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The 1920s: Jazz, Change, and Turmoil

The 1920s, known as the 'Jazz Age', 'Roaring 20s', and 'Tumultuous 20s', was marked by significant cultural and economic changes following World War I. The rise of jazz music and consumerism coexisted with social upheaval, including the revival of hate groups and the ongoing struggle for women's rights and racial equality. This decade encapsulated both innovation and turmoil, highlighting the complexities of American society during this transformative period.

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16 views5 pages

The 1920s: Jazz, Change, and Turmoil

The 1920s, known as the 'Jazz Age', 'Roaring 20s', and 'Tumultuous 20s', was marked by significant cultural and economic changes following World War I. The rise of jazz music and consumerism coexisted with social upheaval, including the revival of hate groups and the ongoing struggle for women's rights and racial equality. This decade encapsulated both innovation and turmoil, highlighting the complexities of American society during this transformative period.

Uploaded by

hannah.cromer06
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Cromer 1

Hannah Cromer

Professor Pierce

HIST-2020-004

20 February 2025

The 1920's is a decade often called the "jazz age" or the "roaring 20s." It could just as easily be

called the "tumultuous 20s." Explain why the 1920s fit all of these names.

The 1920’s was a new post war era. After World War 1 consumerism boomed because of

the upselling of newly produced goods. This upselling came from the instability of the

workforce, after the war America lost a chunk of profit that they were receiving from allied

countries. All of this economic change was followed by a lot of cultural changes. For example

with the upselling of the radio came a new style of music: jazz, and with all of the new

evolutionary thinking came new art styles. The ever changing culture and differences in ideals

brought for a gap between the generations. This made way for groups like the KKK to have a

revival. This is just one example of the cultural turmoil in the 20’s, all of these changes would go

to create the “jazz age”, “roaring 20’s”, and the “tumultuous 20’s”.

“Jazz Age”

The 1920’s is often called the “Jazz Age”. This is because of the wide uprising of jazz

music in that decade. Jazz blends ragtime, blues, and African rhythms to create its own style of

music. Jazz music originated in this decade in Louisiana from African American communities.

“Radio exposed Americans to a broad array of music. Jazz, a uniquely American musical style

popularized by theAfrican-American community in New Orleans, spread primarily through radio

stations and records.” (American Yawp). It came as a way to express themselves in a time where

they were more suppressed. It wasn’t only a movement of music but it was a movement of
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culture for many people. The Great Migration ,which was the mass relocation of African

Americans from the South to the rest of the country, was the major cause of popularity for this

movement. Even though slavery has been outlawed this movement of music represented decades

of oppression that laws couldn’t fix. The song “Strange Fruit” by Billie Holiday is a great

example of this. Lyrics like “Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze” and “Scent of

magnolias, sweet and fresh, Then the sudden smell of burning flesh” paint a picture of just how

unjust the times were. The music encapsulated how the mistreatment of African Americans

deserved justice.

“Roaring 20’s”

The era of change is also often called the “Roaring 20’s”. This name showcases all of the

achievements made in the year and the progression that had led to. This name shines light on the

more positive side of the decade aside from all of the cultural turmoil. For instance, all of the

industrial growth post-war. Industrial industries boomed after the war, with so many people

needing jobs factory production and profit skyrocketed. There were many technological

advancements to follow the booming industries. The Ford Model-T began to become widely

produced creating a shift from steam engine transportation to automobile transportation. “As

transformative as steam and iron had been in the previous century, gasoline and electricity

embodied most dramatically for many Americans in automobiles, lm, and radio propelled not

only consumption but also the famed popular culture in the 1920s.” (American Yawp). These are

just a couple of many of the technological advancements of the decade. There were also cultural

advancements too, like the increasing rights for women. Not only did women get to exercise

their right to vote but they also got greater employment opportunities, greater access to

contraception, increased education and also got other legal rights like the right to control their
Cromer 3

earnings. This was a big year for the women, all of this change led to a lot of social

independence from women which created things like the “flapper” that represented all of the

rebellious change in women.

