...American cultural development has not always been on the side of promoting diversity, freedom and equality for all. During the era between 1880 and 1920 there were extremist groups that took bold steps to enforce their unique agendas. America allowed 25 million immigrants into this country permanently transforming generations for decades and even the identity of this country today. The many different origins of the men, women and children created a lot of societal challenges and cultural tension. Most that came into the US were Germans, Britain’s, Jews, Chinese and Italians. This courageous move for many paid off in many ways, but mostly through financial means when compared to the countries in which they left. But as in all good things that transpire through freedom and opportunity, so does evil, greed and prejudice. The mafia was born out of the poor Italian ghettos. It spread across vast cities and eventually across states. It got a lot of its momentum and growth because of prohibition. In addition to the mafia networks of crime and evil, the Klu Klux Klan continued to drive it’s hatred of African Americans promoting racism and anger and was able...
Words: 882 - Pages: 4
...Throughout the 1920’s jazz music was a defining aspect of American culture; it also had a huge effect on society.. People of the time saw either playing or listening to jazz as a way to feel free or even escape from their daily lives. With the social changes going on in the 20’s, like the parties and the way people behaved, jazz fit right in with the changing times. Many jazz enthusiasts will argue that you are born with a love of jazz (Jazz History: The Standards). Like Louis Armstrong once said, "if you have to ask what jazz is, you'll never know" (Music with Ease > Jazz Quotes). In conjunction with the roaring twenties, jazz made it to the top and became widely known across the United States, and even some parts of Britain, making it a worldwide movement. It came very popular with people who wanted to get away from their normal lives and escape into the swing of jazz. Novelist F Scott...
Words: 1292 - Pages: 6
...Cultural Conflicts of The 1920s Throughout the 1920s the United States faced harsh cultural conflicts including controversies with race and immigration. First, in the years leading up to the 1920s racial tension began to rapidly cultivate due to a multitude of reasons including the rapid change in the racial demographic of the northern economy, which up until that point had been principally white. African Americans who had fought in World War I had additionally began to express their want for civil rights due to their contributions in Europe in the war. The previous actions caused the eruption of violence from white mobs in several areas. One of the first cities to see the eruption of violence was Tulsa, Oklahoma which had contained the wealthiest African American business community in the Southwest. The violence commenced after a 19-year-old African American man was accused of assaulting a white female elevator operator which would give rise to a substantial amount of violence in which the number of killed and injured is not completely known with an approximate by the state of Oklahoma stating that 26 African Americans killed, 10 Caucasian killed, and 317 injured. Following the events in Tulsa on New Year’s Day 1923 the small African American settlement in Rosewood, Florida was attacked by a white mob believed to be from Georgia. The death toll from the incident has varying accounts with some newspapers reporting seven deaths and others 21.Hence, the early 1920s began the years of...
Words: 2297 - Pages: 10
...During the 1920’s there was a great rise in popularity of African American Culture. As African Americans participated in the Great Migration, they set goals for themselves as they entered a new country and culture. Harlem was the town that the African Americans all migrated to, there they felt safe because it was the world's largest black urban community. Soon Harlem became overcrowded and began suffering from poverty. This was the cause of the Harlem Renaissance, which was a literary and artistic movement celebrating African-American Culture. There were multiple associations such as the NAACP and the UNIA created during the Harlem Renaissance to help protect and prevent violence from breaking out. The NAACP or the National Association...
Words: 375 - Pages: 2
...Opportunities for African Americans Thesis and Outline Thesis: The increased popularity of jazz music led to a growing acceptance of African American culture and presented African Americans the opportunity to gain social status. Introduction During the Jazz Age, jazz music, primarily dominated by African Americans before 1920, began to gain popularity among whites and transformed into an important aspect of American culture. The increased popularity of jazz music led to a growing acceptance of African American culture and presented African Americans the opportunity to gain social status. The Beginnings of Jazz music and Prevailing Opportunities for African Americans Music has always played an essential part in African...
