Comparing Women in the 1920s and the 1940s

Comparing Women in the 1920s and the 1940s

People said the turbulent society of the 1920‘s could never be reproduced, but another time period occurred with as much influence, if not more, on America. The changing economy, independent women, and the immigration challenges are mirrored in a similar time later in the history of the U.S., during the 1950’s. Many have thought that after such a downfall America could never again pull itself back up. Yet the fifties brought duplicate ideals and differences as well. Overall the similarities and nonconformity of the 1920’s and 1950’s are numerous; including race relations, the role of women and consumerism.
To begin with, the racial conflicts in the U.S. are greatly present in both time periods including some key events in the fifties. For example, the KKK, a malicious group prominent throughout both times. Causing extreme fear in many, they threatened and killed many immigrants, but predominately African-Americans. Brown v. Board of Education was a landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court in 1954. The Court's unanimous (9-0) decision stated that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." As a result, racial segregation was ruled a violation of the United States Constitution. This victory paved the way for integration and the civil rights movement. Preceding this, the boycotting of the Montgomery buses caused a great stir of civil rights. Led by the great Martin Luther King, the deficits in public transit profits led to a United States Supreme Court decision that declared the Alabama and Montgomery laws requiring segregated buses unconstitutional. Likewise the infamous plea for equality was echoed in the twenties when the crucial trial of the decade, concerning Sacco and Vanzetti, began. Both were later sentenced to death of the alleged crimes, with help from racial prejudice. As a result of race transformations and discrimination the morphing society also paved the way for the emergence of independence in women who found...

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