What Were the Sources of 1920s Prosperity - Essay Example

The New Era (1920s) Question The Twenties In many ways—both economically and culturally—the 1920s were America’s firstmodern decade: What were the sources of 1920s prosperity? The major boosters of the US 1920s economic prosperity encompassed the then technological advancements besides the then effective corporations’ policies. Besides these factors boosting the state’s economic stability, they also improved approximately 80% of the population’s wellbeing, which extended from then to date. For illustration, the consolidation’s second wave, which encompassed of high rate of springing corporations due to the presence little business regulations. Since, traders normally competed to give the best despite the absence of antitrust laws. This yielded to the creation of employment especially among those who belonged to the lower classes. Technological advancements especially in the second wave of Industrial Revolution, which encompassed of mass line production of the automobiles, also had a great impact on the economy’s prosperity. This knowhow transformed the natives’ lives besides making diverse activities run faster. For illustration, in transport sector where both the mobility of merchandise and people increased, hence cutting down production costs besides saving time. People working in various corporations were able to commute from their diverse states’ regions to towns with ease and fast. Because many workers owing to automobiles’ line mass production and low cost involved in the process, were able to afford cars. Moreover, automobile’s knowhow also boosted the agricultural sector, which supported the state’s population. This was due to the increasing utilization of tractors and other machinery to heighten the farmers’ productivity thus enabling the population to eat right. Large and stable corporations owing to the low cost of production were then able to offer decent salaries and wages ($5 per day) to their staffs thus uplifting their lifestyles. Therefore, workers were able to afford numerous luxuries coupled with holiday vacations, which they had yearned for especially after WW1. This trend prompted other corporations to emulate the same and yielded to the heightening of the people’s living standards besides the state enjoying high revenue. Additionally, the emergence of electricity and its related products’ corporations also contributed to the state’s economic prosperity. This is because the erection of the first electric plant resulted to the easing of transportation besides its utilization in diverse areas like corporations, homes and offices. For instance, the expansion and growth of mass entertainment was due to the emergence of electric power, which gave rise to night recreation and nightlife. This yielded to more revenue to the state besides numerous industries turning to a twenty-four hours production system. Owing to the pre-wired houses that were cheap then, electronic related companies also benefited from high demand for their appliances. Since, the availability of electricity in their houses prompted appliances like refrigerators, coolers, vacuums and other power-depended machines become useful. Eruption of numerous corporations also offered employment to numerous people like those dealt with steel, chemical, rubber, glass, and paint. Consequently, this stabilized the states’ economic base apart from those of its natives contrary to the prior years. Did affluence reach all classes? Despite the flourishing US economy in 1920s, not all classes enjoyed its benefits owing to racial discrimination, which took the center stage. There was unequal income increment rates where the Blacks’ salaries were the lowest compared to their whites’ counterparts (though increasing at a low rate). Racism also characterized job posts where allocation despite US boasting of economic prosperity, some races could not assume top positions in diverse corporations. As a result, this led to the agitation of civil rights especially when the worker’s exploitation heightened to unbearable limits among the Blacks who resulted to forming diverse movements. Mainly, this was evident among the numerous workers who worked in the then suffering industries despite the economy favoring some corporations. The industries entailed railroads, cotton and coal mining. The agricultural sector also experienced its share of shortcomings where instead of enjoying the benefits that emanated from the booming economic prosperity, it suffered losses. Farmers’ income was declining instead of increasing like the rest of the workers who worked in other corporations or industries except those, which were suffering. Since the overproduction rate was very high besides the prices declining, hence making them unable to pay debts and incur great losses. Moreover, people’s migration to the towns for employment left the farming sector with limited population thus slowing essential productions. This prompted the available farmers to produce what required less labor and only entailed involvement of machines like tractors. What changes took place in the daily lives of the middle classes and 20s youth? The 1920s prosperity had an immense impact on the middle class besides other classes’ converse to the former periods. Mainly, this entailed the perception they had regarding materialistic gain where one’s worth in the society relied on what he or she had for spending. Hence, the society embraced the materialistic culture owing to an individual’s capability to spend because one at least had the means. This yielded to the rapid change of morality owing to the liberation people enjoyed emanating from the advancement of the technological knowhow. For illustration, media with its diverse advertisements coupled with the electricity led to the emergence of nightlife and numerous leisure activities held at night mainly after work. Middle class folks similar to their upper class counterparts were now able to engage in nightlife after work and as frequently as they wished due to the salaries, they earned. Mainly, this was among the young generations and mostly the then working class, which made a great distinction with the older generation (their parents). Consequently, the 1920s liberal culture yielded to the emergence of more sexually permissive generation than the older people mostly accelerated by nightlife and the media. Mainly, this was due to the media advertisements utilizing sex appeal and one’s perception towards the opposite sex to market products. This transformed the then generation’s mentality, where they were not afraid in emulating what the media was