Ysabel Manjon

Mr. Thorson

U.S History Per. 6

Feb. 22 2019

The Roaring 20’s

The 1920’s was a time for many social and political changes. Inventions such as the

radio, refrigerator and assembly line completely transformed our everyday life to be more fast

and efficient; however it was also a time of strong racial injustice, and a failing economy.

Various forms of entertainment and city expansion were also brought about.

Henry Ford provided us with not one, but two revolutionary items such as the first

affordable car, and the assembly line. The assembly line sped up the manufacturing process in

factories, providing more jobs and an easy form of mass production. Ford’s Model T on the

other hand drastically changed lives with it’s affordable prices, and allowed for outward city

expansion, becoming the first affordable automobile in the U.S.

Other new labor saving devices were items such as: the washing machine, refrigerator,

garbage disposal, radio, and vacuum cleaner. Household chores were made easier as well,

which made more time for people to enjoy entertainment. The film industry was booming with all

the movies being made in the fast growing city of Los Angeles, and so was the jazz music

erupting from Harlem Renaissance.

Racism was at large during the 20’s. The KKK had millions of followers, and

discrimination was extremely prominent in city life, pushing the expansion of collective black

communities. However amidst all the injustice, the Harlem Renaissance was a period in which

African-American culture grew and was rightfully celebrated. Black culture flourished, and it

marked an important time for the African-American society.

While the decade was filled with new technological advancements and more

opportunities for growth and expansion after World War I, eventually things took a turn for the
worst. The economy crashed and many farms banks, and workplaces went out of business.

Millions of americans lost their jobs, places went bankrupt, and so marked the beginning of the

Great Depression.