"Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920s" is a book written by Frederick Lewis Allen and published in 1931. It is a historical account of the United States during the 1920s, a decade that saw significant social, political, and economic changes.
The book begins with a discussion of the aftermath of World War I and the impact it had on the country. The United States emerged from the war as a global superpower, and the 1920s were a time of great prosperity and optimism. However, Allen also notes that there were significant challenges facing the nation, including the rise of organized crime, racial tensions, and the ongoing struggle for women's suffrage.
One of the main themes of "Only Yesterday" is the rapid pace of change during the 1920s. The decade was marked by technological innovation, with the introduction of new technologies such as the radio and the automobile, which had a profound impact on society. The Roaring Twenties were also a time of great cultural change, with the rise of jazz music and the emergence of the "new woman," who was more independent and assertive than her predecessors.
Allen also discusses the political climate of the 1920s, including the presidency of Warren G. Harding and the subsequent scandals that plagued his administration. The book also covers the stock market crash of 1929 and the Great Depression that followed, which brought an end to the prosperity of the 1920s and marked the beginning of a new era in American history.
Overall, "Only Yesterday" is a comprehensive and engaging history of the United States during the 1920s. It provides a detailed and nuanced look at the social, cultural, and political changes of the time, and is a valuable resource for anyone interested in this important period in American history.
Only Yesterday by Fredrick Lewis Allen Review: [Essay Example], 564 words GradesFixer
A speculative fever was fed by the actions of many investors seemingly making huge profits on stock market gains. It also shows how the time of writing has a big impact. The contrast of city vs. With Prohibition, the stock market speculation and crash, and the change in the social behavior that was notable in this period, the 1920s were an interesting time in American History. When Allen wrote this book, Prohibition was still in effect, so there is no resolution, just lots of text about the social ills resulting.
Only Yesterday Fredrick Lewis Allen Summary
Find those books, and give them to your children, not this toxic mush. It was freely predicted that skirts would come down again in the winter but instead they climbed a few scandalous inches further. Students and businessmen, he says, were only able to state their real opinions in whispers; schoolteachers were made to sign ideological commitments; college professors were dismissed for wrongthink; the media spread historical propaganda; and much more along the same lines. But for others this decade seemed to bring cultural conflicts, nativists against immigrants, religious liberals against fundamentalists and rural provincials against urban cosmopolitans. Although this happened, causing disappointment and confusion for the American society, the emergence of automobiles and a consumer society helped America significantly.
Only Yesterday by Frederick Lewis Allen. Hardcover 1931
The twenties was also a time of relaxed spirituality. Allen has a gift for story telling. He also wrote a book about the 3 This book was SO interesting. Socialism and the capitalist, race, new technology radio , science vs state, the rise of entertainment, weird fads, changing morality, obsession with sex, gender norms, immigration, Asian competition, political scandals, emptying churches, nihilism, antitrust concerns, prohibition, free speech, the markets. People were making up for the misery of the war by enjoying many new ways of entertainment like jazz music, dances, parades, orchestras, family picnics, radio, theatres and cars. My favorite era of history is the period from 1910 to 1930 so I especially enjoyed this book. Repression of free speech came from many of the same hate groups who targeted socialists and communists.
