1920 as a decade of Contradictions
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The 1920s is a period that is heralded by a dramatic break in the context of America’s past and its future. Before the start of the First World War, the United States was psychologically and culturally enshrined in the 19th century. The 1920s was when the United States seemed to be marred wistful attachments and broke the past to ushering in a modern era. The vivid impressions of the contemporary age were such as dance hall and flappers and the context of radio empires (Gordon, 2017). The period was also marked with shattering of the scientists’ space-time boundaries, the emergence of aviators enabled the men to fly, and the women started to work.
The age of 19202s was marked with extreme contradiction in various aspects despite the unmatched cultural advancement and prosperity that accompanied by unfettered reaction and intense social unrest. The decade bored the modernisms and urbanism, and in the vice aspect led to the introduction of the Ku Klux Klan (Gordon, 2017). There was also prohibition, religious fundamentalism, and nativism. This caused the United States to be at a crossroads between tradition and innovation. The United States residents looked boldly through the backward gazing as they cherished and treasured the nation’s fabled innocent memories.
The period of the 1920s can also be named as the era of women’s liberation, giving rise to the flapper and the daring conduct of women in dress, dress, and speech. In the same period, a political movement led by women won the voting right. Moreover, the urban growth and industrial economy that incorporated women’s labor force and the woman obtained the wherewithal as well as the motivation to live independently (Nicholas & Scherbina, 2013). There was also the emergence of national amusements that lead to the disruption of the court system. The 1920s witnessed immigration’s rocketing, leading to the growing diversity of customs, religion, and languages. This aspect also triggered racial animosity and anxiety in America.
Subsequently, due to rocketed immigration and increased racial animosity, the period marked the time that was used for cultural celebrations. The reason is that the black community had endured for ages slavery and eradication of abolition and the ending bondage (Stillman, 2015). The people were unhappy with white supremacy restoration as the people were relocated to the urban south and other areas. The context of money trails was also rampant in this period, indicating that the 1920s was a period of contradictions.
References
Gordon, L. (2017). The second coming of the KKK: The Ku Klux Klan of the 1920s and the American political tradition. Liveright Publishing.
Nicholas, T., & Scherbina, A. (2013). Real estate prices during the roaring twenties and the great depression. Real Estate Economics, 41(2), 278-309.
Stillman, E. O. (2015). The Roaring Twenties. New Word City.