The Twenties: A Popped Bubble

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When bubble of happiness popped, Americans rushed to salvage what they could, but few succeeded. With the celebratory attitude of the Twenties in mind, Americans struggled to come to terms with the crisis of the Great Depression. The attitudes and shifting ideals of the Twenties led to many of the problems of the Great Depression, consequences of the hedonism and recklessness of the American public. No individual can solely take the blame for the carelessness of Americans, but many stood as role models for the hedonists eroding the American habits of abiding by the law and putting family first. The influential figures and actions of the public encouraged an overall attitude of ignorance towards the looming collapse of the economy and the lack of public involvement in the federal government. Political figures felt that people had become too concerned about their own activities, leading them to explore new methods of spreading their messages through the media. The decade also saw shifts in the roles of women towards equality and acting scandalous, prompting the disintegration of appropriate behavior by Americans.

A decade of smashing tradition and old boundaries, the Twenties produced a new profligate generation that sought pleasure and disregarded the worth of modest women, faithful marriages, and respect for the law. Mae West, an American movie star, embodied their new attitude as a female who constantly displayed her body inappropriately in order to please the crowds. West strove to bring pleasure to others and not just herself, and her actions displayed her awareness that the public was now valuing controversial and scantily-clad stars over stay-at-home mothers, essentially prioritizing entertainment over care giving. Even mov...

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... the idea of modesty and went to speakeasies to dance and flirt, neglecting their duty to marry and have children because they prioritized their own pleasure over raising the next generation. Women’s increasing independence brought the country closer to social equality, but it led to indefinite environments for children, further contributing to the growing population of hedonists.

The fun, carefree nature of the Americans during the Twenties led to ignorance and capriciousness about politics and the economy, as well as the disintegration of appropriate relationships and behaviors. The American public disregarded the consequences of their fun, and this attitude caused for the crisis of the Great Depression to seem extremely shocking. The shift from the best to the worst of times seemed stunning, but the bubble of the Twenties grew too fast to achieve stability.

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