While many associate this decade with joy, dance, and good times, just like any decade there were troubles. Prohibition began in 1919 which brought great tension and crime throughout the following decade. With the sale and consumption of alcohol made a crime, many civilians were willing to take the risk to get their fix. this caused the alcohol ring to go underground and be a big product for criminals like Al Capone. This caused corruption among cops and politicians, who while were a part of the law, still wanted to get their beer.
Another issue that came about was the growing concentration of a diverse people in urban areas. The great migration of the black population to northern cities brought black culture to front stage and this created varying responses. While many enjoyed the creation of jazz, many in the more so midwestern states like Illinois and Indiana felt appalled. This causes a surge in the population of the Ku Klux Klan and created even greater social tension between races.
http://www.history.com/topics/roaring-twenties
image: http://choicereadingblogandrew.blogspot.com/2013/02/social-reform-during-1920s.html
William - Your post was interesting in response to giving us a brief of the "Roaring Twenties", like many good things, it had to come to an end and in they were greeted with "The Great Depression": a time when the stock market crashed and is attributed as "the worst economic downturn in the history of the industrialized world". In a way, the twenties is one example about how lopsided history can be, I certainly didn't look at the negatives of the twenties such as the Ku Klux Klan and the (eventual) economic devastation caused by the increased wealth distribution. America progressed from this straight into the Great Depression and then straight into World War I. The world doesn't stop and perhaps this led to an increased amount of patriotism as people desperately fought for their home country after going through such a difficult time and a series of ups and downs. Nevertheless, the twenties are literally a decade for the books.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.history.com/topics/great-depression
This was a well written post about the 1920's, a time of both celebration and progress, as well as struggle. While the twenties is depicted to be a time of celebration and fun, this was only true in parts of America, not the whole country. While Harlem was effectively enlightened with Jazz musicians and Flapper girls, the South was rampant with the KKK and its glorified status. Black americans outside of Harlem lived in fear of being persecuted by whites, specifically the KKK. By 1925 the Klan had around 5 million members, and was not afraid of being challenged. SEgregation was widespread and common. Because whites were not challenged in acts of lynching and segregation, this built up a feeling of security and immense power over black americans. At the same time black americans had to find refuge anywhere they could, doing their best not to agitate their white neighbours so they do not end up dead.
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