Social & Political History of the 1920s

Youth Culture and Entertainment14.2 Part 11Youth CultureYounger generation openly rejected the values and morals of their parentsA new youth culture emerged from this environmentYoung people become more rebellious2

The New WomanStyle & Dress of womanRejection of traditional valuesPortrayed as stylish, adventurous, independent, and career-mindedWanted personal fulfillment4

FlappersChallenging role of womenYoung, fashionable womenStyle: wore Short skirts, short hair, and excessive make-upIndependent lifestyle dated numerous men Actions- drank and smoked in public. Drove carsGlamorized by the media5

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Women Working% of women working is stagnantNew jobs- taxi drivers and stenographersTraditional areas- nursing

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EntertainmentEconomic boom meant many had more money and free time

Increased leisure time: radio, sports, movies9

RadioNovember 2, 1920 first commercial radio broadcast on KDKA in PittsburghBy 1927, 700 radio stations and more than half of US households own a radio

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RadioAdvertising became important to fund radio

NBC began offering national programming to local stations=Americans began to share cultural experiences

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ProgrammingChurch Services, News, Music, & Sporting Events

1921 Top Events The World Series and the Dempsey-Carpentier 80,000 people saw the fight outdoors on farm in New Jersey, Carpentier European Champion, French WWI vet. Dempsey avoided the draft, even though he was found not guilty in 1920. Therefore, hero (Carpentier) vs. villian (Dempsey). Carpentier was a war hero pilot.12

McNally steals home during 1921 WS14

MoviesBecame popular entertainmentCharlie Chaplin most famous silent film star1927 The Jazz Singer = first TalkieSound leads to newsreels becoming popular at the moviesHollywood, CA becomes filmmaking capitalBy 1929 80 million attend per week15

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