1920s

As the 1920s began, the world was uplifted by the end of World War I (1914–1918) and the anticipation of a peaceful era. New inventions, a booming economy, a soaring stock market, upbeat music, and a rise in international trade and banking led to a feeling of buoyancy and optimism, as well as new jobs and opportunities for people to become prosperous.

For the first time, many working-class families could afford to buy automobiles, and American society as a whole became more mobile. Henry Ford’s (1863–1947) Model T was the most basic automobile, but as the decade went on other manufacturers began introducing a great variety of other vehicles, some more luxurious than Ford’s. In addition, advertisers began using more...