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5 Things to know about the Roaring 20’s World War I ended (November of 1918), the soldiers coming back to the United States found a different place than they left just the year before. Happiness was in the air as people were celebrating the Allied victory in Europe and at home… “Is there such a thing as having too good a time?” In the winter of 1918-1919, the world was dealing with the Spanish/Blue Flu pandemic that will take 20 million lives across the globe.This doesn’t damper everyone’s spirit though…There was so much celebrating that the Temperance Movement demanded that alcohol be banned (prohibited) in the US. “Why would people and the US Government step in?” People like Carrie A. Nation (above) would argue that alcohol was a major problem & that those who abused had a lot of problems at home as well.As a result, her movement to prohibit the use of alcohol caught on with a lot of people around the US, even before World War I.In North Carolina, we agreed to “go dry” in 1909 because of her words/actions…After World War I ended, the US Government got involved through propaganda and then by passing the 18th Amendment to US Constitution.This went into effect January of 1919, which prohibited the manufacturing, transportation and sale of alcohol within the United States. “What about the people who didn’t agree with Prohibition?”Just because it was now illegal to have alcohol, a lot of people still wanted to have some.Secret clubs called “speakeasies” popped up in cities all over the U.S.These clubs were always moving around to avoid police detection.Many felt it was worth the risk to find a drink, do some dancing or listen to music. “What role did North Carolina play during Prohibition?”Even though NC had gone dry before the 18th Amendment went into effect (1909), we still played a big role, especially in the mountains of Western North Carolina.Since so many people wanted alcohol in the cities, bar owners needed farmers in the mountains to make whiskey under the cover of darkness.Wilkes County (about 2 ? hours away) became one of the biggest “moonshine” (whiskey) producers in all the US.With alcohol coming in from Canada, as well as the mountains, the “Roaring 20’s” took off… “So what would you do for fun during the Roaring 20’s?”Well, there was a new technology called “motion pictures."You could go the nickelodeon and for a nickel, watch “silent” movie stars like Charlie Chaplin and later, the Marx Brothers in “talkies.”You could also read stories by authors like Ernest Hemingway (The Sun Also Rises) and F. Scott Fitzgerald (The Great Gatsby)And ladies, the new style of clothing known as “flappers” would bring in the dance craze called the “Charleston”.Jazz musicians like Jelly Roll Morton and later Duke Ellington will lead a “Renaissance” in places like Harlem (NY). In October 1929, the stock market crash would lead the US into the Great Depression.Watch some of these clips: (Charlie Chaplin) (Marx Brothers) (dancing the Charleston) (styles/dancing of 20’s) ................
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