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Table of Contents
The Roaring Twenties refers to the era of economic prosperity in the Western world in the aftermath of the First World War. During this period, people enjoyed the emerging innovations in music, fashion, film, and media. Also dubbed the βJazz Age,β the Roaring Twenties was a unique time of redefining trends, celebrating life, and reaping the benefits of freedom in artistic expression and consumer lifestyle.
See the fact file below for more information about The Roaring Twenties, or you can download our 25-page Roaring Twenties worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
ECONOMIC BOOM
- The 1920s saw the rapid growth of the manufacturing and economic industries as well as the rise of consumer culture.
- As major cities in the United States and Europe were recovering from wartime wreckage and shelved spending, an economic boom followed.
- People were initiated into a materialistic and consumerist culture.
- The United States entered a free market economy, an economic system controlled by the supply and demand of goods instead of the government.
MASS PRODUCTION
- Mass-produced commodities became a thing during the 1920s.
- Businesses reaped greater profits from mass production as the income tax rate dropped drastically for the top percentile in the socioeconomic class.
- American citizens could buy mass-produced consumer products, such as appliances and cars.
- The Ford company, headed by Henry Ford, was the pioneer of turning cars from luxury goods into mass-produced items.
- Henry Ford created the βassembly lineβ wherein workers would stand next to a conveyor belt and add parts to the car frame without moving from their places.
- Mass production resulted in an increase in wages because of the decreased cost of production.
CONSUMERISM
- Consumerism dominated the 1920s, which refers to the selling and purchase of goods in increasing amounts.
- The US became the producer of half of the worldβs consumer output during that decade.
- Constantly advertised consumer goods became readily available.
- New products that made life convenient were constantly marketed, such as washing machines, radios, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, and other household appliances.
- The buying habits of consumers were transformed by mail-order catalogs that featured hundreds of affordable products.
- Huge department stores also became popular among shoppers.
- Buyers were also given the option to buy on credit or hire purchase, further encouraging them to spend on products.
- Buying on credit or arranging a hire purchase means paying for the product in regular installments.
- Hire purchases allowed consumers to have the product immediately, but the downside is they would eventually pay more than what the product initially cost.
NEW TECHNOLGIES
AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY
- Cars were considered luxury goods before the First World War.
- This position changed in the 1920s when cars became mass-produced products.
- Ford and General Motors were pioneers of this change in the automotive industry.
- By the end of the decade, there were around 27 million vehicles registered.
RADIO INDUSTRY
- The radio was the first mass broadcasting system invented in the 1920s.
- Consumer products could be advertised through the radio, which enticed many consumers to purchase.
- In 1925, electrical recording was invented (called vinyl records), and commercials began to dominate the advertising industry.
- People could listen to music through phonograph recordings.
THE FILM INDUSTRY
- Vaudeville theaters became a thing of the past once movie houses took over the entertainment industry.
- People flocked to the cinema because going to the movies was cheap and accessible.
- Sound films, also known as βtalkies,β were introduced at the end of the decade.
- Sound films stand in contrast to silent films; these films are motion pictures with synchronized sound.
COOLIDGE PROSPERITY
- Once Calvin Coolidge was elected as US President in 1923, the period called the βCoolidge Prosperityβ started.
- Throughout his tenure until 1929, he enacted conservative policies and laws that favored private businesses.
- One significant policy was taxes were lowered on personal income and business profits.
- The era was characterized by limited government spending, limited regulation, growing wages, and decreasing unemployment.
POSITION OF WOMEN
- The role, perception, and expectation of women in society underwent drastic changes in the 1920s.
- Women were granted the right to vote in the US, Canada, Great Britain, and numerous countries in Europe.
- Birth control options became increasingly available for women who wanted to have fewer children or none at all.
- The number of women in the workplace increased as well.
- For women who served as homemakers, new inventions like the washing machine made domestic housework easier for them.
- Nonetheless, women still faced limitations in their roles, such as only having specific kinds of jobs, not being able to have a job while pregnant, and not earning veteran benefits in military work.
