By Shanna McCue
Outline:
I. Introduction
A. 1920s
B. New York City
C. Combination of the two
II. What I expected
A. Expectations
B. Thesis: Although the greatest depression quickly ensued afterwards, the 1920s was the most pivotal era of change in all of history.
III. Women’s impact in the 1920s
A. Women’s suffrage/Right to Vote
B. Possible lead to prohibition
IV. Prohibition
A. Didn’t stop much
B. Esp. in New York City, things such as “speakeasies” and crazy parties often ensued
C. Changes in Law
V. Prohibition causes grapes to suck
VI. Economy sucks in rural areas, better in urban areas
a. Widespread Drought I guess
b. Many move to urban areas (net population reaches 1 million in 1926)
VII. It was better in urban areas because of the concept of “partial payment”
a. Approx. $140 mil worth of clothing/year sold on this plan!
b. Included cars, refrigerators, furnitutre, phonographs, washing machines, etc.
VIII. Eventual leading to the great depression
a. The money seemed to never end
b. Everyone pushed up the price of houses lands and shares through borrowed money
c. Because many things could be bought with 90% loans by a stock broker, stock prices eventually fell, leaving investors to sell shares out of fear, which led to even more of a fall in the stock market, eventually causing the Stock Market Crash of late 1929 that followed by the Great Depression that went into the 1940s
What is it like to live in the decade of the 1920’s? In Europe, it was known as the “Golden Twenties,” as Europeans were living in a post-world war I economic boom. A Chinese and Irish civil war broke out, Charles Lindbergh flew the first non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean, and Babe Ruth became an iconic baseball player. The 1920s, whether referred to as the golden years, roaring twenties, or the jazz age, was undoubtedly one of the happier decades in the 20th century, followed by a worldwide depression and war the next coming decade.
What is it like to live in New York City? It doesn’t matter whether you call it the Big Apple, the capital of the world, the city that never sleeps, or the concrete jungle where dreams are made of; the point is, it’s known by everyone, all around the world. The big urban playground of a city that is NYC is internationally accredited as the city of all cities. It’s a true sight to see for history-lovers, musical-lovers, tech geeks, city dwellers and so many others. It’s also quite true that NYC has the most homeless living in it, along with drug dealers, prostitutes and those with suicidal tendencies.
So, what is expected of a combination of the two? One can expect quite a dirty city, lacking in modern technology (obviously), probably high in crimes from such a large population in a relatively small (but still quite large) city. One can expect a large amount of negative diversity, as NYC was a major destination for immigrants, despite the fact many segregation laws were in effect. Although New York City is a dirty place and the 1920’s may have been seen as questionable times, NYC circa the 1920s was the most pivotally cheerful place and time than any other place and time circa early 20th century.
The 1920s, especially in NYC, was a revolutionary time. Women’s suffrage, for one, was culminated in 1920, nearly a century after the movement began. In August of 1920, the 19th amendment was ratified, and it states:
“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.”
It is speculated that women’s vote lead to Prohibition. Many middle-class women and housewives believed that alcohol was the sole cause of domestic abuse in the early 20th century, and believed my voting for prohibition to take affect that their husbands would stop spending so much money on alcohol and spend more time with their families, along with not abusing their wives. The 18th amendment was passed before 1920 and last throughout the 1920s into the early 30’s.
Prohibition didn’t stop much in New York City, however. Literally thousands of speakeasies were opened throughout the city, out of sight of city law officials. Whiskey could be obtained through a prescription, however; doctors usually freely prescribed whiskey in the 1920’s, akin to how Californians take advantage of medical marijuana in 2011. Prohibition gave organized crime the opportunity to build empires around the manufacturing and bootlegging of alcohol (i.e. Al Capone). Moonshining, which is the act of illegally creating distilled beverages out of sight (i.e. “in the moonshine”) became a widely practiced act. Prohibition also caused problems in the grape market. Since wineries were forced to uproot their vineyards, prices for grapes went up 1000%, from $20/ton to $200/ton. Prohibition was later repealed, in the early 30’s, as nearly 3/4s of the American population opted for repeal.
Economical changes ensued in the 1920s as well. With the introduction of partial payments, where consumers would purchase by check for a fraction of the actual price, middle class citizens could feel like high-class citizens by purchasing things they couldn’t before. The sales of automobiles, apartments, household objects (i.e. refrigerators, washers, phonographs, furniture) and the like skyrocketed. It is approximated that the $140 mil. Worth of clothing was sold per year! Many noticed this urban area economic improvement (or so it seemed), and with a widespread drought occurring throughout the nations, thousands moved from rural areas to more heavily populated areas. In 1926, the net population of cities reached 1 million, the majority being in New York City – New York City surpassed London in the mid 20s as the most heavily populated city.
It was this economical “balloon,” as it’s referred to, that eventually crashed the stock market in the later 1920’s. Because many things could be bought with 90% loans by a stock broker, stock prices eventually fell, leaving investors to sell shares out of fear, which led to even more of a fall in the stock market, eventually causing the Stock Market Crash of late 1929 that followed by the Great Depression that went into the 1940s.
Although a lot of turmoil began after the 1920’s, especially in New York City, the decade prior to the Depression, economical collapse, immigration issues, and other issues, the 1920s will forever be known as the Roaring Twenties, and New York City will always be known as The Big Apple. The pivotal decade in the pivotal city will be known as the most socially revolutionary time, as far as I’m concerned.
Scott, Robert. "1920's Business and Economy." The 1920's - Roaring Twenties - The Nineteen Twenties in History. Robert Scott, 01 Jan. 2005. Web. 11 May 2011.
Scott, Robert. "1920's Business and Economy." The 1920's - Roaring Twenties - The Nineteen Twenties in History. Robert Scott, 01 Jan. 2005. Web. 11 May 2011.
"America on the Move | New York Connected." National Museum of American History. Natural Museum of American History, 2008. Web. 11 May 2011.
U.S. National Park Service - Experience Your America. The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers, 2003. Web. 11 May 2011.