“Tumultuous 20’s”

Though this name for the decade is less prevalent than the other two, it still embodies an

important part of the decade. It describes all of the cultural turmoil from the everchanging

decade. With so many aspects of society evolving it really made way for a lot of cultural

backlash. Hate groups like the KKK made a revival. “The races and stocks of men are as distinct

as breeds of animals, and every boy knows that if one tries to train a bulldog to herd sheep, he

has in the end neither a goodbulldog nor a good collie.” (Evans) This is an example of a member

of the KKK still seeing African Americans as unequal even though they had near the same rights

as white people. To groups like these it didn’t matter what rights you faced years of

discrimination for, you would never be equal. Because African Americans were gaining more

rights, it just seemed to infuriate hate groups which caused the resuscitation of said groups, this

leading to a lot more hate crimes. On the other side of this argument, African Americans were

beginning to get impatient after the war. They had just gone to war for the country and have now

returned and are still lacking some basic rights. They went and fought for every single person in

that country and white people still belittled them. All of this caused racial tension to go haywire.

Take for instance the Greenwood Massacre. A whole town was ruined just because an African

American man was accused of assaulting a white woman. They burned the whole town down

over an accusation.

Even though women had rights, they were still battling for equality. They were finally

given some basic rights but weren't going to stop until they were seen as equal human beings.
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“need not add that the second part of this revolution will be more passionately resisted than the

first. Men will not give up their privilege of helplessness without a struggle.” (Eastman) this

shows that even the women in this time were aware that even more needed to be done. They

were not satisfied with only gaining some rights, they demanded inequality. All of this added to

the turmoil of the decade, though social change in this time was imperative, it did not come

without repercussions.

The 1920’s was a time of change, rebellion and innovation. The industry boomed post-

war and consumerism fluttered. While there was a lot of beauty to the era, there was still cultural

turmoil in many ways with people just fighting to be equal. The era embodies the name of the

“Jazz Age” with the creation of jazz to respond to the uprising of racial tension. The “Roaring

20’s” shows the highlights of the era. The booming industries, the women's right to vote, and

individuality. The title the “Tumultuous 20’s” encapsulates the underlying racial tension and

everlasting fight for women's equality. The events of the 20’s give it the ability to embody all of

these names.
Cromer 5

Works Cited

Locke, Joseph, and Ben Wright, editors. The American Yawp. Stanford University Press,

2022. The American Yawp, [Link] Accessed August 12, 2022.

Hiram Evans on "The Klansman’s Fight for Americanism,” 1926 (L7)

Crystal Eastman, “Now We Can Begin,” 1920 (L7)

The Greenwood Massacre (I couldn’t access perusall to take a direct quote but referenced it)

Billie Holiday, “Strange Fruit”

Common questions

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The economic boom and rise of consumerism were central to shaping the cultural landscape of the "Roaring 20's." Post-World War I, there was a significant increase in industrial growth and technological innovation, which drove mass production of consumer goods such as automobiles and household appliances . Consumer culture flourished as advertisements expanded, fueled by newfound prosperity and the widespread availability of goods. This era of consumerism led to a distinct cultural milieu characterized by a focus on material wealth, leisure pursuits, and the development of a vibrant, modern lifestyle that was broadcast across the country through mediums like the radio .

The interplay between industrial growth and cultural changes defined the contrasting facets of the "Roaring 20's" and "Tumultuous 20's." Industrial growth, driven by technological advancements and a post-war economic boom, led to new consumer goods and a leisurely lifestyle characterized by automobiles, radios, and films . This propelled consumer culture and economic optimism, embodying the "Roaring 20's." Conversely, the resultant cultural shifts, such as the Great Migration and women's increasing independence, sparked societal tensions linked to racial and gender inequalities, typifying the "Tumultuous 20's" . Thus, while industry induced prosperity and modernity, it simultaneously intensified underlying social conflicts that defined the decade's dual nature.

