I. Introduction a. A testament to the United States' unprecedented prosperity in the Roaring Twenties, jazz's growing popularity sparked a grave controversy, with many viewing the appeal of jazz as either an annoyance or a threat. b. Should the testament to the United States’ prosperity in the Roaring Twenties about jazz’s growing popularity be viewed as an annoyance or threat? c. Jazz’s growing popularity in the United States in a time known as the Roaring Twenties, was a dramatic turning point in the American life. The growing of this musical industry meant jazz would be thrived in adversity and come to symbolize a certain kind of American freedom, and would be called upon to lift the spirits and raise the morale of a frightened country. The growing of this genre would break barriers between Americans. II. Body a. Opponents of this position protest that jazz was an annoyance and a threat to America. People in the mid-twenties argued that “it is not music at all. It is merely an irritation of the nerves of hearing, a sensual teasing of the strings of physical passion.” They claimed that a moral disaster was upon young American girls at this time due to the “pathological, nerve-irritating, sex-exciting music of jazz orchestras." Also, the origins of jazz were claimed to be “the Negro’s brothels of the South”, which left many white older people to be appalled when they saw their children dancing to jazz music. Some even felt that playing this music backwards would make it sound better. b. Nevertheless, these arguments are not debatable. People seem to forget the time period they are in. This was the Great Depression, a time where the music industry was almost completely collapsed. Jazz would change this, and change lives of the American people who struggled financially and emotionally. c. People, who claimed the music simply just