Culture and Society of the 1920's

Historical events from 1920-1930

 In 1920, the first football league was formed and known as the American Professional Football League with Jim Thorpe as the President. It was later changed in 1922 to what we know it as today, the National Football League.

In 1920, Susan B. Anthony fought for women to have the right to vote and that right was given in August that year.

The first winter Olympic games were held in 1924. In 1925, the U.S. appointed its first woman governor Nellie Tayloe Ross in Wyoming.

The biggest historical event in the U.S. took place in 1929 when the stock market crashed which started the Great Depression (Americasbesthistory.com, 2011).

Literature

 In the 1920’s literature and reading was very popular and an important part of the American life. Since television had not yet come out, this was how American’s got their knowledge of the world with newspapers and magazines (Scott, 2005). Some of the popular literature of the 1920’s included The Great Gastby in 1925 written by Scott Fitzgerald (Unknown, 2000).

Magazines

 Magazines were very popular for women which contained short stories, recipes, decorating tips and fashion (Scott, 2005). Some of the popular magazines were Nash’s, Britannia and Birds Custard (Johnson, 2012).

Music

In the 1920’s both Blues and Jazz were popular forms of music. Some of the most popular songs included I’ll be With You In Apple Blossom Time, I’m Just Wild About Harry and Rose of Washington Square. Some of the popular artists were Bessie Smith, Fanny Brice, and Louis Daniel Armstrong (Whitley, 2011).

Art

 In the 1920’s a popular art form was dance. During this time the Charleston had become a popular ballroom dance. This dance was developed in the south and included some African styles. Some other dance forms included the Cake-Walk, the Turkey Trot and the Bunny Hug. With the creation and popularity of these dances, dance marathons were formed (Scott, 2005). 

Movies

Silent movies were a big thing in the 1920’s. Some of the popular actors and actresses included Rudolph Valentine, and Clara Bow (Whitley, 2011). Popular movies in the 1920’s included “Nanook of the North” which was a documentary film, “The Prisoner of Zenda”, “Four Musicians of Bremem” and “Adventures of Tarzan” all released in 1922. In 1924 budget films were created, those included “The Sea Hawk” and “Dante’s Inferno”. In 1927 the first movie that included sex appeal was called “It” with Clara Bow. In 1929 “The Cocoanuts” was released and it was the first of many Marx Brothers movies (Scott, 2005).

Reference Page

Americasbesthistory.com. (2011). The 1920- prosperity and its demise. Retrieved from

http://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1920.html

Johnson, S. (2012). Womens magazines of the 1920's, 1930's, and the 1940's. Retrieved from

http://www.cyber-heritage.co.uk/women

Scott, R. (2005). 1920's art, artists and illustrators. Retrieved from http://www.1920-30.com/art/

Scott, R. (2005). Literature of the times captured the changes in society. Retrieved from

http://www.1920-30.com/literature/

Scott, R. (2005). Historical timeline of 1920's movie history. Retrieved from http://www.1920-

30.com/movies/timeline.html

Unknown. (2000). The jazz age and louis armstrong (the 1920's). Retrieved from

http://library.thinkquest.org/C005846/categories/artliter/artslit.htm

Whitley, P. (2011). American cultural history. Retrieved from

http://kclibrary.lonestar.edu/decade20.html