The 1920s started on a bright note and ended on a dark one. The United States was growing in terms of their economy, as soldiers returned home from World War I. These soldiers had disposable income on hand and spent it on some of the new inventions at the time, which also helped the economy. The automobile quickly grew in popularity and when the assembly line was perfected, it made the car easier than ever to afford. Americans also enjoyed the early days of television and the chance to visit the movie theater, which was affordable for many.

The rise in popularity of the radio also led to new forms of music growing and catching on such as jazz music. Artist like Miles Davis and Louis Armstrong were especially popular. Baseball was equally popular and families heading out to the ballpark to witness the likes of Babe Ruth. A minor scandal involving the White Sox cheating led to a distrust of professional athletes.

The era was also marked by women’s suffrage. Women kept fighting for the right to vote and as the decade began, the last holdout state finally passed a law that gave them this right. Women known as flapper girls began appearing on the scene, showing the changes in women. These girls wore short hair and beaded dresses, which are still common in adult costumes today. It was the first time that women took on a slightly masculine role, yet were still allowed to show off their legs.

The Art Deco movement also showed the changes in American culture. Though this architectural movement began in Europe, it quickly spread across the ocean. One of the best examples is the Chrysler Building, which perfectly showed the movement. America also had gangsters such as Al Capone and Bugsy Seigel running wild. These men showed that anyone could rise to power quickly, just based on money. When American passed the prohibition law, which outlawed alcohol, these men took on even more power by running illegal betting parlors and making their own alcohol.

Resources on the Roaring Twenties include:

• Harlem Timeline : discusses major events that took place in Harlem during the 1920s.

• The Roaring Twenties Statistics : offers statistics from the decade including population size and average prices.

• Prosperity and Thrift : focuses on the change between different economic groups.

• Herbert Hoover Presidential Library & Museum : offers photographs that show the cultural history that occurred during the 1920s.

• The Jazz Age : discusses culture of the times, with a focus on flappers and jazz music.

• Flapper Fashion : focuses on the clothing worn by flappers, with details and pictures shared.

• Sports in the 1920s : offers a look on the major sporting event that took place in the 1920s.

• Radio in the 1920s : looks at the radio programs popular during this era.

• Roaring Twenties : gives a history of the era, including the lives of women.

• The Roaring Twenties : offers full details on lectures relating to politics and minorities during the era.

• Slouching Towards Utopia : focuses on the economic climate prior to the Great Depression.

• A Biography of America : describes the popular people and events from the 1920s.

• The Year in Review : describes popular artists and pieces created during the middle part of the era.

• Chicago - The Twenties : focuses on how the 1920s impacted the Chicago area.

• Events of the 1920s : describes major events that took place during the 1920s.

• Roaring Twenties : gives a broad overview of the times.

• A Historical Snapshot : covers a variety of topics from the 1920s including aviation, dance and automobiles.

• The Roaring Twenties : a college group devoted to learning more and sharing about the era.

• Hononegah High School : special project that shows photographs from the 1920s.

• American Cultural History : describes the cultural affects of the roaring twenties on Americans.

The roaring twenties ended on a dark note though known as Black Friday. This was a day in October 1929 when the stock market crashed, leaving many people penniless and broke. It signaled the end of the prosperity they once experienced and the beginning of a darker period. The next decade was most notable for the Great Depression, which swept across the country at a lightning fast speed.