A Decade of Stark Contrasts - Essay Example

At the beginning of Harding's presidency, people were protesting against immigration policies. They became isolated and take less pert in international activities. 1920 became the era of business growth and conservative republicanism. Businessmen used advanced technology and scientific management to intensify their business. Consumers also responded in a good manner. During this era, Henry Ford was such a businessman who wanted the Americans to think virtuously but remains in touch with modern science and technology.

Ford made the cars that were synchronizing the speed of the improving lifestyle of people with the development of the country.The new concept of scientific management was introduced in the business. Now the management was not only thinking of increased productivity but also to improve labor-management relationships. This resulted in the wants for educated personnel in the business. The improved business resulted in the improved lifestyle of the people of the Middletown. They enjoyed the best lifestyle in the world.

Taxes were introduced to foreign goods. The open-door policy was also ended and trade of a fixed number of commodities known as quotas was introduced. This increased the production of goods instead of importing them at a high cost. The boom was in consumer goods like cars, televisions, refrigerators. Advertisements of these goods increased the sales and the things of luxuries in the earlier decades were now in the reach of the common people. The goods were becoming cheaper due to mass production with the use of advanced technologies.

Not only houses and consumer goods purchases were increased but also the entertainment business was also on a boom. Hollywood was set up in California. Radio stations were also set up which increased the advertising of products and at a cheaper rate. People were entertained by jazz, singers, dancing bands in speakeasies and theatres. This age was also called The jazz age. Cinemas were becoming popular. Actors like Charlie Chaplin became stars. A new group of people named Ku Klux klan was made comprising of white people who were the natives of the United States.

This group was made after the American civilian war. This group became very popular more than one million people joined this group. Later at the end of the 1920s klan group was declined. In its earlier stage, this was a humorous group but later this group started revolting against the African Americans and other republican leaders.