Themes in American History

By 1900, industry was mainly centralized in the downtown of the city. Manhattan was the place where factories concentrated and where opportunities for jobs gathered. However, by the 1920s, because of the improvement of transportation and, more importantly, electric power made it possible for industry to decentralize from the center of the city. Factories were able to extend greater flexibility in location and made possible the assembly line. Thus, corporations began to look for suburb, where lands were cheaper ad tax burdens were less, as new locations. When industry moved out from the central city, many white workers followed and moved to cheaper suburban house lots. This phenomenon extended the use of automobiles and the building of expressways and parkways. Government invested a lot of money in street improvement, traffic regulation, and new road construction. The more people living in suburb areas; the more automobiles would be needed; the more highways would be built, and the more development would take place in suburban areas.

On the other hand, as the industry was decentralizing from the center of the city, professional services such as finance, management, and clerical increased their presence in downtown areas. Skyscrapers emerged and altered the skyline of the downtown. Skyscrapers in the 1920s not only answered the demand of office but also served as a visual symbol of the development in cities in the 1920s. Corporate offices, banks, law firms, and advertising agencies contributed to this vertical expansion of cities. Woolworth Building was one of the skyscrapers that was built during the 1920s. This new pattern of spatial specialization formed metropolitan districts—regions that included a city and its suburbs.

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“One of the chief values of clothing is that it enables people to advertise themselves in a way that will win the attention and admiration of others. Many who lack any ability and could not hope to rise above the “average” on their own merit alone, find a satisfactory outlet for this desire for recognition through the medium of dress.” (Hurlock 1929:28-29) Elizabeth Hurlock described the importance of fashionable dress.

Following the fashion cycle, department stores advertised through window displays and window displays. The department store became one of the most important institutions. It was a community center for women. It is not only a place of middle- and upper-class women for consumption but also provided women with job opportunities. From the slogan of Marshall Field “Give the lady what she wants”, we can tell the vital role of women as the department stores’ primary consumers. It helped change the women’s role in society.

B. Altman and Company was founded in 1865 and closed in 1989. It was the first big department store to make the move from the Ladies Mile shopping district

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The Roaring Twenties was known as time of social, geographical and economical changes in America. Although a lot happened during the twenties, one of the greatest events of American history was the Great Depression, a time period of American despair and reformation. Many topics such as Flappers, women’s rights, bootlegging were all part of the Roaring Twenties but the Great Depression marked one of the world’s greatest economical downfalls in all of history. No other civilization has had such depression compared to that of the Great Depression. The picture that is shown here is a famous black and white photo of a mother fostering to her children during the Great Depression. 1929 marked a historical time period where the U.S market crashes and starts the Great Depression. The photo taken by Dorothea Lange is called the Migrant Mother who is depicted as a mother of seven children in California during the start of the Great Depression. The phase “a picture describes a thousand words” vividly translates to this photo of a middle aged women, looking away in despair with two of her kids helplessly resting on her shoulder. The Great Depression was America’s most difficult economical and financial downfalls but it also resulted in a much stronger and persistent market that has evolved into one of the world’s strongest markets.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pwG-kRi0-Y

One of the most recognized changes of the 1920s was the change in fashion. Women started to wear more comfortable clothes, including pants and shorter skirts with pleats, instead of the more constricting clothes they used to wear. Men also started to wear more sporty clothes, them being used to dressing formally. Men and women both were also beginning to start playing with accessories, mostly hats. Fashion at this time was started to be influenced by the new art movements, creating a whole new style. This change contributed to the city being more modern because at first, people were reluctant to change but by 1925, it was quickly adapted to and accepted by society. The change was so popular, it defined fashion up until the next decade. Some of the styles that began to be practiced then are even popular and important in today’s culture as far as the fashion world.

