USA, 1865–1975 – only) Crisis of identity, 1920–1945 (A-level only):…

The idea

The 1920s 'Jazz Age' introduced new social values, epitomised by the 'flapper' lifestyle, which challenged traditional gender roles and expanded women's social freedoms, though political and economic gains remained limited. Prohibition failed spectacularly, fostering organised crime and widespread defiance, significantly undermining respect for federal law. The Great Depression devastated society, causing mass unemployment, homelessness, and internal migration, profoundly altering family dynamics. Conversely, the Second World War had a transformative social impact, drawing millions of women into the industrial workforce and accelerating African American migration, reshaping American society.

What earns the marks

• Analyse the cultural shifts of the Jazz Age, including the clash between modern urban values and traditional rural conservatism.
• Evaluate changes in the role of women, contrasting the social liberation of the 1920s with the practical economic necessities of the 1930s and 1940s.
• Assess the significance of Prohibition's failure, focusing on the rise of organised crime and the exposure of federal enforcement limitations.
• Compare the social impacts of the Depression, such as poverty and migration, with those of the Second World War, including workforce expansion and demographic shifts.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Assuming the 'flapper' lifestyle represented the experience of all American women in the 1920s.

  Put it right by acknowledging that these new social values were largely confined to young, urban, middle-class women.

• Stating Prohibition reduced crime.

  Put it right by explaining that it significantly increased organised crime and corruption, leading to its eventual repeal.

• Treating the social impact of the Second World War as entirely positive.

  Put it right by noting the persistence of racial segregation and the internment of Japanese Americans alongside employment gains.

Exam tips

• Contrast the social conservatism of rural America with the progressive 'Jazz Age' culture of the cities to demonstrate nuance in 1920s social values.
• When discussing the social impact of the Depression, reference specific phenomena like the Dust Bowl migration to provide concrete evidence.
• Evaluate how the Second World War acted as a catalyst for long-term social change, particularly regarding women's employment and civil rights expectations.