The Roaring Twenties

The Roaring Twenties

Do you ever find yourself wondering why the 1920s were called the Roaring Twenties? The Roaring Twenties was a celebration of youth and culture. During the 1920s, many different forms of art, music, and literature began. There were many changes that took place in the 1920s, and many people were influenced by these changes. The Roaring Twenties was a constant party because America was celebrating the victory of World War I. Many customs and values changed in the United States in the 1920s.

In the 19th century right before 1920, America was a country of small towns and farms that were held together by conservative moral values and close social relationships. The middle-class rural population believed in the values of thriftiness, moderation, and respectability. Before automobiles became of importance to Americans, the small towns were very independent places. Everyone knew each other in on the streets, and for entertainment they went to church socials and county fairs. Little did America know that soon their world would be changing more than they had ever seen.

In 1920 right after World War I, America changed dramatically, becoming an urban nation. An estimated 51.4 percent of Americans lived in communities with a population of 2,500 to more than one million. Between 1922 and 1929, nearly two million people left farms and towns each year. "Cities were the place to be, not to get away from," said one historian. Small-town spirits began to lose control on the American mind as the cities rose to fame.

Moving to a metropolitan environment was a great change for small town people. Every day living changed. The city population attended great art exhibits and museums, sports events and plays, ni...

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...ness of African-American culture.

During the 1920s the lives of American people were not reality, even though they thought they were. All Americans cared about were themselves, and having fun. They were selfish when it came to money, even though they had enough to share. Materialistic things became much more important to Americans, they needed everything. All they did was celebrate, who knew what they were celebrating, whether it was their victory of the war or their wealth, they were still only thinking of themselves. The Roaring Twenties was not only a celebration of youth and culture, where the arts, music, and literature were significant in their lives, but it was also a time of internal hardships. Americans kept their feelings deep down inside themselves, being very careful that no one knew they were suffering, for fear of not being socially excepted.