Themes in American History

(Picture from the Franklin D. Roosevelt  library, courtesy of the National Archieves and Records Administration.)

Just as prosperity was visible during 1920s in the city through construction and rapid growth of industrialization, the economic crisis in twentieth century brought the great depression  in the U.S.; causing through the Stock market crash of 1929 until 1939, and unemployment that resulted poverty throughout the nation. The working class people and upper class people were widely affected and failed them in terms of raising their life standard and led them into the depression. It was the period of both unemployment and poverty, and increased government involvement in the economy.The most serious problem was an unemployment that heavily fell on unskilled, the young, and color people. In Chudacoff’s book, he states that between 1929 and 1933, both Mayors of Detroit and New York City preferred spending available money and borrow for relief even by reducing other municipal services of the city. This decreased the expenditure on parks and recreation departments in 795 cities and towns by 50 percent. Likewise Chicago was one of the hardest hit cities in American by the Great Depression because of the city dependence on manufacturing and crisis that existed the stock market crash. An unemployment in Chicago was near 50 percent after the four years of crash which led thousands of people to move and gather for social protest.

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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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