What were the "Roaring Twenties"? (AQA GCSE History)
Revision Note
Written by: Zoe Wade
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
What Does the 'Roaring Twenties' Mean? - Summary
The Roaring Twenties was a period of rapid cultural, social and economic change in the USA in the 1920s.
During the Roaring Twenties, the USA experienced rapid economic growth. Technological innovation, increased consumer spending and government policies drove this. This economic boom led to rising living standards and the emergence of a modern consumer culture. Many more US citizens enjoyed wealth and access to various goods and services.
The Roaring Twenties was a time of social freedom and experimentation. People began to challenge traditional values. New forms of expression emerged. The decade saw the rise of jazz music, the popularity of dance crazes such as the Charleston and the emergence of new forms of entertainment such as radio and cinema.
Impact of the Motor Car
The motor car was invented in 1885
Before the First World War, the price of motor cars meant that only the wealthy could afford them
Mass production meant that the car industry grew significantly in the 1920s
By 1929, there were around 23 million cars in the USA
The car industry was important for the USA for several reasons, including that it:
Improved the road network
Enabled people to travel further
Supported other industries due to the parts and materials needed for car production
Led to the expansion of the cities and the development of the suburbs
Created wealth, particularly for business owners
Impact of the Radio
During the 1920s, radio was the most popular entertainment medium
By the end of the 1920s, there were hundreds of radio stations
Radio was able to reach across the USA
There was radio coverage to the smallest and most remote settlements in the USA which meant that:
These places received news more quickly
New and different ideas spread to these areas
Some people were illiterate in the USA
Radio was a way of communicating information to all citizens regardless of whether they could read and write
Radio improved the day-to-day life of people in the USA
Companies sponsored radio programmes or created radio adverts
This contributed to the economic boom of the 1920s
Radio encouraged the growth of sport as a hobby
There was radio coverage of live sporting events such as baseball
People could support teams without having to travel to sporting arenas
By 1929, around 10 million homes had a radio in the USA
Impact of Jazz
Jazz originated from the southern states of the USA
It developed from African-American blues and ragtime musicians
It is high-tempo
In the 1920s, jazz music became more popular outside of the South
Positives & Negatives of Jazz Music
Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
People developed new dances to jazz music such as the Charleston | New York and Detroit banned jazz music. Lawmakers believed that jazz threatened traditional values and had an association with crime |
Jazz entered popular culture through radios, gramophones and films | Due to being banned, many jazz musicians ended up performing illegally in speakeasies |
Jazz music was popular among the youth | Some older people hated jazz. They connected the music to alcohol, smoking and immoral behaviour |
Many jazz musicians were African-Americans. They became famous for their musical talents | Many US citizens held racist views. They hated jazz because of its association with the culture of African-Americans and the integration of races |
Worked Example
Describe two problems with jazz in the Roaring Twenties
[4 marks]
Answer:
One problem with jazz in the Roaring Twenties was the reaction from older people in the USA (1). The older generation thought that jazz was connected to an immoral lifestyle of drinking and smoking (1).
Another problem with jazz was people’s racist reaction to it (1). Jazz originated from African-American music. Some US citizens hated its connection to African-American culture and fought for jazz to be banned (1).
Examiner Tips and Tricks
When answering ‘Describe…’ questions, the four marks are given to you for:
Identify - write a relevant point based on the question topic (1)
Describe - add some specific own knowledge about the point you have made (1)
To achieve full marks, you must do these steps twice
Impact of the Cinema
Cinema became a popular pastime for US citizens in the 1920s
Televisions had not yet been invented in the 1920s
This period was called the Golden Age of Hollywood
Hollywood is in Los Angeles, California and was where the big film companies created their films
By 1929, around 110 million US citizens visited the cinema each week
Cinema technology developed significantly over this period:
Cinema became very popular because:
Tickets were cheap at less than 25 cents
This made it affordable for all social groups to go to the cinema
People met with their friends at the cinema to distract themselves from their lives
Films showed viewers a glamorous world
People idolised film stars like Rudolph Valentino and Clara Bow
Picture palaces were warm and comfortable places
There were lots of different types of films, such as:
Romance
Comedy
Cartoons. Mickey the Mouse’s Steamboat Willie debuted in 1928
Examiner Tips and Tricks
An exam question could present you with two interpretations of the Roaring Twenties.
Question 1 will ask about the difference between two interpretations of an event. If you can understand the argument in Interpretation 1, Interpretation 2 will support the opposing side of that argument. Remember to use quotes from the interpretations. This will provide evidence to explain the difference between the interpretations.
Students struggle to answer the next question (Question 2) on why the two interpretations are different. A common mistake is to repeat what has been said in the previous question (Question 1). When approaching Question 2, you need to explain why the interpretations are different. Interpretations can be different because the writers or historians could have:
Looked at different sources
Placed more value on different events in History
Have different backgrounds or opinions
Read the provenance of each interpretation to determine this
The question includes the wording ‘Explain your answer using Interpretations A and B and your contextual knowledge.’ The question expects you to support your reasons with key knowledge from the period. Knowledge will also help you to understand the context of each interpretation.
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