Words: 1093 - Pages: 5
...changes in American society: gradual and immediate. At war’s end, with the return of male workers, women were expected to quit their jobs. Between 1910 and 1920, only 500,000 more women were added to the workforce. The war had harsh consequences for immigrant families. Further immigration to the United States was halted. Many immigrant families already in the country faced fierce social and job discrimination in an antiforeign climate whipped up by the war. Most African American civil rights leaders supported World War I and some 400,000 African Americans Discrimination was common. Where they saw combat, African American soldiers served with distinction. Many returning black soldiers questioned why the liberties and freedoms they had fought to preserve in Europe were denied them in their own country. Civil rights leader W.E.B. Du Bois expressedresentment. American economy slows as war-time production ends. Returning troops face difficult adjustment to civilian society. Many women and minority workers faced with loss of jobs as men returned to the workforce. Despite contribution to war effort, returning African American I troops continue to face discrimination and segregation. Death and destruction of war leads to feelings of gloom among many Americans. Migration to the North World War I accelerated the migration of African Americans to northern cities. This immigration began after the Civil War. Between 1910 and 1940s, almost 2 million African Americans left the South...
Words: 2496 - Pages: 10
...In the 1920's slavery by then was abolished, but the racism still stood there tall and arrogant. In Harper Lee's Novel, To Kill a Mockingbird there is a trial held for a white man against a black man. But being white made you so much better. So through the use of the mockingbird and allusion, Lee proves that being an African American in the late 1920’s to early 1930’s was exhausting to capture. In the novel a mockingbird portrays an innocent, beautiful bird who was set out to do nothing but sing. In chapter 10 Atticus gifted the kids with guns. But explained to them to not shoot any birds especially mockingbirds because they don't hurt any part of human nature. Then again later in the story, after Tom Robinson's trial, he tried to escape prison because he lost all hope of winning. Tom Robinson is a symbol of a mockingbird because in this novel he only set out to ever work for his family and help those who needed it. But unfortunately back in the 1920's African Americans were never favored, mockingbirds were...
Words: 475 - Pages: 2
...popular during the 1920’s and throughout this period of time it was known as the “Golden Age” for sports. Sports like Baseball, Boxing, and Football were some of the sports that grew very popular throughout this time period. Before the 20’s all professional sports were only played by white people. Before the 1920’s african americans were not allowed in professional sports, but during the ‘20’s things changed. In the beginning of the 20th century black athletes were set apart from being able to compete with white athletes. With black skinned athletes being banned to play baseball between 1903-1946 they created the negro baseball league. The negro baseball league was a professional baseball league for black athletes to play...
Words: 518 - Pages: 3
...Chapter 21: The Roaring Life of the 1920s Section 1: Changing Ways of Life I. Rural and Urban Differences A. Between 1922 and 1929, migration to the cities accelerated, with nearly 2 million people leaving farms and towns each year (small town values change) 1. City dwellers judged one another by their accomplishments more often than their background a. City dwellers tolerated drinking, gambling, and casual dating (shocking and sinful in small towns) 2. Cities could be impersonal and frightening b. Life was fast paced and neighbors were not as neighborly B. Prohibition: the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages were legally prohibited 3. 18th Amendment: ratified Jan, 1919 and repealed by the 21st Amendment in Dec, 1933 C. Positive Opinions/Results of Prohibition: 4. Progressives wanted it banned to stop family violence, crime, and poverty c. Support for prohibition was found in the rural native-Protestant dominated West and South d. The church-affiliated Anti-Saloon League led the drive to pass Prohibition e. Woman’s Christian Temperance Union considered drinking a sin 5. WW I reformers advocated prohibition as a war measure f. People were concerned that many German Americans owned many of the brewers g. Drinking reduced the efficiency of soldiers and workers 6. Learned we must...
Words: 2900 - Pages: 12
...Blacks World Spotlight: on the International Stage in the 1920s During World War I the United States bought nearly 200,000 African-American soldiers to France. Majority of the African American soldiers were from the southern region of the United States of America. Many Blacks stayed after the war, generating a permanent Black population in France. The ending of the First World War also marked the beginning of the New Negro Movement or Harlem Renaissance in the United States. During this time African Americans emerged as talented, creative intellectuals leaving their footprint on 1920s America. While much focus of the New Negro Movement is centered in the United States, it indeed was an international affair. The purpose of this research is to examine how a number of African Americans launched their creative debut from the international stage of Paris, France. Additional focus will center on black artists turning to Africa as a source and facture in the art. Last but not least, the effort of Author Schomburg to collect and house international works about blacks will be addressed. Utterly intrigued by African Americans and thoroughly consumed with their talents, the French displayed a respect for Blacks unseen in the United States. While a great number of African-American soldiers remain in Paris, many journeyed back to the United States. Those soldiers certainly were not greeted by change. The United States remained the same racially tensed nation. If there was any change, it...
