and bars evolved after the ban. Moonshine was homemade alcohol and Speakeasies were underground (secret) bars Creation of NASCAR

Short Answers In complete sentences on the back side of your notes- Why do you think this time period was considered “roaring”? How would you life be different in comparison to today if you live in the 1920s?

1920s Skit Wrap Up Which 1920s slang expressions were new to you? Which expressions did you recognize? Why do you think some slang expressions from the 1920s have endured to the present day? What were topics to which the slang expressions primarily related? What do these topics reveal about society during the1920s? What can we learn about a time period by examining its language? What do you think future generations will say about today’s American society based on modern-day slang?