1. Society in the 1920s

2. Prosperity
Began the decade with a recession (unemployment at 11.7% in 1921).
By 1923 unemployment drops to 2.4%
“The Roaring 20s” were characterized by economic prosperity.

4. 18th Amendment-Ratified on January 16, 1919
This made illegal: the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes.
Herbert Hoover
The Volstead Act of 1919 defined alcohol as any drink having an alcoholic content above 0.5 percent.

5. The 18th Amendment led to the period called
“Prohibition”
It’s goal, in theory, was to reduce crime, poverty,
the prison systems, death and disease rate, corruption
and other social problems.
Many historians believe it was a WASP backlash to exert
superiority over minorities, a reaction to the overwhelming
immigration of the first part of the century.
Prohibition was also a major platform for the Progressive
Party

6. “Problems” with Prohibition:
Very hard to enforce:
People continued to drink.
People found illegal ways to make money off
alcohol sales
Led to the development of organized crime.
Had the opposite effect intended by Progressive
WASPS:
Created economic opportunities for otherwise
powerless.
Caused races to comingle in “Speakeasy” and
“Black and Tan” clubs.

7. Women Pre-World War I During the War After the war
Women start to migrate towards the cities
During the War
Women start working in factories
After the war
Found a new sense of worth/ belonging
Voting
Social independence

9. 19th Amendment-Ratified in August of 1920
Guarantees women the right to vote-picture of Suffrage parade in New York City, c1912.
Ensures no US citizen will be denied the right to vote based on gender.

10. Flapper Short hair Short skirts Smoking/ drinking
Shift away from traditional values took place mainly in the cities

11. Migration from Rural to Urban
Farmers did well for first two decades
After the war prices dropped
6 million move to the cities
African Americans move North – factories bring new jobs

12. Rural America is left behind.
For the first time in American History, more people lived in urban areas than in rural.

13. Rural to Urban to Suburb
Automobiles became more affordable
Cities built transportation systems that used an electric trolley
70,000 buses were operating in the U.S.

14. Hope takes flight Charles Lindbergh Amelia Earhart
“Lucky Linda” nonstop flight from New York to Paris
Amelia Earhart
First women to fly across the Atlantic Ocean

15. Sports Heroes Jack Dempsey – Heavy Champion of the World
Jim Thorpe – Native American
Olympic gold, Professional football and baseball player
George Herman Ruth
set home run record with 60 home runs
Hazel Wightman & Helen Wills
Olympic and Wimbledon tennis starts

17. The Jazz Age
Grew out of the African American music of the south (New Orleans)
Syncopated rhythms and improvisations
Some people were horrified
“… an expression of the times, of the breathless, energetic, superactive times in which we are living.” – Leopold Stokowski