The Roaring Twenties

by R. Conrad Stein and Conrad Stein

Book Overview

Dramatic and defining moments in American history come vividly the life in the Cornerstones of Freedom series. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0516066757
• ISBN13: 9780516066752
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: Children's Press(CT)
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 8.3" x 9.8"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

A decade of excess, freedom and a march towards an economic precipice

The twenties was certainly a decade where there was a good deal of roaring, both literally and figuratively. Literally, Thompson machine guns roared in the Chicago area as the rival gangs fought it out over control of the alcohol trade. Figuratively, the stock market was more of an enraged (roaring) bull rather than just an active one. The market rose to dizzying heights, with many people becoming rich, at least on paper. The speculative bubble seemed to be in a state of permanent expansion. Finally, it was a decade of great change for women, the simplest of which was the granting of suffrage. However, the greatest change was in the advent of the "flapper." A flapper was a woman who dressed provocatively, which meant the neckline was low and the bottom of the dress high. Her hair was "bobbed", a term for boyishly short hair and it was the true beginning of the liberation of women. However, the good times were not shared by everyone, income in the farming community declined dramatically after the end of the First World War. The condition of blacks continued to decline and along with immigrants, suffered from significant discrimination. The racist Ku Klux Klan reached the height of its' power in the 1920's. That is no more evident that the photo on page 17, which shows them marching in Washington D. C. with the capitol building in the background. The 1920's were dynamic years, one of growing prosperity, business expansion and dramatic social change. Baseball and other professional sports also experienced a significant expansion, with Babe Ruth and Red Grange becoming national heroes. All of this is captured in this book, a synopsis of one of the most tumultuous decades in the history of the United States. It is an excellent resource for young people in their study of the 1920's.

Decade of parties, corruption, success and shock.

Stein writes an excellent yet simple book to explain the tumultuous years between 1920 and 1930. Described succinctly as the decade when "the parties were bigger...the pace was faster...the morals were looser and the liquor was cheaper" (F. Scott Fitzgerald)..it started when the nation was recently scarred by a war and ended when humbled by depression. The United States was looking for some fun and relief. Prohibition caused major division and illegal actives to flourish. Folks went wild, "speakeasies" became as popular as backyard stills.Listening to a radio became the most popular home pastime in this decade. The automobile was perhaps the most widespread invention. Just for the rich a few years previous, this decade brought mass production, lowered the prices and by 1929, 23 million cars were on the road. The youth of this decade were especially interested in crazy fads and feats. Flappers showed off more body than the world had seen to that point. Dances like the Charleston were fast, crazy and infectious. Financially, the stock market became lucrative and many at the top were instant millionaires. However, at the other end were the ethic minorities and dirt farmers who got poorer and poorer. The KKK flourished, affecting politics and the morality of the nation. Literature began to reach the masses. Babe Ruth was a national hero. 1927 saw the first talkie movie. Stars became giants to the general public. Lindbergh became the first man to fly across the Atlantic alone. However, his success was quickly followed by the kidnapping of his infant son. Crime flourished and a major leader was Al Capone. The White House was not immune to schemes, the most famous was The Teapot Dome affair. Women voted for the first time in the election of 1920.The flash and success of this decade ended quite suddenly, when in the fall of 1929, stock prices began to drop and panic ensued. October 24, 1929, was called Black Thursday, with an incredible flurry of selling, causing more price drop. The following Terrifying Tuesday, so many shares were unloaded that the market collapsed entirely. Not only stock holders, but those with money in the bank lost, because the banks had invested most of their customer's money in stocks as well. In just one week, the fortunes of the rich and the savings of the poor were all wiped out, causing the worst financial disaster in history.The decade of wealth, easy living, fun, hilarity and parties was suddenly over. The following decade would come to be known as the Great Depression.I highly recommend this book and this series for teaching history of the United States to children, or refreshing memories of adults. I find it helpful in teaching adult literacy.