America has undergone several changes throughout its history making this prompt interesting and motivating because it reflects back on many important themes throughout the American identity. Although the American identity has changed greatly during the course of several years, I contend that each theme was valuable to America and caused the progressive evolution of what America now is today. The theme of American identity has had more than a few dimensions, looking back on some of America’s history, these following eras took place such as World War I, the 1920s, and then the events of the Great Depression.
America entered World War I in 1914, causing great changes not only to America but to many other countries outside of the United States.
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Differences in foreign policies were to blame for the start of this war. The Allies was what they called themselves and that included Britain, France, Russia, Italy and the United States. These countries fought against the Central Powers which included Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria. America had not yet entered World War I until April of 1917 when Congress voted to declare war on Germany. The actions that led up to America declaring war were the following: in May 1915, a German U-boat sank the British liner Lusitania, killing 1,198, including 129 Americans. This and other sinkings piled further pressure on Woodrow Wilson, who at the time had been in office for president of the United States. The revelation of the ‘‘Zimmermann Telegram’’ — a signal intercepted and decoded by British intelligence from Germany’s foreign minister to his man in Mexico, offering the Mexicans the return of territories lost to the US if they joined the war on Germany’s side — helped generate support for war as well. During the time of the war, about 116,000 men died in war. Thousands left for war, leaving their wives in charge of work, their homes, and children. Many women were stepping up and taking charge of jobs that men were only known for doing. As women during this time started becoming more independent they started realizing that they deserved the same equal rights as men. This was the continuation of the women’s rights …show more content…
People wanted to forget the horrors of the war and just enjoy life again, specifically the younger crowd. With the 1920s in action, there was an immense shift in dramatic, social, and political change. For the first time, more Americans lived in cities than on farms. The nation’s total wealth more than doubled between 1920 and 1929, and this economic growth swept many Americans into a prosperous but unfamiliar “consumer society.” It became a “mass culture” with how a majority of Americans began consuming the same products, enjoying the same music, and even using the same slang. When some people hear of the 1920s, they automatically think of flappers which was a young woman with bobbed hair and short skirts who drank, smoked, and said what might be termed “unladylike” things, in addition to being more sexually free. Although many women were not in the description of the flapper, they still had a huge effect on American society during this time. Especially with many women working in white collar jobs. At last women were granted the right to vote with the 19th Amendment being ratified. But there was much more that needed to be done before women could officially say that they were equal to all. The 1920s were also time of massive numbers of automobiles that filled the crowded city streets, the noisy mass production methods in the factories and industries and the sound of jazz music
In 20th century America, after the Second World War, the nation emerged as a dominant figure in the dynamics of the world. The American people began to develop a certain identity that became known to all around the world. People craved to experience the American identity and have a chance at reaching the American dream. The American dream embodied the American ideals of freedom, social mobility, and ability to succeed and live a happy life. Ultimately through Montana 1948, by Larry Watson, the American identity is explored through the many facets of the emerging 20th century American idea: an American dream.
The roaring twenties was a new era, WWI was over and that was cause to celebrate.As music radio and motion pictures became very popular in the early 20's, people stop taking life so seriously, "you only live once" became the anthem of the time.Everything was changing, many women started drinking smoking and wearing make up. They started rebelling against their parents and victorian standards were thrown out the window. These women were called flappers, for their short provocative skirts and actions.
The 1920s were a time of change for the United States. Following the First World War there was a rush of new cultural, social, and artistic dynamism, partly fuelled by the Progressivism movement that was cut short when American entered the Great War. This decade was defined by a change from more rural farm life to industrialism in big cities. The shift from the frugality and traditional family values or previous generations to the happy-go-lucky consumerism and metropolitan life occurred more rapidly than any other social shift in living memory. These swiftly changing tides caused cultural clashes and confrontations throughout the decade as America struggled to define for itself a fresh national identity in the wake of its new position as a world power.
... fewer children was stressed to the patriarchal, consumerist society. The roaring twenties were a consumerist and capitalist age for America, and the liberalization of women occurred naturally as the younger generation was born into the new age of Freudian sexuality, however the flapper as a symbol for young women is incorrect. Out of proportion, and unfounded the flapper was a consumerist to exploit a rising cultural market. Women gained the right to their bodies, as America gained the right to its profit.
Some people hated this idea of the Flapper and they blamed the war for these women’s new behaviors. After World War I, young women and young girls started to act free and go against their families. “Some people in society blamed the war for triggering this rebellion of youth and they claimed it had upset the balance of the sexes and, in particular, confuse women of their role in society and where they truly belonged” (Grouley 63). Some people hated the idea of the flappers and these women had become. These women, the flappers, in the 1920s felt free after the 19th amendment was passed. “Since the early twentieth century, the sexual habits of these American women had changed in profound ways” (Zeitz 21). Flappers drank, partied, and had romantic evenings with men. All of which were illegal for women. In addition, they were an embarrassment to society and they were able to get away with anything. “Flappers were a disgrace to society because they were lazy-pleasure seekers who were only interested in drinking, partying, and flirting” (Dipalo 1). For instance, Flappers went to clubs, drank, and hung out with men and were too lazy to do anything. Therefore, one consequence of the war was the creation of a new woman and this led to a movement like no other.