During the 1920s, women's rights and social independence saw significant evolution. With the ratification of the 19th amendment, women gained the right to vote, fostering greater participation in public life. Additionally, women accessed new employment opportunities, educational avenues, and reproductive rights, which contributed to an increased sense of autonomy . The emergence of the "flapper" became symbolic of this newfound freedom, as women challenged traditional norms by adopting new fashions and social behaviors . These changes pushed society towards recognizing women's equality, although resistance to full equality persisted, highlighting the decade's social transformations and continuing gender battles .

The "tumultuous 20s" encapsulated the era's intense social and racial tensions. While African Americans gained more rights and moved northward during the Great Migration, hate groups like the KKK resurged due to perceived threats to white supremacy . Racial violence, such as the Greenwood Massacre, highlighted the volatility of racial relations when entire communities were destroyed over mere accusations . Simultaneously, women, having recently gained the right to vote, continued to push for broader societal equality, facing resistance from entrenched gender norms . These dynamics created a backdrop of friction and confrontation alongside cultural progress.

The industrial boom post-WWI was driven by several factors, including increased demand for manufacturing and consumer goods, technological advancements, and a surplus of labor from returning soldiers needing employment. Companies rapidly expanded industries such as automobile manufacturing, exemplified by the mass production of the Ford Model-T, which transformed transportation and stimulated related industries . This industrial growth led to urbanization, as people moved to cities for jobs, and contributed to a burgeoning middle class with disposable income, fueling consumerism. As society embraced modern conveniences and leisure activities, it fostered a cultural shift towards consumer-driven lifestyles, shaping the 1920s into a transformative period known as the "Roaring 20's" .

The "Jazz Age" was a cultural response to racial oppression and a broader social rebellion. Through jazz music, African Americans found a powerful form of expression that resisted racial stereotypes and highlighted their cultural significance . The expansive spread of jazz culture during this era challenged established norms and bridged racial divides, with its popularity symbolizing a form of cultural acceptance. Concurrently, the Jazz Age embodied a wider social rebellion against Victorian values, as it represented a quest for liberation in lifestyles, attitudes, and artistic expressions, fueling a spirit of modernity and individuality across the American cultural landscape .

The "Jazz Age" was primarily defined by the popularization of jazz music, originating from African American communities in Louisiana. Jazz blended various elements like ragtime, blues, and African rhythms to create a unique musical style that found an extensive audience due to the radio . This era also saw significant cultural shifts such as the Great Migration, which spread jazz across the country. The music served as a form of cultural expression in response to racial oppression and societal changes . The widespread embrace of jazz not only revolutionized American music but also influenced the broader cultural renaissance of the era.

Artistic and intellectual movements were pivotal in redefining American identity during the "Roaring 20's." The Harlem Renaissance emerged as a cultural awakening that celebrated African American heritage and creativity, fostering pride and influencing broader American culture through literature, music, and visual arts . At the same time, modernist art and literature questioned conventional forms and challenged the status quo, reflecting the era's quest for new expressions and perspectives. Together, these movements reshaped American identity by promoting diversity, innovation, and a break from traditional constraints, encouraging a renegotiation of cultural narratives amidst the backdrop of rapid societal changes .

The revival of the KKK during the 1920s was a significant factor in the characterization of the decade as "tumultuous." The advancement of African American rights and the Great Migration incited fear and resentment in groups like the KKK, which believed in racial supremacy and opposed the growing diversity of American society . The KKK's renewed activities led to an increase in racial violence and an atmosphere of intimidation, further exacerbating social tensions and contributing to the general sense of instability and conflict that marked the decade .

The nickname "Roaring 20's" reflected the era's technological advancements that dramatically transformed American society. With the mass production of the Ford Model-T, automobiles transitioned from luxury to a common mode of transportation, symbolizing the shift from steam to gasoline and electricity . Additionally, the proliferation of the radio helped spread jazz and other cultural developments, fueling the consumer culture of the time. These advancements not only propelled economic growth but also shaped the vibrant popular culture that defined the decade.

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