After World War I ended in 1918, the world witnessed amazing things happen in industry and the economy. In 1919, women gained the right to vote in elections for the very first time in history. In addition, the stock market was thriving and average Americans were buying luxurious goods. When the 1920’s began, everyone was very hopeful and optimistic about the future. It was the start of the Roaring Twenties!
Winning World War I
After the First World War ended, America was on the winning side and the American people felt confident and trusted their army’s power and ability to protect them from any future danger. This had a great impact on the confidence of the American people who entered the 1920’s with very optimistic expectations.
Industry’s huge growth
After the war, American industry was growing very fast. Factories that were producing cars, radios, washing machines, and other high-class goods started hiring more people to meet the huge demand. The banking system helped many working-class families buy items such as cars on credit. It seemed like the American economy would continue to get bigger and bigger with no end in sight.
Jazz!
This 1920’s era is also known as the “Age of Jazz” as it became the most popular music in America at the time. You could hear jazz music playing everywhere such as the radio and on dance floors. Jazz was a new form of entertainment for the American people during the 1920’s.
Women’s rights
Voting was only a small part of the changes to women’s rights during the 1920’s. As all men went to war in World War I, it was the women’s responsibility to work and take care of their families. After the war ended, women were not about to let go of their newfound power and independence.
One sign of this change was the way women dressed and did their hair. Dresses started to become lighter and shorter to accommodate the constant movement as women were going out to work every day. Hairstyles also started to shift in favor of short hair. Lastly, there were goods that were marketed directly to women for the first time as opposed to men or families.
Cultural shift
Many inventions that were made during the Roaring Twenties changed the way of thinking in the United States. As more people gained access to radios and movies, they became more aware of national and local events.
Having access to the same radio shows and movies allowed people to experience ‘mass culture’ for the first time. Listening to the same music on the radio, watching the same movies, and buying the same goods helped bring the American people closer together as they experienced the same things at the same time.
A turn for the worst
Life was great for a large majority of Americans during the 1920’s. Confidence was at an all-time high and, as a result, people were buying things on credit. Americans continued investing in the stock market as they speculated it would continue to skyrocket. However, a dark day in America’s history known as Black Tuesday occurred on October 29, 1929 when the stock market crashed and the American people lost a huge amount of their money. The stock market crash of 1929 signaled the beginning of the Great Depression.
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