Context Flashcards
Economic boom
The 1920s was a period of rapid economic growth. Between 1921 and 1924 the country’s gross national product jumped from $69 billion to $93 billion
What are main reasons for economic boom?
- America had had huge success in selling arms during WW1- in 1916 alone America shipped more than $1 billion of arms to Europe
- Technological progress which enabled the mass production of goods, the electrification of America, the emergence of mass marketing techniques, the availability of cheap credit and increased employment which in turn led to an increase in consumerism.
Poverty
- 60% of Americans living below the poverty line
- Between 1919 and 1929, the share of income received by the wealthiest 1% of Americans rose from 12% to 19%
- During this same period, the poorest 93% of the non-farm population actually saw its disposable income fall. Groups such as farmers, black Americans, immigrant workers and working-class women did not enjoy the prosperity of the period.
Rise in technology
The technological advances of the period led to the development of popular mass culture, namely cinemas, radios and telephones
* In 1919, 60 000 radios were sold compared to 1929 where the sales had risen to 10 million
* Mass communication enabled sports and their star players to become widely celebrated and important
What is the “New Woman”?
Post WW1, American women became more emancipated in the way they dressed and behaved as well as economically.
The term ‘New Woman’ was the term used at the end of the 19th century to describe women who came of age between 1890 and 1920 and who rebelled against and challenged societal expectations and constraints.
They asserted their presence through work, education, entertainment and politics and denoted a modern appearance that juxtaposed with Victorian ideals.
What are flappers?
By the 1920s in America, the New Woman was embodied by The Flapper or the Modern Girl. Rather than long skirts and corsets, young women now bobbed haircuts, visible makeup, short skirts and enjoyed a leisure filled lifestyle.
They enjoyed greater access to education and a raucous lifestyle. The image of the flapper was utilised by the advertising industry and became intertwined with consumerism and popular magazines.
Unsurprisingly, the emergence of The New Woman provoked negative reaction from conservative members of society, both male and female who believed and felt that women’s rejection of their traditional role would result in the destruction of the traditional family and would lead to moral decline in society.
Prohibition
In January 1918, the 18th Amendment to the United States made it illegal to manufacture, transport and sell alcohol in America and the following year.
It was intended to raise the nation’s moral standards, but it had the opposite effect.
Prohibition was unpopular and hard to enforce. It led to the emergence of thousands of illegal drinking places called speakeasies
Bootlegging, the illicit production and provision of alcohol, became big business making fortunes for gangsters
This illegal economy was organised by powerful gangs of criminals who took part in other illegal activities such as gambling and protection rackets.
In turn, this led to an increase in violence and organised crime, in turn boosting spending on other items such as guns and cars.
The 21st Amendment to the United States in 1933 ended Prohibition
What is the Lost Generation
‘The Lost Generation’ is a term coined by Gertrude Stein who was a leading figure in literature and art.
It refers to the generation that came of age during WW1 and survived beyond that.
The term is used to refer to a group of writers, particularly American expatriate ones, living in Paris post WW1.
What did WW1 cause?
It caused disillusionment
The war led the post WW1 generation to reject what are known are ‘grand narratives’
* Patriotism: the patriotism and nationalism that had compelled many men to sign up and fight in the war was rejected after what people had experienced.
* Religion: the fact that so many died in such horrific ways challenged many people’s belief in God. If people could die at any moment, then they wanted to live in the moment and enjoy themselves (hedonism and decadence).
* Families: ideas about the New Woman and the pursuit of pleasure meant that many subverted traditional family structures with extra-marital affairs.
