The use of cars began to benefit large numbers of people in America, as they were also available to the lower classes, which enabled a greater number of people to enjoy the effects of freedom and mass production, being a success.
Through out, the twenties there was a substantial growth in production, jobs, profits, wages and the standard of living. These elements worked in a cycle of cause and effect and supply and demand. The growth in production created more jobs, and because more people had more money they could buy the newly produced goods. More goods needed to be produced so more jobs and profits were created. This led to the twenties seeing the start of mass production and consumerism.
The impact of mass production swept through America, and Americans enjoyed a period of great prosperity. The invention of new machinery and use of the assembly line helped the production world to soar, saving time, and money. The introduction of “Buying Credit” enabled people to buy things when they wanted without being restricted. “Possess today pay tomorrow” however; these began to lead some people into large amounts of debt. Enabling people to purchase things when they wanted them, regardless of whether they had the money to hand, brought people into debt, as they began to spend money which they did not have.
Mass production began to benefit women, enabling their household chores to be lessened by the production of vacuum cleaners and washing machines, which helped these industries to grow as their products became exceedingly popular amongst middle class women who could afford them. Advertising started to play a more important part with these new products and places requiring publicity in increasingly competitive markets. People started to purchase in a new way to, concerned with “keeping up with the neighbours.” People often wanted to better them too. People used their money to gain a higher place in society.
Previously, women lives had been very restricted in many ways, they were expected to remain housewives and raise the children. Very few jobs were on offer, prier the 1920’s, as they were regarded unable to work as men did. They also encountered limitations socially, having very restricted relationships with men, unable to join certain social activities, such as drinking and smoking in public and participating in sports. They were expected to dress simplistically with out make up and wear respectable clothing.
However, the 1920’s were soon to bring great opportunities for the women of America, finally being able to vote gave them more political power. The new industries had created new jobs, needing more workers. By 1929, 10 million women were employed. The money they were earning gave them a new found freedom and independence, as they were now more self-reliant than they had ever been before. Middle class women could also now afford to buy household items such as; vacuums and washing machines, making their household tasks easier.
As women were now earning a living of their own, they quickly became the target of advertising, helping to increase sales. However, although women were now able to work, they were still lower paid than men, employee’s were inclined to employ them as they were seen as a source of cheap labour.
As opportunities began to change for women, so did their life styles and appearance. Some young women began to show off their newfound freedom- know as “Flappers”, showing that they could behave as they wished. They began to wear a great deal of make-up, cut their hair, dress as they had never done before in short skirts and low back gowns. Socially they began to rebel, having open relationships with men, drinking and smoking in public, behaving “inappropriately”. They became “daring and provocative”. Although their elders were appalled at such behaviour, the new women of the 20’s began to enjoy challenging old expectations.
During the 1920’s a whole new world of entertainment began to engulf America, people wanted to forget about the war and enjoy themselves. Cinemas became increasingly popular and proved to provide a great source of entertainment. Ticket prices were made affordable to all classes of people and by 1929; 110 million people were visiting cinemas each week. Hollywood’s film industry had a huge impact on America, bringing brand new business opportunities; many people began moving to California, hoping to be adopted into the film business. Studios all over America began competing with each other to produce the most expensive, star-studded films.
Silent Movies were the first to hit America’s screens, with people such as Gloria Swanson, Charlie Chaplin and Rudolf Valentino becoming great stars of the silent screen.
The film industry opened up opportunities for many people, musicians found large amounts of work, as they were hired to provide background entertainment throughout films. The industry appeared to “roar” for many people, providing newfound work and entrainment for everyone, and only began to decline with the threat of television and World War2, causing those involved in the industries to gradually loose their jobs.
The jazz age became a main impact in America’s “roar”, a time when black music, blues, soul and jazz began to dominate all other music at this time, benefiting blacks, as it was a time for them to flourish and their unique talent for producing such great music was appreciated. It had a tremendous impact on young people and became a main part of entertainment. Conditions for Blacks began to improve slightly, as they were now gained more respect and a large number were now earning money through their music. However, many still lived in harsh condition of poverty and still suffered discrimination.
Radio became a rapidly growing part of American life, the first American radio station, “Station KDKA” was started in 1920, enabling people to access the new types of music, including jazz.
. Famous sportsmen of the 1920’s were, Jack Dempsey, a heavy weight boxer and Babe Ruth, the best Baseball player of the era.
Owning a radio enabled people to listen to the sporting events, which they were
The idea of introducing Prohibition had long been campaigned for during the 20’s, backed by the Anti-Saloon League, who hailed Prohibition as an era of “clear thinking and clean living” It was finally enforced on 17 January, 1920 by the Volsted Act. They felt the banning of alcohol was the only way to demolish the evil of drunkenness and the trouble it caused.
Hundreds of licensed bars and brewery’s soon became out of business, leaving large numbers of people unemployed. However, the new law began to offer criminals undreamed opportunities to make extremely vast amounts of money, keeping the tradition of selling and the consumption of alcohol and liquor very much alive.
In New York there had been 15,00 legal saloons, there were soon 32,000 speakeasies-unlicensed bars. The business of bootlegging liquor to the people of America became a rapidly growing multi million-dollar industry.
Chicago, referred to as the “Only completely corrupt city of America, became one vast brewery”
American gang warfare and crime reached its height during the time of prohibition. The illegal selling of alcohol had created an up roar of competition throughout Chicago amongst gang members, such as Al Capone and Bugs Moran.
The life of gangsters certainly roared during this period, however, between 1927 and 1931 there were 227 gang murders, but not one conviction. By 1927 drunken driving offences had soared by 467 %. Prohibition appeared to have created more problems than it was intended to solve. It was finally abolished by the Democrat Roosevelt in 1932.
Although many were living lives of prosperity, the blacks of America still suffered greatly. Through out the 1920’s the horrifying acts of the Klu Klux Klan flourished as the klan spread further than south with its constantly growing three million members. The members of the klan were thoroughly disguised, wearing long white hooded cloaks concealing their faces and bodies. They swept through towns and villages terrorising and murdering all blacks, Jews and Catholics in their path. “Fighting for native white protestant supremacy”
Blacks suffered horrifically with nowhere to seek help, lacking the support of police, as many of them were secretly members of the klan themselves. Others who were not part of the klan chose to turn a blind eye to the racial hatred which continued to roar through out the 1920’s. After 1925, the klan members began to decline due to the onset of the Great Depression.
This period failed to roar for many people. Six million families had an income of less than $1000 a year. The government provided no welfare support for these people. Agriculture suffered greatly as prices fell to the advantage of the consumer, many farmers began to leave their farms and hometowns, as the new life of the city began to beckon them, offering a more prosperous future. Although the conditions for blacks improved slightly, a great deal of racial discrimination and general poverty remained largely overlooked.
However, over all the 1920’s certainly roared for the majority of American’s, creating a great mark in American History. They were living lives of great change, prosperity and success.