When you think of the 1920s, you might think of the book or the movie «The Great Gatsby» with Leonardo DiCaprio. There is even a bit of truth in the story, because the action takes place in the Roaring Twenties. Here you can find out exactly what the Roaring Twenties looked like and what exactly made up this period of time.
The Roaring Twenties describe the time period from 1920 to 1929 in western society. This epoch began shortly after the end of the First World War. The Roaring Twenties are mainly associated with the US and Europe connected. Translated, this time is also called «the wild twenties».
The Roaring Twenties were from economic prosperity, pleasure and the gangsterism shaped. People no longer focused on work or war, but on having fun. This period is also characterized by many technological innovations and the break with traditions.
If you want to know more about the book «The Great Gatsby», you can also click on the related link!
Facts about the Roaring Twenties in the USA
- The Roaring Twenties primarily describe the 1920s in the United States United States.
- They are sometimes also called Roarin’ 20s designated.
- In other countries, too, there were special designations for this period of time:
- Germany: the golden twenties
- France: Annees folles
The Roaring Twenties emanated primarily from large cities in the USA such as Los Angeles, New York City and Chicago. Technological advances and that economic growth were decisive and driving force for the Roaring Twenties, since prosperity was spread in this way. the United States became during this time richest country in the world.
The Roaring Twenties were also of particular importance for women. In 1920 the United States decreed that Women from now on right to vote receive. In the 1920 presidential election, women were allowed to vote for the first time.
In addition, the Roaring Twenties were the beginning of the gangster era, which lasted into the 1930s. Probably the best-known gangster was Al Capone, who earned his money in Chicago’s underground with gambling and prostitution.
Society in the Roaring Twenties
The Roaring Twenties were special because of the many technical innovations shaped. Due to the enormous economic growth and mass production, the society was strong consumption aligned. The mass production of cars, radios and films also made it possible for the middle class to be able to afford these consumer goods.
These industries benefit in particular:
- automotive industry
- film industry
- radio industry
Even before the First World War, the car was a luxury item for people. Mass production made it so automobile in the Roaring Twenties everyday. The parts for the cars were made in the automotive industrial city of Detroit. The auto industry has also been responsible for growth in other industries. Especially the construction industry benefited strongly because of the need to build or expand the following:
- highways
- bridges
- motels
- gas stations
- Houses outside of the city center
media
That radio became the first in the 1920s mass media. Radio entertainment was revolutionary. Mass marketing was made possible by radio advertising. Advertising influenced the mass culture of the Roaring Twenties and thus further boosted the economy. In addition, the program was about as varied as today’s television program.
That movie theater put one was a new form of entertainment and was very popular because movies were cheap so anyone could have access to them. Going to the cinema was one of the Favorite pastimes in the Roaring Twenties.
At first, only silent films were shown in the cinema palaces. The cinema completely replaced the variety theater at the end of the 1920s, when the sound film was introduced. The Varieté Theater is a colorful stage program consisting of dance and music elements.
music
In the Roaring Twenties, the jazz the most popular form of music among young people. The 1920s were also known as the Jazz Age and the love for this style of dance lasted into the 1930s. Jazz music was particularly popular in the United States and was widely disseminated through the new mass medium, radio. Jazz originally came from New Orleans and played an important role in the general cultural changes of this period.
Music influenced fashion and culture. The most popular jazz musicians were Louis Armstrong and Duke Wellington. Louis Armstrong sang one of the most popular songs of the time with «West End Blues».
dance
At the time of the Roaring Twenties were dance clubs enormously popular. In the late 1920s, the popularity of dance clubs peaked. The dances determined what music was popular. Dance clubs across the US hosted dance competitions where dancers invented new dance steps, eventually creating new dance styles.
The most popular dances in the Roaring Twenties were the foxtrot, the waltz and the American tango. From the early 1920’s a lot of new dances were developed. The first of these were the break away and the Charleston. The latter became very popular in 1922 after being performed in two Broadway shows. In the picture you can see two women in classic Charleston dresses dancing the same name.
