preview

Changes of America in the 1920s Essay

Decent Essays

SAMPLE DBQ. ESSAY As a nation coming out of a devastating war, America faced many changes in the 1920s. It was a decade of growth and improvements. As immigrants fled from Europe, the economy improved, and new machines offered convenience and luxury from the kitchen to the streets. However, with all change comes opposition. The 1920s revealed a conflict between traditional America and the new attitude and lifestyle through the changing role of women, continued dominance of Christian values, and racism. World War I sent women out of the home and into the workplace while men fought the war; this newly gained self-confidence carried over into the 1920s. It became socially acceptable for women to smoke cigarettes, as …show more content…

They resisted the increasing flood of immigration and changing role of Christianity in society by appealing to middle and lower class native-born Americans. Mary Mullet’s admiration of Charles Lindbergh, the first person to fly from New York City to Paris,, also represents the classic American values still fighting for support: “he was…clean in character…strong and fine in body…modest…courageous; …these are the things which we honor most in life” (Doc F). In addition to these values, Prohibition promoted Christian values as alcohol was attacked. Finally, one of the most basic aspects of Christianity, the creation of Earth, faced opposition in 1925 when Tennessee teacher John Scopes went to court for teaching evolution. Though he was found guilty for breaking the law banning evolution in schools, ACLU lawyer Clarence Darrow dealt a blow to a religion already being questions while interviewing a persecuter: “I am examining you on your fool ideas that no intelligent Christian on Earth believes” (Doc C). The Scopes trial embodied the struggle between the old ways and new ideas throughout the 1920s. With new freedom for women and changing values came the advancement of blacks in the urban slums. The Harlem Renaissance, started

Get Access