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The 1920s is the decade that fashion entered the modern era. It was the decade in which women first liberated themselves from constricting fashions and began to wear more comfortable clothes, such as short skirts or trousers. Men started abandoning overly formal clothes and began to wear sport clothes for the first time. Of cause, there are reasons for those changes. First of all, after World War I, America entered a prosperous era. Social customs and morals were relaxed in the optimism brought on by the end of the war and the booming of the stock market. Women were entering the workforce in record numbers. Thus, Clothing changed with women’s changing roles in modern society, particularly with the idea of freedom for women. Younger women now made sportswear into the greatest change in post-war fashion. The tubular dresses of the ’Teens had evolved into a similar silhouette that now sported shorter skirts with pleats, gathers, or slits to allow motion to rule women’s fashion for the first time in history.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGEs5aoqGLM&feature=fvst

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Before the 1920s, women were used to work at home. Taking care of her family was the primary duty for them, Such as washing dish, cloth, and cooking dinner for their families. At that time, they hadn’t any entertainments and political rights. In contrary, men owned all priorities and authorities, for example; they could go outside to work, and go to club for having fun; also they have right to vote, etc.

During and after the 1920s, there were quite a lot changes in the society. Women began to work outside of their house. Taking care of families weren’t women’s duties any more.   They started to work at factories for making money as men did, and joined women club. Also, they realized that women should have equal opportunities of jobs and rights like men.  In 1920s, women began to have right to vote and participated in political position.

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Women have been looked down upon by men since the beginning of time. Most women took the ridicule thinking that social casting would never change, but some had courage to fight for justice, equality and rights. By the early 20^th century, women had not yet received any rights in the American Democracy. Women were not allowed to vote, had no property rights, not accepted into universities, worked for a fraction of a man’s salary and so on.  On August 18, 1920 the 19^th Amendment was ratified after decades of struggle by women’s rights advocates, bringing a successful end to the US women’s suffrage movement. The Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits any United States citizen to be denied the right to vote on sex. Without the following women, it is unlikely that women in the US would have all the freedom that they have today: Frances Wright, Ernestine Rose, Lucretia Mott, Lucy Stone, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth C. Stanton. Besides, America has dramatically changed since women gained the right to vote, both economically, politically and culturally.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=684n8FO68LU&feature=related

During the 1920s there were quite a lot of changes in home life. To be specific, American industrialization and urbanization are most fundamental reasons that made people’s everyday life more comfortable and it is also beginning of modern period of New York City. For woman who spent all day to do house chores such as wash dishes, clean the house or iron cloth, modern society gave them an opportunity to have their own time. Although not all people could afford to buy product, for instance vacuum cleaners, washing machines, refrigerators and so forth, at least running water, gas or electronic stove freed even working class housewives from all day house working (Chudacoff pg.186). These conveniences also led many women to outside so that they could join woman club, social life or other leisure activities.

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During 1920 there was a huge development in science. This scientific advancement was not only limited to industrial technologies but also to the health and safety concern advanced greatly during 1920. After, a civil war economy were climbing and production were sky rocketing. The country needed more workers in the industries. Millions of immigration came to the United States to work and for better life. Lot of the industrial jobs and other jobs such as constructions were dangerous and risky and was long hours. Even though there were lots of pressures on the workers, they had no health insurance. Even the workplace weren’t safe before 1920. For example railway workers had tough jobs, during 1902 to 1908 more than 15 thousand people killed. The health concern was not important before, but during 1913 the department of labor was established and worker health concern was begun. But only after the accident in mining company which killed 361 men the workplace health and safety became stricter in the industries. This workplace health and safety system gave the workers financial support and security in case of accidents. This program has noticeable result which helped to minimize the death rate.

