Levittown Schools



Name: Notes #:

Social Studies 8 Date:

Life in the 1920s

Women in the 1920s The image of the flapper changed the attitudes and style of women in America. The flapper was a woman whose hair, clothes, and style symbolized the rebellious attitude of many youths of the time. Flappers wore their hair short in a “bob” and wore masculine clothes or short dresses (just below the knee). These women went to social events with chaperones and wore make-up and long necklaces – all signs of rebellion at the time. Women also took on new responsibilities in society – they gained the right to vote and new responsibilities outside of the home. The women of the 1920s were part of the equal rights movement that began in the early 1800s and continues even today.

Prohibition With the passage of the 18th Amendment in 1919 the making, selling and drinking of alcohol became illegal in the United States. Reformers believed that the alcohol ban would help reduce poverty and crime in the United States, however, this was not true. As alcohol was made illegal there was a sharp rise in organized crime in the US. Prohibition had replaced the evils of alcohol with the evils of crime. Members of the organized crime movement sought to soak up profits from producing and selling illegal alcohol. Al Capone, a 23-year-old gangster, rose to the top of the organized crime movement during the 1920s. By the late 1920s it became obvious that prohibition could not be enforced and in 1933 it was repealed by the 21st Amendment.

Mass Media The “media” – movies, cartoons, radio, etc. – was used to spread new ideas and fashions. New advertisements were seen nationwide and movies became the newest form of entertainment. Radio sales increased steadily throughout the 1920s and the first nationwide live broadcast was on January 1, 1927 of a football game. Radios allowed new types of music, such as jazz, to reach larger audiences. Radios also offered broadcast of weekly sitcoms, soap operas, and other types of shows. “Hollywood” was also born in the 1920s with the birth of the movie industry. Movie stars such as Charlie Chaplin and Clara Bow offered people an escape from their own lives through the movies. The first “talkie” (movie with sound) was The Jazz Singer in 1927. In 1928 Steamboat Willie was released and was the first appearance of Mickey Mouse. At 15 to 20 cents a ticket, Americans flocked to the theater and in 1929 over 80 million tickets were sold.

The Automobile Industry Henry Ford built the first successful automobile in 1896 and formed the Ford Motor Company in Detroit, Michigan in 1903. Ford’s first successful design, the “Model T,” was an affordable design with a 20-horsepowerengine and body made of steel. In one year, 1908, Ford produced 10,600 cars. By 1920 Ford produced more than a million automobiles – each costing between $335 to $440. Ford was able to do this by perfecting the assembly line (process of assembling a product whereby workers at various stations add one part to it) by using a conveyor belt to move the automobile along while workers added parts. By the mid 1920s a Model T was produced every 10 seconds.

Consumer Buying From 1921 to 1929 the average income per person rose from $522 to $716 and Americans used this newfound wealth to spend on a variety of new products. The introduction of synthetic (artificial or man made) materials enabled once-costly products to be made cheaper. For example, expensive fabrics were replaced by cheaper synthetic fabrics and expensive wood or replaced. This enabled products to be made quicker and cheaper. Therefore prices dropped. Electricity, now widespread in homes due to the creation of the General Electric Company, also enabled new household machines to be used. Products such as vacuum cleaners, electric refrigerators, washing machines, sewing machines, toasters and fans all made life at home easier and more comfortable. Installment buying (making small payments for a product over time) also enabled Americans to purchase goods because people who did not have a lot of money could now make low monthly payments instead of paying all at once. The appearance of the Department Store also aided in the growth of consumer buying. Giant nationwide chain stores, such as Macy’s, allowed consumers from coast to coast to buy the same products and allowed consumers to buy a range of different goods in one store.

Divisions & Fears The 1920s were not a good time for everyone in the US. Following World War One many Americans viewed foreigners as a threat to the government and the result was a rebirth of nativism. Many groups became targets for violence throughout the country as the Ku Klux Klan saw an increase in membership throughout the country – including in the North in places like Long Island. The Red Scare came about from the belief that if a Bolshevik-style rebellion could occur in Russia then it could also occur in the US. People who were believed to be communists were often discriminated against just for voicing their beliefs. Communist parties were formed in the US and many of their members were foreign born. Communism was often associated with labor unions and union strikes were often seen as a foreign plot to overthrow the government. In addition to communist the Red Scare also targeted radical politicians, union members, immigrants, Catholics, African-Americans and Jews. One famous incident at this time was the case of Sacco and Vanzetti. Both men were Italian immigrants and were admitted anarchists – they did not believe in any form of government. The two men were put on trial for the crime of shooting and killing two men. The importance of the case was that these two men were put on trial not for their actions but for their beliefs – despite having insufficient evidence and international protests and appeals both men were found guilty and executed in 1927.

Directions: Once you have completed the attached reading, answer the following questions. Be sure to highlight where you found the answers to these questions.

1. Describe a flapper.

2. How did the role of women in society change in the 1920s?

3. What is prohibition?

4. Why did the organized crime movement grow during Prohibition?

5. How did the era of prohibition end?

6. What new forms of entertainment did people enjoy during the 1920s?

7. What is a talkie?

8. What is “Steamboat Willie”?

9. Who is credited with producing the first automobile? What was it called?

10. What is an assembly line? How did it help the automobile industry?

11. Why did the price of goods go down during the 1920s?

12. Name four products that made life easier at home during the 1920s.

13. What is installment buying? Why did it increase the amount of goods Americans bought?

14. How did department stores change the way Americans shopped?

15. Why did nativism increase after World War One?

16. What was the Red Scare?

17. What groups of people were targets during this time?

18. Who were Sacco and Vanzetti?

19. Why was their trial significant?

20. Based on the information found in this reading, why do you think the 1920s are often referred to as the “Roaring Twenties”?

-----------------------

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download