Who Were the Flappers and How Did They Shape the 1920’s?
World War I and the struggle for suffrage that had been over with women’s right to vote secured in the 19th Amendment led to the appearance of the flapper generation in the 1920s. Flappers were “young women known for their energetic freedom, embracing a lifestyle viewed by many at the time as outrageous, immoral or downright dangerous” (History.com Editors par. 1). Predominantly northern, urban, middle-class, and single, flappers joined the workforce outside the home, were actively involved in the city nightlife, and demonstrated behavior that was typical for men. They consumed alcohol, smoked, cut their hair, wore high heels and bound their chests, declaring their independence. In general, flapperism had a considerable impact on the Roaring Twenties when “personal fulfillment and independence became priorities” for women who finally became free in expressing themselves (Spivack par. 3). Due to flappers, the 1920s for modern people are associated with colorfulness, “nationwide dance craze,” music, and the development of motion pictures (Spivack par. 2). Moreover, this generation has determined the mentality of women’s next generations who continued to fight for their rights to participate in all spheres of life on an equal basis with men.
What Was the Prohibition, and What Were the Effects of It?
Although there had been previous attempts to outlaw alcohol consumption in the United States, the Prohibition of the 1920s may be regarded as their culmination. Ratified in 1919 and enacted in 1920, the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution prohibited the “manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors” (Gilder Lehrman par. 1). The campaign aimed to contribute to a superior societal morality, fewer industrial accidents, and happier families. In the beginning, the initiative was justified “by a decline in arrests for drunkenness, hospitalization for alcoholism, and instances of liver-related medical problems” (Gilder Lehrman par. 2). However, in general, the Prohibition had a highly negative impact on the United States economy.
First of all, alcohol-related tax revenues were immediately lost in the majority of states across the country. In addition, entertainment industries were affected as multiple restaurants “could no longer make a profit without legal liquor sales” (Prohibition par. 5). Finally, the Prohibition and related closing of saloons, distilleries, and breweries “led to the elimination of thousands of jobs, and in turn thousands more jobs were eliminated for barrel makers, truckers, waiters, and other related trades” (Prohibition par. 5). Later, the initial positive effects were outweighed by illegal alcohol distillation, sale, and consumption.
Works Cited
Fitzgerald, F. Scott. “The Great Gatsby.” Web.
Gilder Lehrman. “Prohibition and Its Effects.” The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, Web.
History.com Editors. “Flappers.” History, 2019, Web.
“Prohibition.” PBS, Web.
Spivack, Emily. “The History of the Flapper, Part 1: A Call for Freedom.” Smithsonian Magazine, 2013, Web.