The 1920s brought the following to Americans EXCEPT

M: The nineteen twenties were a time of economic progress for most Americans. During that time, many companies grew larger, creating new jobs. Wages for most Americans increased. Many people began to have enough money to buy new kinds of products. The strong economy also created the right environment for many important changes in the day-to-day social life of Americans. The nineteen twenties are remembered now as an exciting time that historians call the "Roaring Twenties." And today, we invited Professor Smith to talk about the nineteen twenties in the United States. Hello, Professor Smith.
W: Hello.
M: What’s the most important thing that the nineteen twenties brought to Americans?
W: The nineteen twenties brought a feeling of freedom and independence to millions of Americans, especially young Americans. Young soldiers returned from the world war with new ideas. They had seen a different world in Europe. They had faced death and learned to enjoy the pleasures that each day offered. Many of these young soldiers were not willing to quietly accept the old traditions of their families and villages when they returned home. Instead, they wanted to try new ways of living.
M: New ways of living?
W: Yes, new ways of living. Many young Americans, both men and women, began to challenge some of the traditions of their parents and grandparents. For example, some young women began to experiment with new kinds of clothes. They no longer wore dresses that hid the shape of their bodies. Instead, they wore thinner dresses that uncovered part of their legs. Many young women began to smoke cigarettes, too. Many women also began to drink alcohol with men in public for the first time. And they listened together to a popular new kind of music: jazz. Young people danced the Fox Trot and other new dances.
M: Were there huge changes of people’s social values at that time?
W: Yes, at least among some Americans. People openly discussed subjects that their parents and grandparents had kept private. An important force behind these changes was the growing independence of American women. In nineteen twenty, the nation passed the Nineteenth Amendment to the constitution, which gave women the right to vote. Of equal importance, many women took jobs during the war and continued working after the troops returned home. Also, new machines freed many of them from spending long hours of work in the home washing clothes, preparing food, and doing other jobs.
M: Well, were there other forces which pushed the social changes?
W: Education was another important force. More and more Americans were getting a good education. The number of students attending high school doubled between nineteen twenty and nineteen thirty. Attendance at colleges and universities also increased greatly. Two inventions, the automobile and the radio also helped cause the social changes. The automobile gave millions of Americans the freedom to travel easily to new places. And the radio brought new ideas and experiences into their own homes. Probably the most important force was the continuing economic growth of the nineteen twenties. Many people had extra money to spend on things other than food, housing, and other basic needs. They could experiment with new products and different ways of living.
M: Had lives of American people been changed a lot?
W: Of course not everyone’s life had been changed. Millions of Americans in small towns or rural areas continued to live simple, quiet lives. Life was still hard for many people including blacks, foreigners, and other minority groups. Many newspaper stories about independent women reporters and doctors also did not represent the real life of the average American woman. Women could vote. But three of every four women still worked at home. Most of the women working outside their homes were from minority groups or foreign countries.
M: Did people have any special interest in that background?
W: Well, peopIe had wide interest during the nineteen twenties. People became extremely interested in exciting court trials, disasters, film actors, and other subjects. For example, millions of Americans followed the sad story of Floyd Collins, a young man who became trapped while exploring underground. Newsmen reported to the nation as rescue teams searched to find him. Even the "New York Times" newspaper printed a large story on its front page when rescuers finally discovered the man’s dead body.
M: Americans are crazy about sports now. American football, baseball and basketball are the three most popular sports, and billions of people watch these matches every year. Were people interested in sports during the nineteen twenties? Who was the most famous sports star?
W: The nineteen twenties were a golden period for sports. People across the country bought newspapers to read of the latest golf victory by champion Bobby Jones. "Big Bill" Tilden became the most famous player in tennis. And millions of Americans listened to the boxing match in nineteen twenty-six between Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney. However, the greatest single sports hero of the period was the baseball player, Babe Ruth. Ruth was a large man who could hit a baseball farther than any other human being. He became as famous for his wild enjoyment of life as for his excellent playing on the baseball field.
M: OK, thank you for talking to us in the studio. The nineteen twenties was also a time of much excellent work in the more serious arts. We will take a look in our next program at American art, writing, and building during the exciting "roaring twenties".