The Roaring Twenties was a decade of economic prosperity and mass production in the United States following World War I. New industries like automobiles and radios grew rapidly due to affordable mass production. However, the passage of Prohibition led to the rise of bootleggers and speakeasies, and many Americans took on debt they could not repay, foreshadowing the Great Depression. Politically, the era was dominated by Republican presidents Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover. Socially, lifestyles became more urban and focused on leisure, though traditional rural values still held sway for many Americans.

1. The Roaring Twenties
US History
Period 4
Ms. Richardson

2. The Roaring Twenties
• Time of Economic Prosperity
– Automobiles became more affordable for
common people.
• Birth of New Industries
- Cars, radio, electrical
• Mass Production
-made goods cheaper & more accessible

3. The Roaring Twenties
• 18th
Amendment (1919)
– ban on alcohol
• Rise of credit & borrowing money
- more people taking out loans they cannot
repay = The Great Depression
• Rise of consumerism
- attachment to materialistic values or
possessions
- department stores

4. Political Changes during the
1920s
Politically, the U.S. was led between 1920-1930 by 3
Republican Presidents… Can you name them??
Warren Harding (1921-1923)--Republican
Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929) -- Republican
Herbert Hoover (1929-1933) --Republican

5. Flapper – The nickname given to
modern and rebellious women during
the 1920’s, they often:
-had short hair cuts
-short skirts
-visited speakeasies
-danced
-wanted the same freedom as men
However!!!!!!!
Most women WERE NOT flappers and still were
very restricted by economic, political and social
limits!!!

6. Social Changes during the 1920s: Threats
to Civil Liberties
During the 1920s, Americans were divided between modern and
traditional beliefs and values. This differing in opinions as well as the
Red Scare and rise of the KKK resulted in the threatening of some
Americans civil liberties. Racism and Nativism increased during the
1920s.
What was the Red Scare?
What is Nativism?
Believing that the way of life in your country is superior to other
countries and people. Distrusting and disliking foreigners, led to a desire
to limit immigration in the U.S.
A fear that communists would take over America (as they had in Russia),
people thought to be communists were arrested. Communists want
private property abolished, want collective ownership of property.

7. TRADITIONAL MODERN
Rural Urban
Production Consumption
Work Leisure
Save money
Make $ on stock
market
ScienceReligion
“Ladies” “Flappers”
Prohibition/Temperan
ce
Bootleggers,
speakeasies
Live entertainment Radio, movies
European-based
music
Jazz