A National Clash of Cultures in the 1920's

The 1920’s, known as the “Roaring Twenties”, is generally seen as a decade of great prosperity in America. In the beginning of the 1920’s there was a brief economic recession, but as the decade moved on, the economy exploded. The cities were rapidly increasing and the majority of Americans lived in urban areas, causing worry for those living in rural areas. Anxiety only heightened as farm-to-factory migration increased. Cities were booming while the countryside was declining. People living in the countryside were worried that this signified a passing of an era, that their culture was being taken over by that of the city. Within the nation conflict arose from different views on values, religion, immigration, and prohibition between urban-rural cultures. In the 1920’s there was a huge difference between urban and rural values. The growth of cities, the rise in consumerism, and the shift in morals and manners represented the change from the country’s Victorian past. Major cities like Chicago and New York grew rapidly and the Empire State Building began construction, giving the appearance of American self-confidence. There were numerous social changes in sexual mores, gender roles, hairstyles, and fashion. Most Americans wanted to have as much fun as they could. Jazz music was becoming huge and crowds flocked to watch film stars like Charlie Chaplin and baseball stars like Babe Ruth. As the economy boomed, America started the era of consumerism. Car sales increased, radio and television broadcasting began and penicillin and insulin injections were discovered. Home refrigeration, automatic dishwasher, and electric air conditioning systems were invented. This gave off the idea that it was America’s century and that the U.S. was destined to be the greatest country of the era. Yet, the change was occurring mainly in the cities and people living in the countryside did not support this new culture. New technology and ideas were bringing America into the modern world and