1
Introduction
The 1920s: A Decade of
Change
wore short fancy dresses, and men shaved off their
beards.
In 1920 the average life span in the United
States was about fifty-four years, whereas today
it's about seventy-seven years. In 1920 the average
time a student spent in school each year was 75
days, and today it's
about 180 days.
In 1920 the
Eighteenth Amendment
to the U.S. Constitution
was passed, creating the
era of Prohibition. The
amendment forbade the
manufacture, sale, or
transportation of alco¬
holic beverages. Many
people ignored the ban,
however. In 1933 the
amendment was abol¬
ished, and it became the
only constitutional
amendment to be
repealed.
The 1920s began with
the last American troops
returning from Europe
after World War I. They were coming back
to their families, friends, and jobs. Most of
the soldiers had never been far
from home before the
war, and their
experiences had
changed their
perspective of
life around
them. After
У
seeing
Europe, they
wanted some
of the finer
(Top photo ) Women in clothing of the 1920s.
(Middle photo) A driver tries to negotiate a muddy road near Clyde in 1920.
(Photo at right) This campaign button from the museum's collection calls for an end
to Prohibition. Image courtesy of the North Carolina Museum of History.
growth of industry occurred in North Carolina,
especially in the areas of tobacco, textiles, and
furniture. Some rural farmers were leaving their
farms in order to receive a regular paycheck in the
factories. Unions were on the rise. Women short¬
ened, or "bobbed," their hair, flappers danced and
things in life for
themselves and
their families.
by Barrett A. Silverstein*
Have you ever heard the phrase "the roaring
twenties?" Also known as the Jazz Age,
the decade of the 1920s featured economic
prosperity and carefree living for many. The
decade began with a roar and ended with a crash.
To paraphrase Charles Dickens in A Tale of Two
Cities, "It was the best of times, and
sometimes it was the worst of times."
The 1920s was a decade of change,
when many Americans owned cars,
radios, and telephones for the first time.
The cars brought the need for good
roads. The radio brought the world
closer to home. The telephone connected
families and friends. Prosperity was on
the rise in cities and towns, and social
change flavored the air. A substantial
‘Barrett A. Silverstein, a retiree of IBM Corporation, volunteers for both the North Carolina Museum of
History and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. He is also a volunteer instructor for classes
in popular music and radio at North Carolina State University's Encore Center.
Till 1 1, Spring 2004