The 1920’s was a period of extremely economic growth and personal wealth. America was a striving nation and the American people had the potential to access products never manufactured before. Automobile were being made on an assembly line and were priced so that not just the rich had access to these vehicles, as well as, payment plans were made which gave the American people to purchase over time if they couldn't pay it all up front. Women during the First World War went to work in place of the men who went off to fight. When the men return the women did not give up their positions in the work force. Women being giving the responsibility outside the home gave them a more independent mindset, including the change of women's wardrobe, mainly in the shortening of their skirts.
Flapper girls in the 1920s were women who changed the way they dressed by wearing shorter skirts, changed they way they lived by partying more often, and by taking these actions changed the way women were viewed in America.To some people in the 1920s the opinion they had on flappers was the “Flappers are a disgrace to society because they are lazy pleasure-seekers who are only interested in drinking, partying, and flirting”(Issues and Controversies in American History, 1). Negative opinions formed towards them because changing so drastically in such a short amount of time was threatening to society.
The lives of the young and wild women of the twenties began with a new attitude and a completely different look. The Flapper is “an emancipated young woman who embraced the new fashions and urban attitudes of the day”. Generally, one would cut their long hair down to a short, boy like bob and dye it jet black. Many wore dress that were very bright, flashy, loose fitting, and would not hang past the knee. Close fitting felt hats, many strings of beads, pumps, and skin toned stockings typically completed the look of a flapper. So many young women completely changed their lifestyles in their fight for equality. Smoking cigarettes and drinking immense amounts of alcohol in public became a normal attraction. Too many young girls were speaking openly about sexual activity, as well as other numerous activities that would have ruined their reputations, and lives not too long before. The discussion, of courtship and relationships completely and utterly offended...
To be an American has a big picture that can be described in many ways. Personally, to be an American is to achieve everything; however, the person next to may have a different opinion about it. History, America has been attracting immigrants from different parts of the world to live the full freedom and opportunity. To be an American means much more than living in the United States is to be able to expand the beliefs ones have. That is why people view the American Dream. The American Dream is an idea on were a perfect freedom is given to all people no matter social group or race. Many people have a definition of their mind on what is an American Dream. American are viewed as a person who can do the unlimited things. People freedoms and discoveries
The Roaring Twenties was America’s golden age. F. Scott Fitzgerald once said,“The parties were bigger, the pace was faster, the shows were broader, the buildings were higher, the morals were looser, and the liquor was cheaper” (“People” PBS). The cultural undertone of the twenties was very different from the times before and during World War I. “ For the first time, more Americans lived in cities than on farms…people from coast to coast bought the same goods…listened to the same music, did the same dances, and even used the same slang” (“Roaring” History). The Twenties was a time of social and cultural change. During this time, things like the automobile and jazz became more popular and mainstream. These things were possible because America
As a nation coming out of a devastating war, America faced many changes in the 1920s. It was a decade of growth and improvements. It was also a decade of great economic and political confidence. However, with all the changes comes opposition. Social and cultural fears still caused dichotomous rifts in American society.
The 1920s in America, known as the "Roaring Twenties", was a time of celebration after a devastating war. It was a period of time in America characterised by prosperity and optimism. There was a general feeling of discontinuity associated with modernity and a break with traditions.
In the 1920’s, the Nineteenth Amendment was passed, which gave women the right to vote. During this decade women became strong and more independent. Women were accomplishing a lot more than they had before. Women started going to college so she could earn her own living. More women started leaving the home and working at a factory or as a secretary. Women were discriminated at the work place. They received lower wages then man did. In the 1920’s, the term flapper was introduced. It was first used in Britain after World War 1. Young women were labeled as flappers who wore makeup shorter skirts. Fl...
On April 2nd 1917, President Woodrow Wilson of the United States of America, ??went before Congress and called for a declaration of war. Both the House and the Senate voted overwhelmingly in favor of going to war with Germany.?# This was an act that led to much resistance among the American people. Not four months earlier the American people re-elected President Wilson, partly because of his success in keeping the United States out of this European war. However, a series of events, such as the Germans continuing submarine warfare and the attacks on five American ships, led President Wilson to sever diplomatic relations with Germany and send the United States into what would be labeled as World War I. As a result of the war the
World War 1 began in 1914, but the United States did not enter war until 1917. The reason that the U.S. did not immediately join the war was because they held on to their idea of isolationism, and wanted to be neutral because they viewed the war as being too far away. This quickly changed when Germany declared unrestricted submarine warfare. In 1915, a German U-boat torpedoed the Lusitania, which was a neutral ship that carried...