The Roaring Twenties/Jazz Age
Born-September 24, 1896 Died-December 21, 1940 Married Zelda Sayre born in St. Paul, Minnesota spent four years at Princeton, left before graduating to join the army during WWI first novel, This Side of Paradise (1920) an autobiographical piece that made him temporarily rich and famous later in 1920, married Zelda Sayre she was also an aspiring writer
they lived an extravagant life in New York City and Fitzgerald tried to support them with writing 1924 they moved to Europe because it was cheaper to live there he met Ernest Hemingway published The Great Gatsby (1925) which was a critical success but not a financial success
problems: ◦ debts ◦ alcoholism ◦ first of Zelda’s mental breakdowns (1930) returned to U.S. and wrote Tender is the Night (1934) which led to his own breakdown wrote screen plays for Hollywood ( ) ◦ Zelda confined to a mental hospital in North Carolina
World War I ended in 1918-Disillusioned because of the war, this new generation was also referred to as the lost generation. Farms started to struggle post WWI: 6 million people moved to the urban area; more people lived in the cities than the rural areas. Urban life was filled with money makers and pleasure seekers. Rural life was considered to be safe, with close personal ties, hard work and morals. There was the suburban boom with trolleys, street cars, etc..
African Americans were moving north. Why? Jim Crow laws Jim Crow laws New job opportunities in north 1860 – 93% in south 1860 – 93% in south 1930 – 80% in south 1930 – 80% in south Faced hatred from whites Forced low wages Other Migration: Post World War I: European refugees to America Limited immigration in 1920s from Europe and Asia. Employers turned to Mexican and Canadian immigrants to work.
This sense of loss resulted in America throwing itself headlong into a decade of frivolous behavior and materialism known as The Roaring Twenties. A carefree time of wild parties, illegal drinking, and extravagant lifestyles. A time of change in fashion and music Jazz Age and saxophone
Prohibition was in effect- the restricted sale and use of liquor original purpose was to abolish saloons which were thought to be immoral and dangerous to society brought about bootleggers people who made and sold liquor illegally they often ran drugstores and other “front” businesses just to sell liquor
Illegal gambling existed: Perhaps the worst scandal involving gambling was the Black Sox scandal of 1919 in which 8 members of the Chicago White Sox were indicted for accepting bribes to throw the World Series.
After WWI, Americans were looking for a little fun in the 1920s. Women were independent and achieving greater freedom: right to vote, more employment. (Entered workforce as nurses, teachers, librarians and secretaries) Still earned less than men and certain jobs were not available to them.
The Jazz Age was also an era of reckless spending and consumption. The flashy new automobile was the status symbol of the time. Advertising was becoming the major industry that it is today, and soon advertisers took advantage of new roadways by setting up huge billboards at their sides. Both the automobile and a bizarre billboard play important roles in The Great Gatsby.
A flapper was an emancipated young woman who embraced the new urban fashions and urban attitudes-rebelled against the norms of the 1900’s. Drank and smoked in public and married at a later age. Lived a carefree lifestyle. Hairstyle fashionable at the time-the bob. bob.
New Money Old Money Someone who has Money from family wealth achieved the American Born rich dream Not earned through work Not as respected in done by yourself the 1920s Respected above all in the 1920s