Final answer:
The 1920s, known as the Roaring 20s, was characterized by remarkable economic growth, cultural shifts such as the emergence of jazz music, and a more permissive new morality, influenced by the urbanization and consumerism of American society. Despite the prosperity, the decade ended with the onset of the Great Depression due to underlying economic issues and the overuse of credit.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 1920s were referred to as the Roaring 20s due to a period of sustained economic prosperity along with a distinctive cultural edge in the United States and Europe. This era witnessed the large-scale adoption and use of automobiles, telephones, movies, and electricity, which became the precursor to the modern comforts we know today. The period was also marked by heightened consumerism, a booming stock market, and the emergence of a particular set of cultural styles, most vividly represented in the media, music, and fashions of the time. Jazz music became exceedingly popular, with the advent of big bands, syncopated rhythms, and improvisation which defined the age.
The economic prosperity facilitated a societal change where more Americans moved to cities and adopted more modern lifestyles, this led to conflicts between more traditionalist values and modern urban values. Credit became more widely used, allowing people to purchase luxury goods on the promise of future payments, which contributed to an atmosphere of opulence and indulgence. However, the prosperity and the exuberant cultural celebrations of the 'Jazz Age' were juxtaposed against serious economic issues, such as troubles within important industries and agricultural overproduction. Inevitably, these problems culminated in the stock market crash and the onset of the Great Depression by the end of the decade.
In summary, the 1920s were a time of great innovation and cultural advancement, influenced strongly by the popularity of jazz music and the rise of a new consumer-oriented economy. However, the financial policies and consumer behaviors of the time laid the groundwork for the economic collapse that followed, thus proving the roar of the 1920s to be tragically short-lived.