Compare contrast 2 decades in the american history 1920s and 1950s

The 1920s and the 1950s were both periods following wars. The 1920s

came right after World War I, when the 1950s followed right after World war

II. Though seemingly disparate in social connections, technology and many

aspects, both policies straw a period of intolerant attitudes against " outsiders

"

Economy

In both decades, America experienced a postwar economic boom,

accompanying a surge in cultural optimism. The 1920s marked urban

dwellers outnumber rural residents for the first time and saw the beginnings

of modern American consumer culture. In both decades, there was a growth in

productivity following the return of troops from abroad. In the 1920s,

African-American migration to northern industrial cities expanded the labor

force, skyrocketing corporate profits, feeding the stock market boom. In the

1950s, the devastation of much of the industrialized world during World War

II left the US as the undisputed commercial leader. This fueled an even bigger

boom in consumerism than in the 20s. While the prosperity of the 1920s had

caused urbanization, the 1950s was the age of sub-urbanization.

Culture

The 1920s was the Age of Jazz, while Rock n’Roll dominated the

1950s. Despite this, the 1920s were considerably more fragmented socially

than the 1950s. Not coincidentally, the 1920s saw the first widespread use of

birth control. At the same time, there was a considerable reactionary force in

the 1920s, including a wave of anti-immigrant sentiment.

The 1950s saw a much more homogeneous culture in the US. Post

World War II, both a newfound optimism in American values and the

looming Cold War prompted an atmosphere of conformity and conservatism

that was not nearly as strong in the 1920s.

Politics