However, the economic boom and business success was only a minor part of the Roaring twenties. The higher wages and lower prices meant people had more confidence to buy new things such as radios and go out exploring the cities. The people would travel out to the cinemas, theatres and new clubs to explore new things and take risks like never before. Excitement and risk taking were a major part of the roaring twenties, as they were the new attitudes that the American people developed. The American people did not want to be like the past, they wanted to try everything that was new and exhilarating, such as trying new dances at clubs or listening to new music. People would try all sorts of stunts and tricks just to get famous and noticed. This was a new era for the people of America, one which was definitely “Roaring” and adventurous. This is linked with the economic boom, as without it they would not have had the money to go to the clubs or try new things. Confidence increased and they were no longer afraid to have sex before or outside marriage or do things that were illegal. In fact, everything that was illegal was even more exciting for the people to explore. The American people were now free, which is why it was seen to be “Roaring”. The “Roaring Twenties” was about exploration and entertainment. Almost the exact opposite of what it was prior to the war.
The cinema and theatre became enormously popular and the major success yet. America became world known because of the ever-shining lights at Hollywood and big screen cinemas with motion pictures. Along with the motor car, gained confidence and money, the American people went to the cinema very often to see the movies such as Charlie Chaplin (see Figure 1). The cinemas showered new genres of movies, which displeased the older generations, but made youngsters excited. The entertainment side of life became extremely popular, and anything new would be tried by the American people. Hollywood made over $800,000,000 in just one year during the “Roaring Twenties”. Sport became equally successful and popular, and sporting stars such as Babe Ruth were earning millions. People continued their Roaring lifestyle and began to gamble on sporting events and also try new and exciting ones such as car racing. As the music and dancing styles changed, new bars and clubs opened up. People would go with their wives or girlfriends and try the new dances such as the “Charleston” and the new music, Jazz. The 1920s was described as the Jazz age because of the influence that Jazz had on the American people. Jazz music was brought in by the blacks from Africa and they started a new craze. Jazz music was rebellious and slightly sexual, and this made it ever more exciting and popular. As Anne Shaw Faulkner says “Jazz stimulates to extreme deeds, to a breaking away from all rules and conventions; it is harmful and dangerous”. It was the “harmful and dangerous” aspects of life that made the 1920s “roaring”, and the new generation loved it. The entertainment life that the Americans enjoyed was also a reason for the 20s being called “Roaring”. The night life expanded and the city was now awake 24/7 every day of every week and life was one gigantic game of merriment and excitement.
After the First World War, women gained the vote and many other rights after the War, which led to the uprising of “flappers” (see figure 2). "Flappers" was the term to describe the new generation of women, who had short hair, wore trousers or short skirts and publicly exposed themselves. The older generation of women and men were not appealed by it, and several flappers were arrested by the police for their “obscene dressing”. The women became more rebellious during the “Roaring Twenties” and were free. No longer were women just housewives with no lives. But they were free women who loved to party and go out to the cinema, have sex in the back of a car and even be prostitutes. Prostitution became popular as sex outside marriage increased, and many women found themselves working as prostitutes, which increased the rebellious atmosphere of the 1920s. All was exciting and rebellious and accounted for the Roaring attitude of the 1920s, which the other countries looked upon in shock and horror. The women’s new attitudes were also linked with the economic boom, but also the cinema. The cinema provided this “flapper” image that they copied and used, but the boom allowed them to shop new clothes and items.
Alcohol was the fuel to the rebellious attitudes, as it was something new and exciting to explore because of the changed age restrictions. Women began to explore drinking as well, which was not common or popular in the past. Prohibition was launched in the 1920s which caused a great uproar, as now their rebellious attitudes would die off. They needed alcohol and they would do anything to get it, even if it was illegal and would spark off a huge organized crime syndicate. As illegal alcohol was being provided by the organized crime gangs, people began to accept crime and felt excited drinking it, as it was thought to be rebellious. People went to “Speakeasies” were they could dance the Charleston, listen to Jazz, dress as they wanted, and drink as they wanted. Speakeasies became very popular and accepted within American society. Along with alcohol, they all contributed in creating the “Roaring Twenties” because the atmosphere and the clubs were 24/7 and very wild and exciting. Although alcohol was illegal at the time, there was a 600% increase in alcohol related deaths, which shows how the people were rebellious and how active and “roaring” the country was.
America changed a great deal after the First World War, and during the 1920s, was referred to as “Roaring” by other countries. The American people were richer, happier but above all more rebellious and confident and were willing to take risks. They enjoyed anything that was rebellious and exciting. It was known as “Roaring” because of what the new American society stood for. There was gambling, prostitution, illegal drinking, crazy stunts and all sorts of new things that no one had seen before. America was certainly the land of excess as some historians refer to it as, but it was most of all “Roaring” because the 1920s was so unique and alive compared to what it had previously been and the flame of the “Roaring” fire was getting bigger and bigger as entertainment and industries grew. The economic boom was the spark to the fire, but it was only “Roaring” because of what the people did with their new freedom and lifestyle.
