The Roaring Twenties (?)

The Roaring Twenties-the 1920s are generally considered a decade of prosperity, fun and wild living

-There is some truth to this: end of the war relief, youth energy, “Jazz Age”- bold new music, shocking fashions (for the time), and “fads”

-See the following quote- it gives a false picture of what it was like for women, but it does help us understand the optimism of the time for certain groups in the country:

Canadian Homes and Gardens, May 1927

“There is a certain magic to housekeeping these days...the magic of electricity...over which I confess I never cease to marvel. Your modern housewife leaves the dishes within a machine, pops the dinner into an oven, laundry into a washer, and jumps into a roadster (car) with never a thought except for...the round of golf which she is away to enjoy for an afternoon. She returns to find the washing done, her china and crystal sparkle, a six course dinner is ready for serving.”

Booze and Fast Cars-Life did improve in many respects but it was certainly an illusion to suggest that the whole decade for all people occurred

-Increased American investment in Canada- branch plants- CARS- we had raw materials, Britain was in debt….bring on Americans

-By the 1910’s Provinces quickly adopted prohibition laws against alcohol- Women’s Temperance Movement

-Alcohol was still available to those with money (bootlegging)

In what ways would these young women have outraged the older generation?

Can we make a statement regarding the change in the 1920’s between young and old?

The Roaring Twenties-Improvements to the ways we communicate and travel

-A new ‘culture”- entertainment (movies, art, music, literature, sports)

-The role of Women

-Aboriginal Peoples: Struggle to Preserve Identity

-Regionalism

-Scale of “roaring” +/-