Life in the 1920s
Jazz And Music In The 1920s
& 1920s Charleston Music
Armistice was signed on 11 November 1918. With the end of the First
World War, a new era of peace and prosperity was envisaged.
Most people had high expectations of the 1920 and although
the decade did not turn out to be as idyllic as they hoped, definite improvements were
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made in areas such as health, fashion, education and the standard of 1920s life living.
The political situation
The political situation during the 1920s was extremely complex. In foreign affairs,
it was soon discovered that all had not been solved by the First World War and
that international differences were still numerous. Russia, with her threat
of Bolshevism, was regarded with mistrust, and nearer home,
Adolph Hitler in Germany and Benito Mussolini in Italy were growing in power.
Attempts were made to prevent further disagreements by the Locarno Pact (1925) and
the Kellogg Pact (1928). The former guaranteed the French frontiers and the
latter invited all nations to renounce aggressive warfare. It had been signed by all major
countries including the USA and the USSR by 1930.
At home, Ireland was a continual source of concern as more and more violent means were used by extremists to persuade the British Government to grant Ireland her independence. On the British mainland, unemployment and the worsening economic climate were the major issues to be dealt with, culminating in the crisis of the General Strike in 1926.
Music 1920s 1930s that were played over and over in radio
1920s Popular Music CD Album like 1920s Jazz Music, Piano Music, charleston music, 1920s Blues and 1920s Country
- The Big Broadcast, Volume 1: Jazz and Popular Music of the 1920s and 1930s
- Hot Dance Music Of The Roaring 1920s
- The Roaring Twenties
- Charleston: Great Stars of the 1920s
- Piano Concertos of the 1920s
- Piano Trios of the 1920s
- Shaking the Blues Away: Good Tunes for Hard Times
These problems would have been difficult for a stable government to cope with. However,
during the decade there were six changes of government, and the emergence to power of a
new political party. For the last fifty years the Conservative and Liberal Parties had
dominated the political life scene, but by 1918 the Labour Party had emerged and was
steadily growing in support and confidence. The first Labour Government was in power in 1924.
Many more people were entitled to vote in the 1920s than ever before. After the war
there was universal male suffrage, and votes for women over the age of 30. An Act of
1928 allowed women over the age of 21 to vote also, a move which caused considerable concern at the time.
"Bright Young Things"
With a life style very different from "normal" during the 1920s, the "Bright Young Things"
scandalized many people by their madcap activities. They were a small group of upper class young people
who specialized in doing shocking things drinking a lot, driving fast cars in a dangerous manner
and indulging in outrageous behaviour in the cars. They loved playing pranks, especially at the expense of others.
One young lady, at an important buffet party attended by many famous people, replaced all the ham in
the sandwiches with pink flannel and then watched gleefully as the guests dealt with their
surprise! Midnight bathing, treasure hunts and parties were also loved. At one party in 1928, all
the guests arrived dressed up as babies. As the "Bright Young Things" were mostly titled people,
all their antics were eagerly reported by the press, to the disgust of the more conservative members
of society.
Women
During the war many women, by force of circumstances, had become more independent. Many had
done "men's jobs" and when the war ended were not prepared to go back to their former, restricted
way of life.
In the 1920s life more women than ever before had a job and some achieved high positions, the most
notable being Margaret Bondfield who in 1929 became the first woman Cabinet Minister. In 1928
women over the age of 21 were given the vote and this further enhanced their status.
(The previous age limit had been 30.) For those who remained at home (and the vast majority did,
once they were married), the life situation was also improving. Families tended to be much smaller
and homes were becoming much easier to run.
Their new found freedom was reflected in fashion as women gaily abandoned their old corsets
and long, heavy dresses in favour of short, loose frocks. Very "modern" girls also
wore make up, smoked in public and used slang.
Entertainment Radio 1920s Music and Jazz Music Sports in the 1920s
During the twenties everyone was eager to enjoy themselves and there was a boom in popular entertainment.
The radio, and the BBC radio, had the greatest influence with 1920s jazz, 1920s piano, blues music and
country and charleston music. In 1922 sports were also considered
important and the most popular included football, tennis, swimming, skating and greyhound racing.
1920s Transport & 1920s Cars
Huge improvements were made in transport. Cars became available to anyone who could pay and by
1930 there were over one
million private cars on the roads. In towns, trams and omnibuses provided a cheap and efficient
service, while charabancs and motor buses opened up new possibilities for country people. No new railways
were built, but the London Underground was extended to include the developing suburbs.
Aeroplanes were much loved. Flying exhibitions attracted large crowds and anyone who could afford it
could buy his or her own aeroplane. A Gypsy Moth, for example, cost £595 in 1926. Passenger
airlines became yearly more sophisticated and by the end of the decade were taking travellers to
destinations all over the world.
Extract from “Growing up in The 1920s”, written by Amanda Clark. London: B.T.Batsford Ltd, 1986.
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1920s 1930s, A cartoon from 1927 of a "typical" Twenties family out for a walk.
Note the large perambulator, and the dummies firmly stuck in the mouths of the babies.
The semis in the background are a good illustration of contemporary ribbon fashion development.
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