January 30, 2020
Volume 50 - No. 05
By Pete Peterson
A New Look at The Roaring 20’s, Or How You Gonna Get ‘Em Back on the Farm After They’ve Tasted Gin, Danced the Charleston and Listened to Jazz
Before World War I (the war to end all wars), there was the Ragtime Era, and in the Big Band Era of WWII, and the Atomic Age of the 1950’s, followed by the Free Love The Paper - 760.747.7119
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Era of the 1960’s, and the technology breakthroughs of the 70’s and 80’s. But before these life-changing times, according to historians, came the amazing decade of the Roaring Twenties.
In ten short years from 1920 to 1929, entrenched ideas like ties to the land, work standards, individual expression, modes of travel, music, literature and the arts all loosened and society’s views on religion, women’s rights, politics, civil rights and marriage created a new America.
According to social experts, the Roaring 20’s, still roars. Professor Darren Carlisle of Stetson University states, “This time one hundred years ago has a lingering impact on today’s America. Why? Because it ushered in many issues America is still wrestling with.” Carlisle goes on to say, “As tumultuous as the 1960’s was, it would not have been possible without the decade of the 20’s where more mobility and increased methods of communication wrought major changes in America.” He goes on to say that most of the advances in
The Roaring 20’s See Page 2
society today, from Civil Rights to the #MeToo movement had its origins in the twenties.
Let’s face it, dramatic change occurred in America from 1920 to1929: For the first time in history more Americans lived in cities than farms; the telephone, the telegraph and the radio made communication so much easier; transportation improved with the advent of better roads and highways and the ubiquitous Ford Model T and the airplane; the nation’s total wealth more than doubled.