6 The roaring twenties

The 1920s are remembered for flappers and jazz, as on this postage stamp. But for most Americans, the story was more complicated.

The 1920s in the United States are known as the “Roaring Twenties” — a time of cultural change, prosperity, expanding consumer culture, new technology, jazz, and artistic innovation. Many of the changes associated with that decade came to North Carolina, and not all were welcomed. And many North Carolinians, especially in rural areas, were left out of the decade’s progress and excitement. In this chapter, we’ll look at some of the cultural changes of the 1920s and how they were received in North Carolina — from movies, literature, and flappers to debates over evolution.