In Class Speech

The 1920s were called the “New Era” for one reason; it was a time where many new and modern ways of life were introduced. Some people were against the modernistic movement, and some accepted it. Religion, the economy, nativism, new technology, and culture were all incorporated in the New Era modern movement.

In the early 1900s, religion played an important role in almost every American’s life. When the theory of Darwinism began to come about many people were skeptic and not very happy about it. In fact, people were so against it, that when their kids were taught this in school, they were enraged. Parents got so torn up about this that it led to the Scopes trial. Scopes was a young teacher who taught Darwinism to his students even though he was told he could not. This led to a trial that caught everyone’s attention and showed people that traditional religion, and science, could co-exist.

Another way the New Era changed our country, was how it helped shape the youth culture to the way we are today. The number of schools available increase, which made high school attendance nearly double, and the number of college students doubled as well over a 12 year span. Spending more time in schools and colleges allowed young people to acquire the skills necessary for a specific work field; people began to define themselves more by their social groups as opposed to family background. Teenagers really branded themselves with a separate title during this time by using slang, an becoming the type of youth that we consider ourselves today. 

There was also vast economic change in the 1920s. One of the biggest changes in the economy was that women began to have jobs that weren't just in the house. Still, women were confined to more feminine jobs, such as fashion, social work, education, and nursing. Most women still ended up staying in their house and being the traditional woman figure. Even though women weren't the leaders of companies or anyone's boss, this was still the first time in history that women were seen in the normal workplace.

Another thing that had not been introduced until the 1920s was the fact that people were buying things that were considered "luxury items." These items consisted of refrigerators, cars, radios, vacuum cleaners, cars and more. These things in previous years were considered rare to even see in the upper class homes, now you'd see them in many middle class people houses. The rise in automobile use, drove the construction factories to rise and improve so they could pave more roads and make it possible for everyone with cars to safely travel.

Some groups of people who were against the modern movements took action in harsh ways. The KKK was revived and their targets weren't blacks, they were trying to eliminate Blacks, Catholics, Jews, and anyone else who challenged their traditional values. After 1925 the clan took a harsh decline and not much was done after that. 

The 1920s, or the "New Era," was one of the most important time periods in our countries history. It helped shape they way we view modern religion, culture, and our economy. Without the people who pushed this modern movement, our country wouldn't be the way it is today.