How Did Culture Change 1920s American Culture

The First World War was a war that represented the cultural changes that would take place directly following it. It was a war of new weaponry and new ways of communication. However, much like the new era of culture in the 1920’s, it came to a standstill; stuck in the trenches of some far off land. After the sons, brothers, and husbands had left the country to serve, the daughters, sisters, and wives were given the task of supporting them. They made weapons and sent letters. My grandmother was one of these women. Born in 1899, she sent countless letters of support and affection to the soldiers, and helped her mother around the house when she was away in the factories. But after the war, women were given a backseat once again. The jobs that existed to make war materials had vanished, and the men that wanted work after the war had arrived. Forcing women like my grandmother and her mother out of work and leaving their husbands and brothers jobless throughout the next decade. African-Americans and immigrants to the United States were still second-class citizens in most of the country. They were able to make a living through accepting low wages. This strategy worked until the white, American boys came back from the war. Immigrants were
treated very poorly in the little work they were able to find, and African-Americans (unable to fight in the war for the most part) had trouble fighting racism in their own country. The culture of the 1920’s changed drastically.
Night clubs, music, and art scenes popped up in cities and suburban areas. This, with the returning soldiers, created a chaotic change in the meaning of culture. Coming from a “refined” sense, this change swung to the conclusion that culture was an eclectic and ever-changing thing. Something that a group possessed was its culture. Almost like a style or a way that a group behaves and expresses. Moral behavior took a backseat in the 1920’s. Open talk about sex trickled between both men and women. This act of rebellion was led by flappers and the New Women. This shocked the older generation of the late 1800’s and caused many writers to be inspired by this changing form of
behavior. A critical attitude evolved both during and after the war about the changing meaning of culture. Women were working just as hard as men, African-Americans were fighting strongly for equal rights, and immigrants were challenging natives for jobs. These trends and their outcomes can be seen today. These three groups all have equal rights to jobs and opportunities to change and be successful.