The 20s, The Great Depression, A Lot Of Chaos

World War I enabled America to creep out of its shell more so than before; however, under awful circumstances. Still, the Great War triggered many changes in America's role in international relations and the part that it played as a world power. Yet, while the United States was changing internationally during and after World War I, it was also changing domestically, at the same time. American life during the war enabled various happenings to occur. American industrialization grew, while many individuals went off to war, sparking nicknames like "doughboys" and the "over there generation". Furthermore, during the time of World War I and its aftermath, many boundaries were pushed and, on the brink of the 30s, the value of the dollar dropped to a devastating low. In 1917, after exhausting all possible options he could think of to preserve neutrality, Woodrow Wilson went to Congress to ask for an official declaration of war. In 1918, young American soldiers, ranging from age 18 to mid thirties, went off to battle in the Great War. This extensive group of men was dubbed the "Over There generation", as they were fighting, overseas or, "Over There". The name, although I am not completely certain, most likely came from the Broadway song, "Over There", which expressed patriotic spirits, support for the Americans engaged in battle, and support for the war in general, with lyrics like, "Every son of liberty. Hurry right away, no delay, go today, make your daddy glad, to have such a lad..." However, it is stated that "Over There" did not just exemplify the soldiers that were abroad, it additionally represented an era of American industrialization, which was happening simultaneously during the War. In 1914, the assembly-line had been 'invented' by Henry Ford, and by the year 1918, cars were very much in mass production. Thus, "Over There" could also mean places that people could go to with automobiles and/or the people who drove cars. Also, the growing popularity of the car sparked a boost in American popular culture, outside of America. The car endowed the United States with a national feeling of wealth and this, prompted other countries to listen in, and pay attention to American dances, and songs, inspire people abroad to wear American clothes, and to buy American products, such as cigarettes. Furthermore cigarette consumption, domestically, only increased after the war, as many troops returning home developed a strong taste for the tobacco products.

After the war, America changed in many ways. A law, which would be detrimental to today's Superbowl fans everywhere, prohibition the production, transportation, selling, and consumption of alcohol was added to the constitution as the 18th amendment in 1919. This prompted socially rebellious activity and criminally rebellious activity. The socially rebellious appeared in the form of speakeasies- secret bars where people went to drink. The latter activity appeared in the form of American gangster, Al Capone. Al Capone an Italian Mafioso from Chicago, with a pretty powerful hold on the city as well, made himself a famous bad boy by the cold and mean ways he conducted his business, by the fact that although he was in essence, a kingpin, who could hire someone to do all of his "dirty work", personally killed people. He also took advantage of Americans' desperation for alcohol and produced and transported alcohol. He was eventually arrested and thrown into jail for tax evasion.