1. The Roaring Twenties

2. Return to Normalcy
After WWI the US was the richest and most developed country in the world.
Mass production, high wages, new consumer goods and forms of entertainment labeled the decade the “Roaring Twenties”
In 1920, Americans elected Republican Warren Harding who promised a “Return to Normalcy”

3. Foreign Policy “Returned to normal” by embracing isolationism
Citizens felt they were “duped” into joining WWI and became committed to neutrality

4. Pro-Business Policies
In the 1920’s, three Republican presidents were elected (Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover) who helped the US “return to normalcy” by adopting pro-business policies:
Kept taxes low so Americans could spend their money
Kept gov’t interference minimal so private enterprise could flourish
These policies meant no new progressive reforms:
Felt confident that reforms had limited monopolies, cleaned up cities, and regulated the economy
As workers wages rose & their hours decline, Americans were happy to spend their money

5. The “Roaring Twenties”
Pro-business policies & mass production techniques developed during WWI led to an industrial revolution in consumer goods
Industrial growth led to high wages for workers and cheap products for consumers
People wanted more consumer goods and began using Credit….

6. Credit The 1920’s also had a boom in advertising.
Advertisers used techniques to make people think they needed certain goods
Credit: Buy Now Pay Later
You could put down some money and pay the rest in monthly installments
Very easy to get
People began buying luxury items that they couldn’t afford….
Led to debt
The decade of spending helps lead to the Great Depression

7. Henry Ford
Henry Ford’s mass production techniques made automobiles affordable for many Americans
He introduces the assembly line concept of mass production
Famous for his Model-T

8. Urbanization The dominance of Urban America divided society:
Urban society was characterized by diversity, consumerism, freedom & entertainment
Rural society was characterized by religious fundamentalism, nativism, & tradition
Throughout the 1920’s, the values of these 2 societies clashed: Women, African Americans, Nativism, Prohibition, & Religion

9. Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance was the flourishing of black culture
Jazz music blended African & European musical traditions
Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington
Authors
Most popular was Langston Hughes- he wrote poems & novels about black pride
Harlem represented the “New Negro”: the idea that African Americans should freely express themselves, embrace their culture, and strive for racial equality

10. Changing Role of Women
In 1920, the 19th amendment granting women suffrage passed
New fashion trends, voting rights, & more leisure time led to an increased sense of freedom
Advertisers emphasized women’s sexuality and appearance
Many young unmarried women embraced their independence and sexuality as “flappers”

12. Flappers Women who threw off traditional values
Fashions like bobbed hair, shorter hemlines, and hats became popular
Women smoked cigarettes, drank alcohol, danced at clubs, and used makeup
Many had sex outside of marriage and used cars to “park” with boys

13. Literature
The 1920’s produced some of America’s most important literature
Authors
F. Scott Fitzgerald & Sinclair Lewis were critical of 1920’s consumerism and conformity
They became part of the “Lost Generation” who rejected war and were very critical of American society, they hated materialism

14. Sports Mania
New forms of entertainment emerged as Americans gained more leisure time and personal income.
Baseball, boxing, & football were popular sports
Radio broadcasts brought sporting events to national audiences
Sports gave Americans a new generation of heroes
Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees was the biggest sports hero of the 1920’’s
Heavyweight boxer Jack Dempsey was so popular, his prize fights set financial and attendance records

15. Jack Dempsey
Satchel Paige
Babe Ruth
Josh Gibson

16. Movies, Music, and Radio
Over 500 radio stations connected the nation by broadcasting music, sports, as well as, religious, comedic, and dramatic programming
“Talking” movies helped grow Hollywood and celebrity movie stars
Tin Pan Alley produced 90% of the popular music – focused on ragtime, dance music, and jazz
Irving Berlin was the most popular of the ragtime composers

17. Tin Pan Alley

18. Improved Transportation
Car manufacturing became the largest industry in the nation and stimulated the US economy
New roads, gas stations, and shopping centers were built
Airplanes captured the attention of Americans in 1927 when Charles Lindbergh made the 1st trans-Atlantic solo flight. He became the biggest celebrity of the 1920’s