Changing ways of life
In the 1920s, many different aspects of life changed. One of the largest of these was when the government made alcohol illegal; the prohibition. This was for political and social reasons including increase in crime, and decrease in safety and productivity. At the time (and still), drinking was a very large part of social life for adults, so naturally, people were enraged when the right to drink was taking away from them.
The prohibition itself also led to a chain reaction of changes in life. One of these changes was the creation of speakeasies, or shady establishments which sold moonshine, or illegally made alcohol. This also caused the need for transport of moonshine to and from said speakeasies. These people were called bootleggers, people who transported the illegal alcohol.
Another way life changed in the 1920s, was the introduction of fundamentalism. This was a protestant movement, where some scientific theories were rejected or questioned. Fundamentalists believed that all science could be found within the bible. This was due to how the bible was from god, so all stories within the bible must be true as well. This fundamentalist movement clashed with many non-fundamentalists, leading to the scopes trial. This was when people argued wether or not evolution and the role of science should be taught over religion in public schools. In the end, teaching of evolution was outlawed.
We think that the prohibition was one of the worst decisions the government could have made. It resulted in a whole ton of changed economically and socially and ultimately resulted in a total failure. The government had good reason to enforce such an act, since so much crime was resulting from being under the influence, and there more injuries in the workplace, but rather than banning alcohol completely, regulations should have been made. Similar to what we have today. It is okay to drink, but be sober for work, and driving, and other tasks, for safety reasons. However, the decision that the government made was the opposite of what America needed. This cut of alcohol stopped a lot of social gatherings that people had at the time. This then led to a chain reaction of illegal activity causing gangs to form, which raised death and crime rate. Following this, illegal transportation, and production of alcohol was made, resulting in the government loosing millions of dollars (which is a lot more in our time). In the end, this ended up causing more economic problems, which just helped the great depression and stock market crash happen, as well as increase the segregation of the blacks and whites due to how the depression caused loss of so many jobs.
The prohibition itself also led to a chain reaction of changes in life. One of these changes was the creation of speakeasies, or shady establishments which sold moonshine, or illegally made alcohol. This also caused the need for transport of moonshine to and from said speakeasies. These people were called bootleggers, people who transported the illegal alcohol.
Another way life changed in the 1920s, was the introduction of fundamentalism. This was a protestant movement, where some scientific theories were rejected or questioned. Fundamentalists believed that all science could be found within the bible. This was due to how the bible was from god, so all stories within the bible must be true as well. This fundamentalist movement clashed with many non-fundamentalists, leading to the scopes trial. This was when people argued wether or not evolution and the role of science should be taught over religion in public schools. In the end, teaching of evolution was outlawed.
We think that the prohibition was one of the worst decisions the government could have made. It resulted in a whole ton of changed economically and socially and ultimately resulted in a total failure. The government had good reason to enforce such an act, since so much crime was resulting from being under the influence, and there more injuries in the workplace, but rather than banning alcohol completely, regulations should have been made. Similar to what we have today. It is okay to drink, but be sober for work, and driving, and other tasks, for safety reasons. However, the decision that the government made was the opposite of what America needed. This cut of alcohol stopped a lot of social gatherings that people had at the time. This then led to a chain reaction of illegal activity causing gangs to form, which raised death and crime rate. Following this, illegal transportation, and production of alcohol was made, resulting in the government loosing millions of dollars (which is a lot more in our time). In the end, this ended up causing more economic problems, which just helped the great depression and stock market crash happen, as well as increase the segregation of the blacks and whites due to how the depression caused loss of so many jobs.
The Twenties Women
Women in the 1920s, since they now had more rights and freedom, took advantage of these new social powers that they had. Flappers emerged from women in American society; women who took advantage of new styles and social ideologies. This resulted in many women becoming much less conformed, and some more aggressive and assertive for their right to power, just like men had.
However, men still often had more power than women in society at the time. One aspect of life that emerged was double standards, the set of principals that granted greater sexual freedom to men in society, than women. This required that women have stricter, less social lives than men did.
