APUSH LEQ

contextualization

The US tried its best to remain neutral during the conflict that was brewing in Europe between the triple alliance and triple entente, but it became increasingly difficult as American citizens became victims to Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare, attacking ships that held American passengers. One of the final straws for the US was the intercepted Zimmerman Telegram, in which Germany tried persuading Mexico to attack and distract the US to make its assistance to the allies in Europe much weaker. The US had had enough and officially joined the war in 1917, but it was a difficult process due to years of neutrality leading the US to be unprepared for war, and the entire nation had been exhausted during the war efforts.

Thesis

A few of the many major developments and outcomes of WW1 and the 1920s were the political and cultural influence of African Americans and the birth of a consumer culture.

Body 1

topic: AAs from rural south to north cities in search of work

causes: more open jobs due to war, Jim Crow laws, racial violence, and limited economic opportunities in the South

evidence: Cities like chicago and new york, influx of black workers, war industries board relied on black labor to meet wartime production needs

effects: changed north cities demographics, boosted political and cultural influence of AAs in north cities since more population, harlem rensaicne black culture growth (jazz, art,)

need for african american labor during WW1 reshaped US society and culture going into the 1920s and for many years after

Body 2

topic: consumer culture changed how americans lived, worked, spent free time

henry ford, automobile assembly line, much cheaper

lots of free time and more income after war

technology such as cars, radios, encouraged consumerism and leisure time

magazines advertising home appliances

lasted well after 1920s

caused by economic growth, technological advances, need to feel calmer

influenced business, advertisements, social norms, economic habits

conclusion

Two of the many major changes to the US brought about by WWI and the 1920s were the Great Migration, which led to political and cultural empowerment for African Americans in Northern cities, and the rise of mass consumer culture created to calm the minds of exhausted post-war americans, ened up reshaping American daily life and social norms to this day.