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The years of the 1920’s were best known as ” The Roaring Tweinties.” It was a decade of so many new inventions and discoveries  in the fields of medicine, technology, clothing, music, filmand much more. There are many things to talk about during this decade. I definitely see it as a period of happiness and prosperity until the very last year in 1929 when the Great Depression began. I would say that the symbol of happiness for this decade was dancing, which explains why I chose the following video for this post. Before this time, the thought of dancing or even dancing was not heard of as much. During this time, people now had the time to actually go out and enjoy themselves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNAOHtmy4j0

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The entertainment industry took advantage of Americans increased leisure time and income during the 1920s. As people celebrated postwar prosperity with indulgence in entertainment.  Movie change the form of entertainment. When the “talkies” was available. The motion pictures with sound. Movies presented audiences with spectacular sets that they could only dream about. In the 1920s, there were 20 Hollywood studios, and the demand for films was greater than ever and it is the greatest output of films in America; it is about 800 film releases in a year. Also, movies were a very inexpensive form of entertainment. By 1922, almost every community in America had at least a 100-seat movie theater for total 40million people go to watch movie every week.

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This clip is basically talking about how the Prohibition of Alcohol in 1920s influenced the society negatively. In the beginning of the 19^th century, alcohol was abusively used by many people. Many people blamed many problems upon alcohol. Many organizations were created to fight against consumption of alcohol. The state laws were already passed in the beginning of 20^th century, and eventually, the 18^th amendment was ratified on January 16, 1919, and put into effect on the same day of 1920. “[It] banned the manufacture, distribution and sale of alcohol in America.” The consequences of this new act were “saloons selling alcohol closed, alcohol prices rose, and consumption of alcohol decreased especially among the poor.” The rose of “organized crime” gangs was the biggest and worst consequence, which they took over the distribution and sale of alcohol. Al Capone was the top leader of these gangs. Illegal alcohol was smuggled from many other places, such as Europe, Mexico, Canada, and the West Indies.

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American Journalism

CHeck out the link above about American Journalism. It is very interesting and talks about journalists, political scene, social climate, media moments, trends in journalism.

I n my opinion Journalism is one the most important things in history. It has change over time via radio, newspapers, and now online. It is important to know that there are people out there risking their life, reputation, something for their opinions, and thought  be heard in some aspect. That is why I chose this because transition from the beginning to now and it will constantly be changing..

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Every decade fashion changes with a new form of clothing style rising. During the 1920s the biggest fashion trend was flappers. Flappers were a new breed of young western style of women who wore short skirts, listen to jazz, and had disdain behaviors than their predecessor

This change contributed modernity is it gave a spirit of women to become more liberal and breakaway from traditions. Women were allowed to flaunt their wealth and enjoy the luxury they never had. Modernity is all about progression and society changing or breaking away from old custom was a progression. It allowed society to try new things and culturally evolve. Even though flapper’s behaviors were seen as outlandish, female historians see it as step to female empowerment. It allowed females to express their individuality and independence. They helped give birth to many fashions that are still in use today. Flappers decide to do away with corsets and use lingerie and panties. Also the dresses they wore were developed from Coco Chanel which brought fashion into the spotlight. .  But eventually the flapper’s era will end with the birth of the Great Depression. Their fashion did not but evolved over time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3svvCj4yhYc

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As the others already talked about, the automobiles started to be famous in the 1920s, and it was somewhat affordable for the citizens. Ford Company, in Detroit, came up with simple and cheaper automobils that Americans could buy. It helped the economy of  the automobil industry, however, it had made some troubles; the traffic.

The rapid growth of the automobil use in the cities made some problems on the roads, and this had to be fixed. William L. Potts, the Police Officer of Detroit, Michigan, came up with idea of adapting the railroad signals for street use. Potts used red, amber, and green railroad lights and about thirty-seven dollars worth of wire and electrical controls, and invented the four way three color traffic light. In 1920, Detroit became the first city to use the four way three color traffic lights, installed at the intersection of Woodward Avenue and Michigan Avenue, to control the traffic. (From Waving Arms to LED’s, http://www.techtransfer.berkeley.edu/newsletter/07-4/traffic_signals.php)

We live in the society in which the use of automobils is playing a crucial role. The traffic lights at the time cleaned up the streets that were in confusion because of the great increase of automobil usages, and made sure of the safety in the society. If the trafic lights have not been invented as the way Potts has, the traffic today couldn’t be this safe. The basic system of today’s traffic lights is still the same; four ways and three colors. This invention surely can be said as great contribution to the modernity. 

