Roaring Twenties period key themes

Question 1

When was the Roaring Twenties?

Answer 1

1920-1929

Question 2

What was this a period of?

Answer 2

-economic boom and prosperity following WW1

Question 3

What was life like for women in this time?

Answer 3

-women enjoyed greater freedom, more sexual freedom and greater participation in political life->however given the continuation of double standards the lack of equal pay and the problems that women faced in rural communities, which didn’t share the prosperity, there were limitations->birth control was frowned on and many gains made by working women in the war were lost in the return of ‘normalcy’
-the shift away from demands for change being purely political was also seen in the ongoing disputes about women’s issues such as abortion, sexism and discrimination in society in general

Question 4

What was the number of women in high-earning positions or in leadership roles in politics?

Answer 4

-was low given the amount of political activity and the degree of social change since 1865

Question 5

What was life like for African Americans in this time?

Answer 5

-social changes of war led to African American rights to become more of a national issue than one that was purely Southern->the persistence of a high level of social repressions (most extreme was lynching) in the South showed a reluctance to accept change
-African Americans had achieved the political aims that they had been campaigning for but a new generation found that the more fundamental problems of social and economic inequality had not been tackled->instead of greater harmony there was still tension with the continuing agitation by radical groups
-the police brutality towards African Americans which had seemed part of an earlier era resurfaced in 1992 and was still a major problem

Question 6

What was life like for workers in this time?

Answer 6

-workers gained from rising real wages and companies often set up their own unions and introduced welfare schemes but did not allow strikes

Question 7

What was life like for Native Americans in this time?

Answer 7

-the start of the period saw previous gains made by the Native Americans continue to grow
-however a declining economic situation in the latter part of the period meant that funds for them were reduced
-there was finally recognition of their right to live according to their tribal culture