Words: 3126 - Pages: 13
...Why were some people better off than the others in the 1920s? There are many factors that affected why some ethnic groups were better off than others but the main aspect is the economic issues and booms. In “The Lean Years” Irving Bernstein agrees as he said “The Twenties were, indeed golden, but only for a privileged segment of the American population”. Also the LA times released a cartoon in 1928 displaying that the Wall Street boom is racing ahead the “bandwagon” which displays American prosperity. The Economic boom created jobs, increased wages and caused the innovation of lots of new products. The impact of world war one boosted the economy because America lent money to western European countries and sold munitions to them, they sold...
Words: 2017 - Pages: 9
...The Harlem Renaissance's Impact on American Literature The Harlem Renaissance also known as the "New Negro Movement," was a cultural movement that spanned in the 1920's to the mid 1930's. It was a time in history that displayed the unique culture of African American expression, through literature, art, music, and dance. This African American culture grew out of Harlem, New York and symbolized freedom from the oppression of slavery. It was described as the spiritual coming of age in which African Americans had a chance to express their creativity. The Harlem Renaissance is noted as being a literary movement were African Americans could celebrate their heritage and reveal the truth about their life and the first time their literature was taken seriously by critics and publishers. The birth of the Harlem Renaissance came out of Harlem, New York in the early 1920's, "it was a time for a cultural celebration. African Americans had endured centuries of slavery and the struggle for abolition." (U.S History, 2008) It is described as racial pride and an intense desire for equality. It represented a time by the end of the war in 1919 where African Americans was going to be much more aggressive than their prewar brothers. Harlem was considered the capital of the black world, because it attracted thousands of blacks from the South and the West indies. It provided economic and education for African American artist. In Harlem, people demanded respect from those who continued to keep racist...
Words: 1061 - Pages: 5
...Vega Instructor’s Name Class Information April 7, 2014 Human Rights in the 1920’s “Human Rights” refer to the basic rights and freedoms that all humans are entitled to including the right to life, equality before the law and freedom of expression. Human rights provide equality and fairness and recognize the people’s choice of freedom. Every human has the right to live free from fear, harassment or discrimination. During the 1920’s women’s rights, immigration, and racism were the biggest topics in human rights. Women’s rights were paramount in the 1920’s. The 19th Amendment was passed by Congress on June 4, 1919 and ratified on August 18, 1920. The 19th amendment guarantees all American women the right to vote. This was a lengthy and difficult struggle that took activists and reformers nearly 100 years to win. Some of the key leaders of this movement were Elizabeth Stanton, Lucretia Mott, and Susan B. Anthony. These three women, along with the assistance of many others, were pivotal in shifting the public’s view on a women’s right to vote and be contributing members of the nation. During the nineteenth century, women organized, petitioned, lectured, marched, rioted, and practiced civil disobedience in order to get freedom. Since the 19th Amendment was first introduced in 1878 and not ratified until August 19, 1920, most of the woman who started the movement didn’t live to see it passed. After the passing of the 19th Amendment...
Words: 1475 - Pages: 6
...The 1920s in theory was a time that revamp the atmosphere of America. Hollywood was a buzzing, the radio brought the country together with fast delivery of news, and the jazz age took over the scene. But with the good came the bad. The bad has been overlooked in history due to people's love of the idea of the twenties. One of the most known and loved pieces of literature that takes place during the 1920’s The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald shows both the good and the bad in relation to the twenties. Although 1920’s have been associated with prosperity and luxurious it was truly has a time of hardship and pain because it was a time of social unrest, mobster and bootlegger ran the cities, and money became such a promate role it start to...
Words: 1395 - Pages: 6
...trends and innovations shaped American culture during the 1920s? There was many trends and innovations that changed the American culture during the 1920s including new technology, communication, and the knowledge of science. New technology created the automobiles and airplanes which improved transportation. Communication and entertainment increased due to radio’s and movies. And media and popularity helped promote sports. These are only a couple of innovations that shaped America. Technology changed American life forever with the automobiles and airplanes. The automobiles allowed families to move further away from the cities, lowered unemployment rates, increased industries and mass production, and brought excitement and adventure to...
Words: 882 - Pages: 4
