This was a history assignment, I had a lot of fun writing it though and figured I'd post it. I know it's very one sided and opinionated, but i'm a strong independant woman, what else would you expect?


The 1920’s, after world war one, were a time of dramatic change in the United States. Citizens had conflicting views on what the nation should do to avoid future issues. Some people concluded that expanding the United States horizons would be beneficial. They praised change, and embraced new ideas. Another common mindset however, was that the United States should go back to the ‘good old days’ before the war. The government should not be involved in business and life should be kept simple. It is evident that change was met with strong opposition, but eventually society enjoyed the fruits of an advancing nation.
One important change that is still relevant in contemporary America is the mass production of automobiles. The vehicle began as a commodity owned only by the wealthy, but Ford (still a major car manufacturer in the 2009) changed all that. Henry Ford produced the Model T or Tin Lizzy; it was a low cost automobile available to most families. The new trend in owning automobiles allowed people to travel longer distances and led to a noticeable decrease in the isolation of rural areas. Ford utilized the assembly line to speed up production rates; The Company was able to brag, “Raw iron ore at the docks at 8:00 Monday morning could be marketed as a complete Ford car on Wednesday noon, allowing 15 hours for shipment.” The quick and cost efficient method of production became a model for General Motors and Chrysler. Ford nearly doubled wages, by reducing the cost of automobiles, staving off unionization.
The new demand for automobiles created new jobs including garage owners, repair technicians and gas station workers. The creation of jobs was vital in post world war one times; factories were inhabited by women, African Americans and immigrants. Those returning from battle were unemployed, these new industries helped lower the unemployment rate. The invention of tractors eliminated the need for draft animals, revolutionizing the way people farmed.
Vehicles have become a requirement in many areas of the United States. While cities tend to provide public transportation, most of those living in small towns buy cars. There is much more variety now, wealthy people might own sports cars, and higher end vehicles like Mercedes Benzes and Audi’s, while middle class citizens drive mediocre cars including Toyotas and Fords. Consumers can choose from a multitude of colors, while you were able to purchase a model T in any color as long as it was black.
One of the most controversial changes in the 1920’s was women’s rights. Women were left to run factories as well as take care of their homes during World War One, thus proving that they were capable of doing a “man’s job.” This eliminated a small portion of the opposition they received. Some extremists called “flappers” emerged in the 1920’s, these women smoked, drank, and dressed in what was considered an inappropriate way. Eventually though, women won the long battle and acquired equal rights. They were able to drink, smoke, dress how they pleased, work, and go to school.
It took approximately seventy years for women just to gain the right to vote. They were met with strong opposition. Although women were allowed to work the government tried to regulate their hours, stating women could only work ten hours. Once women cleared that hurdle they were forced to work for unfair wages of at least fifty percent less than the average man. Women faced severe discrimination, and had extreme difficulties breaking into certain fields such as science and law. Unfortunately some women were unable to enjoy their rights, because they had been suffocated with the idea of making babies and staying at home. Society pushed them into silence and they became so complacent to their husbands that they were incapable of enjoying their newfound freedoms; the idea was too much to handle. The mindset that women belonged in a house taking care of children, cooking and cleaning poisoned them destroying the free spirit inside.
Although women were awarded equal rights in the 1920’s they still face difficulties on some fields. Women are not allowed to play baseball; they are segregated and must play the female version of the game, softball. They are not able to play football either. Although there is decent reasoning behind these rules, they are arguably unfair. Women are constantly discriminated against in nontraditional fields, such as carpentry, welding, automotive, and plumbing. If a woman wants a job in any of those industries, they have to grow a tough skin before even considering entering the workforce. The juxtaposition of women in the 1920’s and the early 2000’s is astonishing. The lives of those about 90 years ago are the polar opposite of those alive today. It was only seventy years ago that women were not allowed the same rights as men. They could not choose a career, or dress how they wished. Society has advanced tremendously, and is finally allowing women to take their rightful places in the world.
World War One was a tragic event; it generated a deep fear of change and communism. Despite its obvious negative effects (deaths, fear, etc.) the war sparked many advances in technology, industry, and individuals rights. It is understandable why some individuals were against change, yet society is much better off because it was accepted. The automotive industry is now an important part of the business world, and the pure food and drug act still protects consumers from contaminated food, and unlabeled substances. I enjoy women’s rights every day, I go to school and have chosen to study automotive technology. When I turn eighteen I plan on registering to vote, I am free to dress however I like and absolutely refuse to allow someone to tell me they are better simply based on gender. It took a lot of reasoning for the United States to decide what to do after the war, but they did in fact make the right choice.