The Roaring Twenties

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The Roaring Twenties
It dont mean a thing if it aint got that
swing...
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Welcome to the Roaring Twenties Where.

• the men are dapper
• the women are looser
• the hem lines are shorter
• the alcohol runs from an underground river and
• the guiding drive in life is
• PLEASURE

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The Roaring Twenties also known as

• The age of the Muckrakers
• the Jazz Age
• the age of Flappers, Fords, and Fanatics and
• the time when America went From Riches to Rags.

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The Roaring Twenties Were Shaped by.

• Postwar disillusionmentdespite the fact that
  Wilson was the peacemaker hero
• social mobility of the population from West to
  East and the resulting decay in morals
• mass production of many products for the first
  time, such as cars, food, and clothing suddenly
  made everyone equal
• prohibition which left the door open for
  opportunists of all types.

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Postwar Disillusionment
Americas involvement in the first World War
shocked many Americans. For nearly two
centuries, America had kept to itself, staying
out of the wars that periodically rocked most of
Europe, Asia, and Africa. The last large
conflict America engaged in was the Civil War
(1861-1865) and the majority of Americans had no
concept of the realities of war as it was now
fought.
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Postwar Disillusionment (contd)
World War I brought about a revolution in war.
For the first time, war was being waged with
rapid-fire machine guns, tanks, heavy artillery,
and nerve gas. Unlike the Civil War, WWI was
mostly trench warfare. Fatalities from combat
were huge but many also died from unsanitary
conditions in the trenches which bred diseases
like malaria, typhoid, and dysentery.
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Postwar Disillusionment (contd)
Many people, particularly those in their 30s,
were changed by the nature of war. Men returned
from war jonesing on the adrenaline rush of
combat women, having tasted independence, were
exploring all the ways they controlled their own
lives. But mostly, people were disillusioned
with the leaders of their day for sending so many
young men to their senseless deaths.
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Social Mobility
Can you say, yeah right

• The Declaration of Independence of 1776 asserted
  that
• all men are created equal and
• endowed with certain unalienable rights
• among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of
  happiness.

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Social Mobility (contd)
To achieve these goals, America had engaged in
ever Westward expansion, stretching from sea to
shining sea. This frontier attitude was the
driving shape of the United States emphasizing
opportunity, individualism, self-reliance,
ambition, and success. The original American
dream focused not only on material improvement
but also spiritual improvement. Think Little
House on the Prairie.
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Social Mobility (contd)
The 1920s, however, reversed this trend. Two
events helped to turn the migration of the people
back to the city. The exhaustion of farm land by
poor agricultural planning and the introduction
of the assembly line. Many people, who
previously would have been farmers, returned to
the cities to work for such leaders of industry
as Ford and Rockefeller. The American dream, as
a result, became not about a better life but
about wealth.
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Social Mobility (contd)

• Also occurring at this time was
• a call for womens suffrage
• the Harlem Renaissance
• a shift in the definition of class from lineage
  to wealth

All in all, a large number of changes that
threatened to challenge the status quo and the
white males dominance.
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Prohibition
Passed in 1919, the 18th amendment
stated Section 1. After one year from the
ratification of this article the manufacture,
sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors
within, the importation thereof into, or the
exportation thereof from the United States and
all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof
for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.
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Prohibition (contd)
Rather than protecting America from the evils of
alcohol, prohibition actually increased the
popularity of alcohol. While illegal to produce
and sell, speakeasies, gin mills, and do it
yourself stills became common. Drinking actually
became an act of rebellion against everyone and
everything that the younger generation despised.
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Prohibition (contd)
The demand for alcohol allowed the cagey
entrepreneur to make a fortune literally over
night. Obviously, a profitable market like this
was ready for a takeover. Organized crime
syndicates moved in on the small time operator
and took over his business. It is estimated that
over 500 million dollars went from the hands of
farmers, brewers, and distributors into the hands
of organized crime during prohibition.
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Prohibition (contd)

• Some well known names and events from the heyday
  of organized crime.
• Al Capone
• St. Valentines Day Massacre
• Elliot Ness
• John Dillinger

A tommy gun the preferred weapon (or gat) of
choice. Might Gatsbys name somehow be
connected? Hmmm
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Into this time of chaos and upheaval was
introduced a man by the name of Jay Gatsby.
Better known as The Great Gatsby
Cover designed specifically for Fitzgerald by
Francis Cugat.
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So what was the culture of the 1920s?

• music and dance
• fashion
• architecture
• sports
• language and humor

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Music and Dance
Jazz ruled as the music of choice with popular
artists such as Duke Ellington, Al Joleson, and
Ruth Etting. The Swing was gaining in popularity
but the most popular dance by far was the
Charleston.
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Fashion
Clothes were designed to mimic the hedonistic
pursuit of pleasure. For women, the matronly
hour glass figure was passe. Instead, the ideal
was the boyish slimness of the flapper. Women
cut their hair short into bobs and appeared in
dresses that often times reached only their
knees. Long strands of pearls that moved freely
as the woman danced were also popular. The dress
of the 1920s was a direct expression of womens
sexual identity
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Fashion (contd)
Men also dramatically changed their appearances
from only a few years before. The stylish man
dressed in close-cut suits, often brightly
colored, or dressed in traditional Oxford
clothing. He parted his hair in the middle and
slicked it back with brillantine which left it
shiny and smelling like perfume. The
well-dressed man was also rarely without some
sort of affectation like a top hat or cane.
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Architecture
Architecture reflected your status and the
excesses of society. Old wealth tended to
downplay their money, but new money thought the
bigger and more ornate, inside and out, the
better.
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Sports
Athletics gained in popularity as an activity and
spectator sport. Men and women alike enjoyed
participating in tennis, swimming, and golf.
These pastimes, of course, were largely enjoyed
by the upper classes in private clubs. The
masses were more into watching than participating.
Jones--one of the best of his day
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Sports (contd)
One event, which stood as a symbol of the
degradation of moral values in America, was the
1919 World Series. The Chicago White Sox
(considered the best team in the league) lost in
8 games to the Cincinnati Reds. Seven players,
including Shoeless Joe Jackson, were accused of
fixing the world series and were banned from
baseball for life. Ever since then, the name
Black Sox has stuck with the Chicago team.
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Language and Humor
Just like today, the young people of the 1920s
had their own language. Many terms actually have
become common usage for today. See if you can
figure out what these terms mean.
Dumb Dora Cake Eater Giggle Water Everythings
Jake
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Language and Humor (contd)
Ratings 4 right--Youre too hep 3 right--still
pretty keen 2 right--bluenose 1 right--flat tire
Lets see how you did Kiddo.
Dumb Dora Stupid girl Cake Eater Ladies
man Giggle Water Alcoholic drink Everythings
Jake Everythings OK
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Language and Humor (contd)
And lets not forget about humor Marriage is an
institution.Marriage is love.Love is
blindTherefore marriage is an institution of the
blind.
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Language and Humor (contd)
Even back then there were dumb blond jokes. Did
you hear the one about the dumb blond? How dumb
was she? She was so dumb she wondered how
electric light poles grew in a straight line.
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So now you got the real McCoy, the nitty-gritty
on the 20s. I aint telling you no bunk just
the bees-knees truth. But before you scram, we
got a little bull session to do--some things to
watch for in your reading. So grab some of your
bubble water and sit back for the final drag.
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Things to watch for
The symbolism of colors Red white gold
green blue yellow
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Themes

• The myths of the American dream
• Reality vs. illusion
• Self-discovery
• Violence and Carelessness

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Now Scram. Get Outta Here.