We think that the women in the 20s were very important at the time, since without them, women today may not have the equality with men that they have today. Now a days, women can do whatever they want to do within the law, just like men can. However, they used to be expected to stay inside, most did not work for money, and they could not vote, as well as many other limitations. Women were treated as if they were a lower part of society, no matter their skin color. So this increase in power given to women in the 1920's was a major contribution to how free they are today. Although in the 1920s, they were still given less power and rights than men, it was the beginning of a new revolution for women and their right to freedom and equality.
However, men still often had more power than women in society at the time. One aspect of life that emerged was double standards, the set of principals that granted greater sexual freedom to men in society, than women. This required that women have stricter, less social lives than men did.
We think that the women in the 20s were very important at the time, since without them, women today may not have the equality with men that they have today. Now a days, women can do whatever they want to do within the law, just like men can. However, they used to be expected to stay inside, most did not work for money, and they could not vote, as well as many other limitations. Women were treated as if they were a lower part of society, no matter their skin color. So this increase in power given to women in the 1920's was a major contribution to how free they are today. Although in the 1920s, they were still given less power and rights than men, it was the beginning of a new revolution for women and their right to freedom and equality.
Education and popular culture
One part of popular culture was the fascination with Charles A Lindbergh. Charles was the first man to be able to fly across the entire atlantic ocean safely, with no stops.
Georgia O'Keeffe was also a well known painter in America. Georgia was known for recording Americas realities and dreams in her art, making a lot of citizens obsess over her works of art.
F. Scott Fitzgerald showed the negative side of the time periods freedom. He emphasized the need for more positive change, and the need for more people to be concerned about 'tomorrow'.
Ernest Hemingway was a writer who criticized the glorification of war. He saw war as it was, not as anything good, like many people did. Ernest eventually left the United States to escape the country; which he saw as a powder keg with a spark waiting to happen.
We feel that the flourishing culture is one of the few long term positives to come from the 1920s. Many great artists, composers, authors and more began their careers during this time period. The false economy allowed for many people to spend "money" (credit) on their culture. This made people aware of the struggles and lifestyles of others. Which in our opinions was a great thing, because it bonded the nation even more than before. For example, the whites became more accepting of the African-Americans during the Harlem Renaissance.
Georgia O'Keeffe was also a well known painter in America. Georgia was known for recording Americas realities and dreams in her art, making a lot of citizens obsess over her works of art.
F. Scott Fitzgerald showed the negative side of the time periods freedom. He emphasized the need for more positive change, and the need for more people to be concerned about 'tomorrow'.
Ernest Hemingway was a writer who criticized the glorification of war. He saw war as it was, not as anything good, like many people did. Ernest eventually left the United States to escape the country; which he saw as a powder keg with a spark waiting to happen.
We feel that the flourishing culture is one of the few long term positives to come from the 1920s. Many great artists, composers, authors and more began their careers during this time period. The false economy allowed for many people to spend "money" (credit) on their culture. This made people aware of the struggles and lifestyles of others. Which in our opinions was a great thing, because it bonded the nation even more than before. For example, the whites became more accepting of the African-Americans during the Harlem Renaissance.
The harlem Renaissance
The harlem renaissance was a time period in the roaring 20's, when african americans thrived in harlem, becoming the majority, allowing their ideas, art, literacy, and music to flourish. This eventually spread outwards into the rest of the United States as well. Some of the people involved were as follows.
Langston Hughes was the movements best known poet. He emphasized the difficult lives of working class african americans.
Langston Hughes was the movements best known poet. He emphasized the difficult lives of working class african americans.
