Cultural Changes of the 1920's

Prohibition was one of the biggest historical events of the 1920's. Alcohol was made illegal because it was thought that alcohol was at the root of many social evils, like crime, violence, and family disputes. By making alcohol illegal it opened the door for gangsters like Al Capone to terrorize the public and make millions of dollars on illegal alcohol sales. The general public did not support this ban on alcohol and so made it very difficult for law officials to uphold this unpopular law.

At the beginning of the century many African Americans moved from the south to the north to leave segregation behind and find work. Many ended up living in the Harlem section of New York City and in the 1920's it became a center for a unique African American art culture. The writers, musicians, and painters told a story about what it was like to be black in America, this created a sense of community and great pride. Music was the biggest area of impact, creating an American Jazz sound that combined Jazz with traditional slave and African sounds.

There was a lot of unrest in America during the 1920's. The traditional values of home and farm living were no longer the norm and many people were moving to the big cities of the north. As a reaction to the new socially more liberal and exciting style of the Jazz age, there was a turn to religion by many people who felt uncomfortable in the new social climate. A movement called Fundamentalism arose, preaching that the Bible predicts exactly how life should be lived and how the world developed. This created great conflict between Fundamentalists and the scientific lessons of evolution. It was a heated and emotional argument that continues to this day.

The role of women in the 1920's changed dramatically. While young rebellious women in the cities cut their hair, wore short skirts, and make up, most women were not what we think of as a "flapper". As people left farms to move to the cities the booming economy had created many new jobs. During the war women left their homes to go to work to support their families while the men were overseas. After the war ended women continued to gain economic freedom and political power. They went to college and became nurses, social workers, and teachers. Even women who chose to stay home and take care of their families, understood that they deserve to be equal to men.

In the 1920's the idea of owning a house became a reality for many people who had not been able to afford it before. New building materials and improved methods lead to houses that were solid and healthy homes. In the cities, community leaders demanded an improvement in low cost housing that allowed people with little money to live in safe and comfortable homes and apartments. Skyscrapers were also introduced in the 1920's. Again it was improvements in the building industry, like steel, reinforced concrete, and elevators that enabled buildings to be built well over the previous average of six stories. This enabled huge growth in cities like New York, that were surrounded by water or other natural boundaries. Now the buildings could go up and up and up.

Citations

• www.1920-30.com/architecture/
• All pictures are courtesy to Haikudeck.