The 1920’s was an era in America’s history when extreme changes for the better began to take place in USA. It was a time when new ideas began to take shape and the development of new technologies were on the rise. It was the dawning of modern thinking which put in place the building blocks for the way Americans live today.

High on the agenda of change was the infiltration of Black American cultural influences on white society, which began shortly after the end of World War I.  This bears the burden of irony when one considers the excessively brutal treatment of blacks’ in American society at that time. As the African Americans moved northeastwards from the south to escape the wrath of the Ku Klux Klan, (at its peak had 500,000 members) who had terrorized them since the end of the American civil war, they brought with them their culture which included their own brand of music which they called ‘Jazz’. Jazz music so heavily influenced American culture that the era is frequently referred to as the ‘Jazz Age’. 

The 20’s saw the birth of the Harlem Renaissance (HR) in New York, considered to be the first important social movement in the US, out of which blossomed not only jazz music which gave rise to all-time greats such as of Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong, but also new types of art, philosophy and literature, penned by the likes of the Harvard graduate and historian W.E.B Dubois, also Langston Hughes and Jean Toomer, all of whom emerged to give voice to the movement. In short they brought with them a new way of thinking and offered a new prospective on life, never before seen in America. Ultimately the HR left an indelible impression on the American psyche that can never be erased.

The 1920’s perhaps saw the first American youth rebellion. The younger generation dismissed the Victorian idea of decency, regarding it as hypocritical and as a result, this led to sexually promiscuity becoming the norm. Overall the 1920’s saw the emergence of a new female confidence as reflected in the way women dressed. This new consciousness was led by a group of females who called themselves ‘Flappers’. The Flappers it could be said, redefined womanhood in the US.

They began by cutting their hair short, raised their hemlines, flattened their chests, wore bright red lip rouge, smoked cigarettes and patronized Jazz-playing nightclubs, which became the rage of the age. The most popular at the time was the ‘Cotton Club’ in Harlem, patronized by a white clientele with entertainment provided by African Americans. All of the above served to demonstrate their independence and equality, whilst aiding their bid to garner greater universal acceptance. 

Without too much effort, others soon became followers by adopting not only their fashion trends but also their outlook and attitude. This defiant and rebellious attitude was further fueled by the writings of the very popular Sigmund Freud, whose writings focused on self-discovery and fulfillment and there began the rise of the ‘therapeutic ethic’ in America.

Great technological advances had been made in the field of aviation; however the idea of a female crossing the Atlantic Ocean in an aircraft was beyond the average person’s imagination; although that is exactly what Amelia Earhart was able to accomplish on the 28th June 1928. This was seen as another clear indication of the newly found confidence of a nation.

During the 1920’s the American population was just over one third of what it is today, the Republicans were in power led by Warren G. Harding who ran his campaign on a ‘Return to Normalcy’ and America was declared ‘Open for Business’. It has often been characterized as the age of unparallelled economic growth, prosperity and unbridled optimism. Henry Ford began mass production of The Model ‘T’ automobile and churned out 2 million every year, produced mostly for the home market, whilst sports became the national pastime.

It must however be said that not everyone was happy with the change, traditionalists wanted things to remain the same, fearing all they held dear would vanish. The ‘Immigration Act was devised to stem the flow of Europeans into the US after WW I, was passed in 1924. The 20’s also saw prohibition; speakeasies and the rise of organized crime.

Jazz can be considered the only original music developed in the US. It is perhaps ironic that African Americans, a group regarded as the underclass and still are to a large extent, could have been the catalyst for one of the most important slices of American culture.