Women's roles changed significantly during the 1920s. The 19th amendment granted women's suffrage in 1920, though initially only about 35% of eligible women voted. "Flappers" questioned social norms by wearing shorter dresses and gaining more independence. More single women entered the workforce, though professional careers remained difficult. Many people migrated to cities for new industrial and commercial jobs, changing the rural/urban divide. African Americans migrated north in the "Great Migration" but still faced racism, while Hispanics settled in ethnic neighborhoods in cities like New York. Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart became national heroes through their pioneering aviation achievements, though Earhart mysteriously disappeared on a flight. Sports also grew in popularity

1. Society and Culture of the 1920s

2. Key Questions
 1) How did women’s role change during the
1920s?
 2) Why were people migrating to major cities
during the 1920s?
 3) Why did individual people become larger than
life heroes for many during the Roaring 20s?

3. Women’s Suffrage
 Nineteenth Amendment
passed on August 20,
1920.
 Early years of suffrage
only about 35% of
female voters went to
the polls.
 Many stated they lacked
interest in politics.
 Jeannette Rankin: First
female congresswoman
(1916)

4. The Empowered Woman
 Flappers
 “the American
woman… has lifted
her skirts far beyond
any modest
limitation.” (NY Times,
1920)
 Between 1913 and
1928, average
amount of fabric used
went from 19.5 yards
to 7 yards.
 Questioned morals
and norms of society
in the post-WWI era.

5. Women In The Workforce
 Rising number of
women entering the
workforce in the early
1920s; primarily single
women.
 Remained almost
impossible for women
to become doctors,
lawyers, or other high
paying professional
positions.

6. Citizens On The Move
 Major demographic
changes in the U.S.
 Rural/Urban divide
 Farmers in financial
trouble
 Industrial/Commercial
industries were thriving
economically
 Masses move to the
cities
 Public high school
attendance:
 2.2 million (1920)
 4.4 million (1930)

7. Minority Migration
 The Great Migration
 Movement of African-
Americans from the
southern U.S. to the
north.
 1860: 93% lived in the
south.
 1930: 80% lived in the
south.
 Still racism in the north
 Other minorities
 Hispanics moved to
barrios (Spanish
speaking
neighborhoods).
 New York City
attracted a massive
Puerto Rican
population.

8. Take Flight
 Charles Lindbergh
 Born in Minnesota
 Spirit of Saint Louis
 Attempted and
succeeded in flying
non-stop from New
York to Paris.
 “Lucky Lindy”; Icy and
stormy weather
conditions during flight.
 Refused star status;
turned down millions of
dollars in
advertisements.
 Amelia Earhart
 1928: First woman to
fly across the Atlantic
(as a passenger)
 1932: First woman to
fly solo across the
Atlantic.
 1937: Attempted to fly
around the entire
world.
 Completed two-thirds of
the trip and
mysteriously vanished
crossing the Pacific.

9. Lindbergh & Earhart

10. “Heroes Get Remembered, but
Legends Never Die…”
 Sports became big business during the 1920s
 Boxing
 Jack Dempsey was the premier heavyweight champion.
 A hero for the entire American public enduring struggle.
 Jim Thorpe
 Native American (Sac and Fox Nation)
 Won Olympic gold medals in decathlon and pentathlon.
 Played professional football and baseball as well.
 First president of the National Football League
 Baseball
 George Herman “Babe” Ruth
 “The Sultan of Swat”, “The King of Crash”, “The Great
Bambino”…
 714 Home Runs All-Time
o Home Run King until Hank Aaron broke the record in
April, 1974.