Billy and I think that this was a tremendous moment in history that was required in order to get the point we are at today where segregation and racism is (mostly) abolished. Although the introduction of the blacks into a formerly white society was fairly violent and caused a lot of conflict between the two races, it was important that the two races at least start to interact with each other more. In no way are Billy and I saying that the violence was a good thing, but we feel that had none of this happened, the chain of events (segregation and Martin Luther king, etc.) wouldn't have ever happened, and the whites still could be viewing blacks a lower part of society in modern times today. So although the introduction of the two races could have been done better, essentially this caused the whites to begin to accept and unknowingly assimilate to the blacks forms of culture, causing us to be the melting pot we are known by today.
The nation's Sick Economy
As the growth from the 1920s ended, economic problems grasped the entire nation. The Great Depression has had lasting impacts on the our nation and how we view ourselves and the government. We have made economic adjustments to prevent a relapse economically.
Dow Jones Industrial Average was and still is the measurement of the industrial average and stock.
Black Tuesday was when the bottom of the market fell, and the nations share holders tried to sell everything they could before prices dropped even more. People who used credit to buy stocks were stuck in huge amount of debt resulting in depression throughout America.
Resulting from black tuesday and other issues after the 1920s, was the Great Depression. A time period in which the economy drastically fell while unemployment skyrocketed.
Ryan and I believe that the sick economy was terribly handled in 1920s. People became to reliant on their credit, which they couldn't support. The government was so hands off that it allowed the economy to crash hard and fast. However, there is some positive from this situation. For instance, we now know how to potentially prevent this from repeating. The government will now bail out the banks to prevent the same thing from happening.
Dow Jones Industrial Average was and still is the measurement of the industrial average and stock.
Black Tuesday was when the bottom of the market fell, and the nations share holders tried to sell everything they could before prices dropped even more. People who used credit to buy stocks were stuck in huge amount of debt resulting in depression throughout America.
Resulting from black tuesday and other issues after the 1920s, was the Great Depression. A time period in which the economy drastically fell while unemployment skyrocketed.
Ryan and I believe that the sick economy was terribly handled in 1920s. People became to reliant on their credit, which they couldn't support. The government was so hands off that it allowed the economy to crash hard and fast. However, there is some positive from this situation. For instance, we now know how to potentially prevent this from repeating. The government will now bail out the banks to prevent the same thing from happening.
Hardships and Suffering during the great depression
The Great Depression left many people jobless and evicted from their homes. These families were left to wonder attempting to find and sort of housing. Many decided to seek shelter in sewer pipes and parks. But, some build small shacks out of scraps they found on the street. Before long shantytowns sprang up, areas where a lot of these shacks were constructed
**Read the opinion under the next section to hear our thoughts on this section. We combined the opinions on these two subjects because we felt they were very similar.**
**Read the opinion under the next section to hear our thoughts on this section. We combined the opinions on these two subjects because we felt they were very similar.**
HOover struggles with the depression
As the president, Hoover had to respond to the Great Depression that was tearing through America. His response to this depression was criticized a lot. Hoover believed that the economy was still okay and secure, and Americans just had to be positive about the depression and it would all end up being fine. However, most Americans had a mindset that was less positive about the situation, and were not pleased with Hoover's limited use of the government and his power to fix the economic issues across the nation.
We think that president Hoover was looked at wrongly in this situation. From further research online, we discovered many people directly blame Hoover for the stock market crash, which resulted in the great depression. Although Hoover contributed to the progression of the crash of the American economy, Billy and I believe that it was also the fault of many other leaders of the country. Following this, the economy is not directly controlled by the government, so although Hoover had part in the situation, he was not the only cause of it. Also, Hoover did try to fix the problem, in a fairly professional, positive outlook kind of way. This may have not been the ideal way in his situation, but it was better than nothing. Finally, it also must be kept in mind, that a year after his election, he was able to get the hoover dam built, which helped produce electricity, and gave jobs to those looking for work. Finally, it also helped revive the technology industry in the US, and helped a lot with WW2. Therefore, although we think that he could have acted differently in the situation he was placed in, and it was the right thing to do when he was defeated in election by Roosevelt, we believe that he was not to be blamed for the downfall of America's economy.