advocating; similar to the present youths. Since, people’s majority normally assumed what the media advocated through its advertisements was “cool” and worthy emulating. Therefore, going against it or trying to criticize would render one being uncouth or uncivilized among one’s peers who instead had the notion of changing with times. Women roles in the society started changing slowly where they started working to supplement their husband’s earnings. Hence, divergent in the earlier years where their mothers’ roles were mostly in the confinements of their households and making their husbands happy. Besides, women started venturing in the male-dominated careers and even excelling their counterparts, which gave them confidence to motivate others. The 1920s youths through their conduct became the pioneers of the 20Th century moral values, where they were very divergent from their parents or the older generations. Therefore, they were as “young adults” of the then generation full of freedom in regards to all aspects of their lives. For illustration, the college students were no different from those of the present time in terms of their conduct. Since, they indulged themselves in new and queer behaviors, which were even shocking to their parents. Youths while away from their parents’ surveillance, they had more time at their disposal. Consequently, prompting them to utilize much of their time in social affairs coupled with adopting a life of constant celebration thus becoming irresponsible. Shockingly, young women started drinking and smoking, which was not evident at their mothers’ age besides some adopting promiscuous life to earn money. Dressing code especially among the young women was more revealing owing to the copying of the then upcoming jazz, jungle and devil music icons. Youths thought the incoming mode of life was “cool” where most of them regarded the past or their parents’ styles as uncivilized, which is evident presently both in the developing and third word states. Besides, dating among the youths took a different style. This was due to the creeping in modernity where youths disregarded the mentality of their parents having any authority in regards to the choice of one’s life partner. In addition, excessive physical dimension characterized their interaction especially among the loved ones where they could touch, hold hands and kiss in the public. Therefore, dating adopted the mode of having good time first prior the involved parties deciding whether they can stay together as couples. Consequently, acting as role models for the later generations, which has extended to the present day where parents sometimes do not have any say even in those who keep strict traditions and religious teachings. For illustration, the Muslims and Asians who presently their restrictions are fading away fast owing to the aspect of globalization/westernization. Contrarily, this was not evident in the 19Th century where their parents at their time used to observe strict cultural ethics. Numerous cultural ethics normally advocated physical contact to be only in the marriage and not prior. What roles did mass media come to play in people’s lives? Media promoted national culture where the people were able to hear same information touching on their lives. Radio and other forms of media services also bridged the gap that was there before amid the upcountry natives and those who dwelt in the towns, hence having a common identity. Consequently, breaking down the rural isolation since people were able to share ideas and remain updated on the global happenings. Owing to the sharing of ideas and other information especially adopting diverse trends, people were able to adopt similar fashion besides being up to date with other forms of global lifestyles. This made the cohesion even stronger where the natives especially among the youths were able to identify themselves with certain trends that comprised their time and age. Hence, prompting consumer culture since corporations could then specialize in making certain merchandise meant to target a particular group or age. Media reinforced the new emerging morality besides making people think they were wealthy owing to the evident technological advancements. What changes did women see in their personal lives and social status? The 1920s era, saw the women moving out of their homes to venture in the workforce sector in support for their families especially during the industrial revolution. Conversely, women compared to their male counterparts did not receive equal advancements in their working places despite them working hard. This implied that even based on salaries, they also represented the low paid category since employers used underpaying strategy to discourage them especially in the industries. Conversely, women increasingly emerged in full force to venture in the workforce besides appearing in the male dominated professions like doctors, lawyers and business, hence becoming primary income earners. Working prompted equality in the households where women were able to contribute in planning their family budgets, which was contrary to the past. Women developed a new perspective towards marriage institution, family life and the husband they wished to have as a companion in their lives. This emanated from the women’s desire for emotional satisfaction, companionship and happiness in the marriage institution coupled with respect. Therefore, this prompted women to be extra careful regarding to whom they really wanted coupled with how to achieve their ideal marriage setting. Other aspects like time to settle down and family planning came into consideration coupled with the choice of terminating the marriage contract suppose it did not work. Divorce legalization and its rampant incidences depicted the women’s voice against persevering in unsatisfying marriages. Society’s approval for women’s education especially in enrolling them into college with the belief they will be good mothers, granted them economical independence. Hence, overturning the notion of relying onto their husbands, this sometimes made women to persevere in unsatisfying marriages. Enrolment into the higher education and assuming high offices or positions like their male counterparts; placed them into good positions to demand for equality rights not only in their households but also in public places. Consequently, this prompted the 19Th amendment where they were able to vote and have say in politics. This heightened the status of the women in society, which yielded to more respect than before where they used to assume a lower class than their male counterparts or husbands. Read More