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Chicago’s first generation of movie theaters, most of which opened in the early 1910s, were mostly small establishments located wherever a vacant storefront could be had. By the late 1910s and early 1920s, increasingly large theaters were constructed throughout Chicago. Every neighborhood had one or more movie houses to call its own. As profits from existing theaters soared, promoters opened ever-grander theaters which entertain the masses of movie-goers. These so-called movie palaces were distinct from their predecessors in a number of ways. The city’s theater circuits, the most notable of which was Balaban & Katz, expected their movie palaces to draw audiences from across the city, not just the immediate neighborhood. Also, by incorporating classical architectural details in the new palaces, they hoped to allay middle-class fears that movie theaters were corrupting the minds and morals of the city’s youth. Their efforts worked. By the end of the 1920s, movie-going was one of the city’s most popular leisure activities, due in large part by the increased willingness of middle-class Chicagoans to go out and see a show.



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The HarlemRenaissance was a cultural movement that covered the 1920s. It was also known as the “New Negro Movement”.  During this time period, the musical style of blacks was becoming more attractive to whites.  In this time period, the “Jazz Age” emerged and with the introduction of jazz came a totally new movement in the United States. The jazz was mainly credited to African Americans, but expanded and improved to become socially suitable to middle class white Americans. Jazz was the sound of the 1920s; it became the “people’s” music despite some trouble being accepted by the black “cultural elite”. Music in general exploded during the 1920s. Jazz were key to nightclubs, Apollo Theater, and the Cotton Club. Harlem Renaissance music was defined by lively clubs and characters who constantly improved and modified jazz’s sound. Men like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Willie “The Lion” Smith were the “gladiators” of jazz. Harlem Renaissance music was more than just music, but for many, jazz was a way of life.

Louis Armstrong

Duke Ellington

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The American Industrial Revolution (1870-1920) changed the United States citizens from an agricultural people to one that is highly industrialized. They began to performed much of their work in factories and on machines. This transition took fifty years and caused a dramatic change in the nation’s economic history. In the second industrial revolution from (1860-1920), unskilled immigrant laborers were the dominant factory manufacturing labor force. Industrial development in the United States exhibited two major production technologies: factory- assembly (1820-1920), and factory continuous (1920-). By far the greatest reason for new immigration was for employment. The Southern and Eastern European Nations most new immigrants fled were in dire economic times with high unemployment and limited opportunity. The stunning growth in the US industrial development fueled a seemingly endless demand for workers, which the desperate immigrants seemingly fulfilled.

Many newly arrived immigrants found themselves at the mercy of corrupt political forces like Boss Tweed’s Tammany Hall in New York City. Political machines such as these used the votes of newly arrived immigrants to dominate and corrupt the political process in many of America’s growing cities.

The contributions of the new immigrants were transformative to America. The ethnic diversity of the immigrants changed America into a more multi-cultural society with varied language, traditons and practices. The cultural contributions of the new immigrants can be seen in the art, food, music and culture of modern America. (Direct Essays, regentsprep.org, www.mcgill.ca)

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Highway Act of 1921 for sure was a technological modernity of 1920s. The plan was created by Senator Lawrence C. Phipps of Colorado. It was the first plan in US history that described the national road systems. $75 million was given to the 11 states by the end of 1921. The act started a boom for building roads. By 1920s many people had cars, by traveling without good roads was anemic. New roads connected states and allowed people to migrate much easier or travel long distances in comfort.

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At the beginning of nineteenth century, the Architecture of New York City shifted from low-rise to high-rise. The building were not only high-raised, but also were stylish.  The Government put new regulation on building taller than six stories to combat water pressure. “In 1916, Zoning Resolution required setback in new building restricted on size to allow sunlight to reach the street bellow”(Wikipedia).

One of the tallest buildings built in 1913 is the Woolworth building which was not only one of the tallest (57 stories) but also was stylish with the art of gothic architecture. It was one of the 50 most tallest building in The United State until 1966

The Woolworth building under construction

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