second speech

Informative Speech Outline

Topic: The Roaring 20s

Type: Event

Organizational Pattern: Topical

I. Introduction

A. Attention getter: We’ve all heard the expression of “The Roaring Twenties”. You might automatically relate this to the Great Gatsby, you know, big extravagant parties, jazz music, flapper girls - just overall a really fun and exciting time in American History. But what exactly happened during this golden decade of prosperity?

B. Brief background to topic: The Roaring Twenties, believe it or not, refers to, you guessed it, the 1920s in Western society and Western culture. Contrary to popular belief, this era was not only experienced in America like places in Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York City, but spread across major westernized cities like Paris, Sydney, London, and Berlin.

C. Audience Relevance: For many, the Great Gatsby was a book required to be read in high school and therefore some students probably have some superficial idea on what is it. In addition, much of the developments made during the 20s has shaped our lives today. It’s important to know our historical eras, especially us women in which this decade highly impacted.

D. Thesis: The Roaring 20s was a decade of change, replacing a country that was stuck in the 19th century with an innovative one overcoming tradition.

E. Preview of Main Points: First, I will talk about how this era showed a thriving economy, you know, before the biggest downfall our economy has ever seen. Next, I will talk about how it impacted American culture, specifically music and dance. Lastly, but definitely not least, how the roaring 20’s revolutionized the social norms of being a women.

Transition to first main point: The Roaring 20s was given its name for a reason.

II. Main Point 1: economic boom

A. According to Kimberly Amadeo, who has had over 20 years of experience in economic analysis and business strategies, published on June 25, 2019 by Dotdash publishing company states that during this era, US prosperity thrived. As manufacturing increased, so did consumerism, hence a boost in the economy. For example, the use of household items used today were popularized, like washing machines, vacuum cleaners, and refrigerators. Radios also

became popularized, as common as 60% of families using them, impacting the change of culture and music that is also seen during this time. By 1926, the number of people flying increased from 6,000 to 173,000. The increase use of automobiles, which by the end of the decade, 26 million cars were in use - yes this era unfortunately also triggered global warming. The rise of cars encouraged government to spend billions in constructing bridges, roads, and traffic signals.

B. Amadeo states that all this wide spread manufacturing caused the economy to grow 42% during this decade as the US became responsible for about half the world’s products - partly due to the fact that World War 1 destroyed most of the country’s European competitors. Those who lived during this period were probably enjoying the fact that average income rose about $2,000 and the unemployment rate was as low as 4%. Little did they know how drastically and horrific their lives will change in the next ten years. Don’t tell them that, let them enjoy it for a little.

Transition to 2nd main point: Economy wasn’t the only thing that thrived during the 20s.

III. Main Point 2: Culture

A. The Roaring 20s is also referred to as The Age of Jazz. Cars gave people the ability to move freely, and what many young people wanted to do was dance. Some of these dance moves are still used today, and you’ve probably even heard of them: the Charleston, the black bottom, the cake walk, and the flea hop, all which derived from the genre of Jazz.

B. According to Dr. Kimberly Elliott, cultural historian of the United States in the 19th and 20th century, published by Khan Academy and updated in 2019 states that the technological advancements of that time, such as phonographs, allowed for jazz music to thrive, spreading the genre through radios and drawing people in to night clubs. The 20s had their own Renaissance, a Harlem Renaissance, in which African American culture flourished as well, centered in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. Therefore, many iconic people of the time were African American such as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington.

Transition to 3rd main point: Probably the most iconic image of the Roaring 20s are the flapper girls.

IV. Main Point 3: Revolutionizing women

A. This era revolutionized the perception of women. According to curator of costumes and textiles at the North Carolina Museum of History, published by Tar Heel Junior Historian in 2004, Louise Benner says its no surprise that women from the 1920s were remembered as “new women” due to many political and social changes women underwent. First and arguably most importantly, the nineteenth amendment was passed in 1920 allowing women suffrage or the right

to vote. By the end of this decade, though still with little power, women began their journey to political equality. Whether our journey is over yet or not I’ll leave up to you to decide.

B. Despite the improvement of opportunity for women in the world of employment and education, women were still expected to belong to a man and marry. However, women now began to work and socialize, where the image of a “flapper” appeared. According to Benner, a flapper often is seen with a cigarette in her hand. This is to show sophistication. Also the image of short elaborate skirts and bobbed hair with heavy makeup symbolized their desire for freedom, overthrowing their old social norms of being restricted. The “new woman” came a long way.

Transition into conclusion: perhaps it’s clear to see why the Roaring 20s was considered a time of prosperity.

V. Conclusion:

A. Restate thesis: It was a decade of change, overcoming America’s traditional ways and modernizing it to more of what it is today.

B. Review main points: The image and opportunities for women were revolutionized as well as American culture and economy.

C. Memorable Closer: So next time you’re at a club, or hear a pop song on the radio, think about its origins and what influenced it to be the way it is. The 20s probably took part in its development.

Benner, Louise. (2004). Women in the 1920s in North Carolina. Retrieved July 8, 2019, from https://www.ncpedia.org/history/20th-Century/1920s-women

Elliott, K. K. (2019). American culture in the 1920s. Retrieved July 8, 2019, from https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/us-history/rise-to-world-power/ 1920s-america/a/jazz-and-the-lost-generation

Amadeo, K. (2019, June 25). The Economy in the 1920s and What Caused the Great Depression. Dotdash. Retrieved July 8, 2019, from https://www.thebalance.com/roaring-twenties-4060511