Texas Performance Standards Project
By: Brittany Luis and Nathaly Montelongo
Speakeasies
What is speakeasies? According to dictionary.com, a speakeasy is "a saloon or nightclub selling alcoholic beverages illegally, especially during prohibition." The 1920's prohibition began when the 18th amendment was passed; this amendment restricted the "production, sale, importation, and exportation of alcoholic beverages." A primary goal of the prohibition was to reduce the drinking of workers. The suppliers of this illegal liquor mainly revolved around gangs or people like Al Capone. Due to economic deprivation and domestic violence, women and children were the primary victims of alcohol abuse.
What a crowd!
Crowd of people at a speakeasy
Flappers
A new style of western women
"We want beer"
Protesters picketed against eighteenth century amendment
Consumerism
What is Consumerism? Consumerism is "the belief that having more money and goods will make you happier and make your life better." In the 1920's, mass-production consumer goods were becoming necessities for people. However these products such as automobiles, ready-to-wear clothes were not new at this time, but it is said that "something was new about Americans' relationship with manufactured products, and it was accelerating faster than it could be defined."
"What consumerism really is, at its worst is getting people to buy things that don't actually improve their lives." - Jeff Bezos
Consumerism in the 1920's
Advertising was the anchor of Consumersim
Money and Necessities
Materialism
What is Materialism? It is defined as "a tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values." Materialism was a way to determine an opinion of a person due to the type of lifestyle they sustained. People thought, even today that everything is about money, even their happiness. However, the more expensive merchandise they buy, the unhappier they seem. Sellers don’t care if you have money or not, they just want you to buy their product. However, this is one of the reasons why people go in debt. It is said the less stuff you buy, the more money you will have, meaning the happier you’ll be. Wealthier people are most likely to suffer from depression, so what’s the point of having all this “Money.” The power of money can take away the most important values in life.