Speech on the 1920s

In any United States History textbook, the material can basically be divided into two parts: the time periods that are more relatable, and those that are less familiar. History students may have difficulty identifying with the political and cultural issues of America in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. After the 1920s, though, more parallels can easily be made to present day. The 1920s connect these two parts. Many important events and movements during this decade breached topics that are still relevant to Americans. I will outline a few of the more substantial ones presently.

In 1925, it was illegal in Tennessee to teach about the creation of humans if the lesson strayed from the literal translation of the Bible. John T. Scopes become the defendant in a test case after he taught evolution in school. He lost, but Williams Jennings Bryan, a spokesman of fundamentalist ideals, was made to seem ridiculous. This slowed fundamentalist political activism. Society’s stance on free speech and religious freedom was not perfected after this. Arguments about whether or not to teach evolution are still familiar. Freedom of religion is a common discussion point in the presidential debates. The Scopes Trial, though, put the United States in the proper direction.

During the “Harlem Renaissance,” the large African-American community of Harlem produced incredibly influential art and culture. Black artists strived to prove to the world that they were worthy of respect. The movement helped put their artistic creations on a pedestal. It was a step in reaching racial equality even before the integration of schools. Equal representation for minorities is still a topical subject now, which can be seen in the controversy surrounding the Oscars.

Employers in the 1920s wanted to prevent unrest among employees and avoid the development of independent trade unions. Some introduced welfare capitalism, giving workers better conditions and benefits. However, once again, working conditions and politics are imperfect even today. Wage equality is still a subject of discussion. This brings me to my final point.

Margaret Sanger led the birth-control movement. She asserted to middle-class women that women should be allowed to enjoy sex that was unrelated to simply reproduction. Also in the 1920s, the idea was introduced that women did not have to always appear` respectable but could wear seductive clothes, put on makeup, and go to convivial parties. Therefore, the “flapper girl” came about. This was feminist progress, but there are still double-standards today concerning sexuality.

The decade that was the 1920s had many “firsts” that led to many changes, most of which were positive. Still, the contributions of the Jazz Age are incomplete. It is necessary that Americans continue the work it did. The 1920s helped the causes of religious freedom, freedom of speech, minority representation, equality in the workforce, and gender issues, but we must continue to strive for improvement.