ID: Roaring 20s

When: 1920-1929

Americans in General: Focused on prosperity, leisure, and modern advancements.
Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover: Republican Presidents of the era, favoring business-friendly policies.
Flappers: Young women who challenged traditional social norms.
Artists and Writers: Involved in the Harlem Renaissance (e.g., Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston) and the Lost Generation (e.g., F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway).
Bootleggers and Gangsters: Profited from Prohibition (e.g., Al Capone).

A period of significant social, economic, and cultural change in the United States following World War I. Characterized by:

Economic Boom: Increased industrial production, consumer spending, and stock market speculation.
Consumer Culture: Rise of mass media (radio, movies), installment buying, and advertising.
Social Change: The “New Woman” (flappers), challenging gender roles, increased urbanization.
Prohibition: The 18th Amendment banned the sale and manufacture of alcohol, leading to the rise of organized crime and speakeasies.
Cultural Flourishing: The Harlem Renaissance celebrated African American culture and artistic expression. The “Lost Generation” writers criticized American materialism and disillusionment after WWI.
Nativism and Xenophobia: Resurgence of the KKK, immigration restrictions (National Origins Act of 1924) reflecting anti-immigrant sentiment.

Modernization of American Society: Transformed social norms, cultural values, and consumer habits, laying the foundation for modern America.
Economic Instability: The over-speculation and unequal wealth distribution during the Roaring Twenties ultimately contributed to the Great Depression.
Cultural Legacy: The art, music, and literature of the era continue to influence modern culture and society.
Clash of Values: The period highlighted the tension between traditional values and modern ideas, a theme that continues to resonate in American society.
Rise of Mass Culture: Standardized goods and cultural experiences became commonplace, impacting how Americans lived and interacted.
Nativism Effects: Severely limited immigration, particularly from Southern and Eastern Europe, having a lasting effect on the ethnic makeup of the nation.