The Roaring Twenties: Economics, Culture, and Contradictions

CrashCourse

This high-energy educational video deconstructs the popular mythology of the "Roaring Twenties" in American history. While acknowledging the era's famous jazz, flappers, and bootleggers, host John Green digs deeper into the economic and political realities that defined the decade. The video explores the dominance of laissez-faire capitalism, the pro-business policies of Republican presidents, and the explosion of consumer culture driven by credit and new technologies like the automobile and radio. Beyond economics, the video examines the profound cultural tensions of the 1920s. It covers the Harlem Renaissance and the Great Migration, highlighting the artistic and political resistance of Black Americans. Conversely, it addresses the reactionary backlash characterized by the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan, severe immigration restrictions, and religious fundamentalism exemplified by the Scopes Monkey Trial. The narrative emphasizes the contradictions between increased civil liberties for some and rising intolerance for others. For educators, this resource serves as an excellent tool for teaching the complexities of the interwar period. It moves students beyond the surface-level glamour of the era to understand the structural economic weaknesses that led to the Great Depression and the cultural wars that mirror modern political divides. The video provides rich opportunities to discuss wealth inequality, the tension between science and religion, and the definition of "American" identity.