2. More interesting stuff from the 1920’s Prohibition – by 1920 – the 18 th amendment was passed This law made the sale, manufacture, or transport of alcohol ILLEGAL The law was very unpopular and often ignored by citizens and law enforcement Illegal smuggling of alcohol (BOOTLEGGING) increased. Illegal bars called SPEAKEASIES sprung up all over the US. Organized crime increased, AL Capone was the most famous 1920s criminal.

3. Good news for workers From about 1923 on, things improved for American workers. Many workers had lower hours and higher wages. New technology meant more jobs for engineers, bigger companies meant more managerial jobs Some companies offered paid vacations, pensions, and stock to employees.

4. The Automobile industry By the 20’s, The Automobile industry was booming – lots of cars to buy and lots of jobs for people Henry Ford used the assembly line process to make his Model T cars quickly – by 1927 a new one cost only $295.00 GM and Chrysler followed Ford’s example Many families chose to buy a car BEFORE they got indoor plumbing!

5. Airplanes After WWI, we knew that airplanes could transport people and cargo. The first thing to be moved by airplane in large numbers was MAIL Passenger flights were small and uncomfortable but available by the late 20’s. Charles Lindbergh was the first person to fly a plane solo from New York City to Paris (across the Atlantic)- He was a huge hero to people all over the world!

6. Radio The first radio station in the US was KDKA in Pittsburgh –started in 1920 Others soon followed and having a radio was a status symbol for families People could listen to news, music and regular programs on the radio CBS and NBC started with radio broadcasts.

7. New Appliances and technology By the end of the 20’s most people in cities or towns had indoor plumbing, electricity, and a telephone (rural areas lagged behind) New appliances like washing machines, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners etc… made life easier. Lots of new products were developed in the 20’s : Kleenex, mouthwash, electric razors, frozen foods etc…

8. Buy now- pay later!!! To buy cars and radios and all the new goodies, people used installment credit plans. You could buy a 100$ refrigerator and pay for it a little bit at a time. Some people owed more for loans than they could easily pay – this will be a problem in the 30’s.

9. Entertainment With more free time and more extra money, people looked for ways to have fun Movies were HUGE – every town had theaters. Movies were silent til 1927 and then “talkies” started. Movie stars of the 20’s were very famous: Charlie Chaplin, Rudolph Valentino, Clara Bow etc…

10. Sports Spectator sports became very popular. The biggest sport was Baseball and Babe Ruth was the biggest star! Boxing was big, Jack Dempsey was famous College football was very popular Gertrude Ederle swam the English channel (1 st woman to do this)

11. Art and Literature New forms of Art were developed – Cubism, Realism, Modern Art Artists like Georgia O’Keeffe and Edward Hopper were popular. New authors gained fame: Hemingway. F Scott Fitzgerald, T.S. Eliot

12. Music Three new types of music developed and became popular Jazz was the most popular music – Louis Armstrong was the king of Jazz The Blues started. Bessie Smith Ragtime: Duke Ellington Most of the big stars in these areas were African-American

13. Harlem Renaissance Harlem was a primarily African American area of New York City It was center for Art, Music, and Writing. The best night clubs and music in the city were in Harlem New authors like Langston Hughes got their start here.

14. Women in the 20’s More women were going to college, working because they wanted to and going into fields like medicine and law. Young women were somewhat bolder than their moms. The wildest young women were called “Flappers” – they smoked, drank illegal booze, wore skimpy clothes and makeup, and danced at nightclubs

15. Fads and Fashions of the 1920’s Fashion changed – esp. for women: Shorter skirts, shorter hair. Some bold girls wore sleeveless dresses and showed their bare legs! Young people went on CAR DATES – their parents hated this – no chaperones! Kids did goofy things and had their own slang!