This document is a copy of the 19th Amendment. Read the text of the amendment. What does it mean? Click on the image.

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In 1920, the 19th Amendment was passed giving all women the right to vote. The right to vote for women ushered in an attitude of liberation among most women in the United States. For the first time in American history, all women had a political voice in the United States. The right to vote inspired more changes in the role of women during the Roaring Twenties.

Source: A flapper girl, Library of Congress

One of the most drastic changes of the 1920s was of the role of women in American society. Many considered the women of Roaring Twenties as the “New Woman.” Many of the middle-class women of this period changed the way that they dressed. Many, like the one pictured above, were called flappers, women who dressed fashionably, some with short skirts and dresses, visible makeup, and a new attitude of freedom.

The role of the middle class woman changed from the traditional role as housewives who only worked within the home to woman who worked and embarked on new adventures. Women began to work outside the home, many of them had worked during World War I and others worked for the first time. Many women were employed as secretaries, waitresses, or in small businesses such as cleaners. Poverty, however, still existed for African Americans, poor whites, and many immigrants.

Watch this video about the Roaring Twenties.

Source: Life magazine, February 18, 1926, showing a well dressed old man dancing with a flapper, john Held, Library of Congress

The Roaring Twenties is sometimes referred to as the Jazz Age. This term refers to the cultural movement of the 1920s involving an explosion of new music, dancing, and entertainment. Jazz music became popular and musicians such as Luis Armstrong and Duke Ellington became popular. New dances such as the Charleston, pictured on the magazine cover above, were also popular.

Race Relations

Some changes of the Roaring Twenties caused unrest in America. While there were some social and cultural advancements made, traditional societal ills also advanced. Race relations in the United States started to decline during this period.

There was a resurgence in the Ku Klux Klan. The Klan, also known as the KKK, was an organization that began during the era of Reconstruction. One of the main functions of the KKK was to promote racism and instill fear in the newly freed slaves. By the 1920s, the group had grown to 3 million members that included anti-Semitism and anti-Catholicism.

Source: KKK Parade, 8/8/25, Library of Congress

The KKK’s march in Washington D.C. was indicative of the attitudes of many white Americans when it came to race during the 1920s. The KKK was responsible for violently terrifying blacks in the South, and eventually influencing violent acts across the country.

The idea of nativism permeated the country, leading to race riots and violent behavior in many parts of the United States. Although most African Americans were politically powerless to fight back, there were some who found a way to respond to the violent behavior.

Source: Marcus Garvey, 1887-1940, Library of Congress

Marcus Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), an organization that focused on uniting all people of African descent to create a country with its own government.

Click on the link below to learn more about Marcus Garvey.

Marcus Garvey

The Spirit of Ingenuity

The technological advances of the 1920s yielded some of the most talented minds that led to technological innovations. The Roaring Twenties inspired people to become daring and do things that had never been done before. The two individuals below exhibited examples of such courage and ingenuity.

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Interactive popup. Assistance may be required. In 1927, Charles Lindbergh became the first man to fly solo across the Atlantic. Flying in his plane, “The Spirit of St. Louis”, Lindbergh flew over 3,600 miles in a little over 33 hours from New York to Paris. Lindbergh instantly became a hero.

Interactive popup. Assistance may be required. In 1928, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic. She was not the primary pilot, but her flight was historic nonetheless. She landed in Wales, United Kingdom after a 20 hour and 40 minute flight.

In the next section, you will examine the impact of political issues during the Roaring Twenties.