- The image of a βnew woman,β also known as a βflapper,β emerged in the 1920s.
- The flapper symbolized more liberated behavior, such as the affinity for drinking, smoking, and wearing revealing clothes.
- Not all women in the Roaring Twenties acted in this manner, but the flapper symbolized the new freedoms earned by women.
- In 1921, the Sheppard-Towner Act, a significant piece of legislation, also called the Promotion of the Welfare and Hygiene of Maternity and Infancy Act, was passed.
- This act allotted government funding for womenβs maternal and childcare needs.
HARLEM RENAISSANCE
- Meanwhile, the New York neighborhood of Harlem became the center of African-American art and literature flourishing in the 1920s.
- Dubbed the βHarlem Renaissance,β this era spotlighted authors, musicians, and artists of African-American descent.
LOST GENERATION
- Another group that found momentum in the 1920s was the Lost Generation, a generation of young adults who remained cynical about the Roaring Twenties because of the wartime devastation that preceded it.
- Prominent figures of the Lost Generation were F. Scott Fitzgerald, John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, and T.S. Eliot.
ISSUES OF THE ERA
- Despite consumer culture seeming to be an indicator of economic growth and social revolution, it eventually became the reason for the countryβs economy to decline and resulted ultimately in the Great Depression.
- Farmers and populations who lived in rural areas also faced difficulties during the β20s.
- They suffered to pay off the loans they took on when they had to buy heavy equipment to meet the demands during the First World War.
- As their farms faced foreclosure, crop prices dropped in the early 1920s.
- The economic disparity between urban and rural America caused resentment among people not enjoying the benefits of the new developments during the Roaring Twenties.
The Roaring Twenties Worksheets
This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about The Roaring Twenties across 25 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about The Roaring Twenties. The Roaring Twenties refers to the era of economic prosperity in the Western world in the aftermath of the First World War. During this period, people enjoyed the emerging innovations in music, fashion, film, and media.
Complete List of Included Worksheets
Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.
- Roaring Twenties Facts
- Twenties Terms
- Right Era or Error?
- Industry Insights
- Generation Questions
- Cartoon Contemplation
- Famous Figures
- Dedicated to the Decade
- President of Prosperity
- Wins for Women
- Roaring Collage
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the Roaring Twenties?
The Roaring Twenties refers to the decade of the 1920s, characterized by unprecedented economic prosperity, cultural dynamism, and social change, particularly in Western countries, such as the United States. The term “roaring” reflects the lively and energetic spirit of the time.
What were the main economic factors contributing to the prosperity of the Roaring Twenties?
The economic boom of the Roaring Twenties was fueled by factors such as increased industrialization, technological advancements, and the aftermath of World War I. The war had stimulated industrial production, and with its conclusion, there was a surge in consumer demand. This, combined with innovations like assembly line production, contributed to economic growth.
How did the culture of the Roaring Twenties differ from the preceding decades?
The Roaring Twenties saw a cultural shift marked by the rejection of Victorian norms and a move towards more liberated and modern attitudes. This era witnessed the rise of jazz music, the popularity of dance crazes like the Charleston, and the emergence of the “flapper” lifestyle, where women challenged traditional gender roles by adopting more independent and fashionable lifestyles.
What role did Prohibition play in the Roaring Twenties?
Prohibition, enacted through the 18th Amendment in the United States, banned the production, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages. However, rather than curbing alcohol consumption, Prohibition led to the rise of illegal speakeasies, organized crime, and the smuggling of alcohol. It became a symbol of the tension between traditional values and the changing culture of the time.
What were the consequences of the stock market crash in 1929 on the Roaring Twenties?
The Roaring Twenties came to an abrupt end with the Wall Street Crash of 1929, marking the beginning of the Great Depression. The stock market crash led to a severe economic downturn, massive unemployment, and widespread poverty. The optimism and excesses of the Roaring Twenties gave way to a period of economic hardship and social challenges that defined the 1930s.
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