In 1927 the Lindy Hop, a dance based on the Charleston and incorporating elements of tap dancing, became the dominant ballroom dance. Other swing dances later developed from Lindy Hop, but never became mainstream. Most people in Western Europe and the US danced throughout the decade:
Josephine Baker was a famous dancer in the 1920’s and mastered the Charleston perfectly. She was able to move her arms and legs independently, one at a time. She did the typical X/O combo, with legs in an O but arms crossed in an X and knees touching. The Charleston’s movements were described as trembling and could be danced alone.
Fashion
Women’s fashion has changed completely. Women now wore short skirts and trousers. This had been unimaginable before the 1920s. Wide men’s suits were also becoming increasingly popular. Women’s haircuts also changed. Of the bob haircut, which you can see in the picture, was a casual haircut that was worn with pleasure. Generally, among the most popular accessories of women were the endless cigarette holder.
The endless cigarette holder is a sleeve made of metal, wood or plastic. It connects the cigarette and the smoker’s mouth.
Also the men’s fashion changed in the Roaring Twenties. Instead of frock coats and top hats, men now wore jackets that were a bit more casual and tailored. Furthermore, the low shoe became the standard shoe and thus replaced the heavy boots from the First World War. The flat cap was a popular accessory.
Dresses
When you think of the Roaring Twenties or «The Great Gatsby», perhaps the unmistakable flapper dress comes to mind. That flapper dresswhich you can see in the picture, has become and will continue to be a popular item of clothing for women Charleston dress called.
The clothes came with me fringes and sequins occupied and therefore quite conspicuous. The fringes could be attached to the dress in asymmetrical levels. The women wore this classic dress of the Roaring Twenties:
- feather boas
- long strings of pearls
- gloves
- Headbands with feathers
The consumer-friendly and pleasure-loving epoch ended with the stock market crash at the Wall Street in NYC. For years he was Dow Jones Index kept rising and people took out loans to buy shares. Of the Dow Jones However, since September 4, 1929, it has been showing a larger decline.
the Wall Street is a district in New York best known for its financial institutions and the New York Stock Exchange, the world’s largest stock exchange. Of the Dow Jones Index is the best-known stock market index in the world. It represents the price development of the thirty most important stocks in the USA on average.
the Stock market prices collapsed sharply and investors got on October 24, 1929 – also as Black Thursday («Black Thursday») known – in a panic and were heavily in debt after the stock market closed. Thus began the stock market crash, which lasted for several days. The result: Investors all tried to sell their shares again at the same time and the stock market collapsed catastrophically. This collapse took place on October 29, 1929 instead and is also as BlackTuesday, so «Black Tuesday», known. This crash caused many companies to go bankrupt and employees had to be laid off. The affected people now had problems to secure their livelihood and to buy food.
This stock market collapse triggered a global depression, which is why this period was also known as the Great Depression. You can find out more about this in the related article.
Roaring Twenties as the Golden Twenties in Germany
The 1920s were not only the time of the economic boom in the USA. In Germany, too, there was a movement similar to the Roaring Twenties. There was this period of time, however «Roaring Twenties» called and it was a bit shorter than in the USA.
Course of the Golden Twenties in Germany
In Germany, this period lasted from about 1924 to 1929. Previously, Germany was doing very badly economically, as the country had to make reparations payments from the Versailles Treaty and in 1923 it became a hyperinflation came, in which more and more money was printed and it thus lost its value. A kilogram of beef, for example, cost 4.8 billion marks.
The Treaty of Versailles ended the First World War in 1919. Germany acknowledged war guilt and was therefore obliged to pay reparations. Reparations had to be paid, which put a great strain on the new republic.
Only with the introduction of a new currency, the Rentenmark, the hyperinflation ended and in 1924 an economic upswing could take place. In Germany, too, the new media had cinema and radio a significant impact on social life. As in the USA, in Germany the boosted the auto industry.
Overall, the development of the Roaring Twenties looked similar to that of the Roaring Twenties in the USA. The Roaring Twenties also ended when the effects of the stock market crashes at the Wall Street made noticeable.