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  • Essay / The Roaring Twenties and Their Effects on American Culture

    In 1918, at the end of World War I, American society and culture changed immediately afterward. The First World War left nine million dead and twenty-one million wounded. Families mourned the loss of their loved ones and people referred to World War I as “the war to end all wars.” As the nation experiences such tragedy, change was inevitable. During the 1920s, consumer culture, art, music, and literature changed. So many changes occurred during the 1920s that they are called the Roaring Twenties. Entertainment was booming and the way Americans were accustomed to living began to change. Along with this, immigration laws have also changed American culture. In the 1920s, welfare capitalism took birth and this was good news for the working class as working conditions began to improve. Wages began to rise and working hours were shortened. Instead of working ten hours a day, employees worked eight hours, and if they wanted to work more than eight hours that day, they were paid overtime. Additionally, they now worked five days a week instead of six and received benefits. Workers believed that if employers made their workers happy, things would be better for everyone. This meant that there were no labor unrests or raids, but the wages workers received were not enough to keep up with the rising prices of goods. Most of the time, employers wanted their employees to buy from their stores, whose prices were unreasonably higher than elsewhere. The economy was booming at that time. There were more job opportunities than ever before thanks to new technologies and new industries, such as aluminum. Radio was developed...... middle of paper ...... 1925 in the state of Tennessee and it prohibited teachers from teaching their students that anyone other than God created man. Then the problem of religion versus evolution arose. The Scopes Monkey Trial affected Americans so much because it occurred at a time when people were trying to find themselves and their beliefs. They had to decide whether they wanted to live in the past or accept the future. The trial exposed the conflicting opinions that existed in the 1920s. People began to question how much, how and to what extent society could influence society. The 1920s began with the end of a war and turned into a culture shock. The aftermath of World War I struck fear into many Americans, but the Roaring Twenties are a prime example that change can be good or bad and that it is up to each individual to decide whether they want to embrace change or deny it..