"The automobile has become a portable bedroom. It has largely replaced the family parlor as the primary setting for courtship, removing young people from the direct supervision of parents and community guardians. What was once a family vehicle has become an instrument of individual freedom..."
— Report from a city juvenile court inspector, 1925
The social change described in the excerpt most directly reflects which of the following developments during the 1920s?
- The rise of a more autonomous youth culture and the challenging of traditional social norms.Answer
- BThe successful efforts of Progressive Era reformers to pass federal legislation regulating the behavior of young workers.
- CThe transition of manufacturing from household-based production to the factory system.
- DThe enforcement of isolationist diplomatic policies that restricted the entry of foreign cultural influences.
Answer
The rise of a more autonomous youth culture and the challenging of traditional social norms.
The correct option is correct because the mass production of the automobile in the 1920s dramatically altered social patterns, especially among young people. By providing unprecedented mobility and a private space away from home, the car facilitated the development of a distinct, autonomous youth culture and challenged traditional dating customs and parental supervision, as noted by the juvenile court inspector in the excerpt.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The social and cultural impacts of technological innovations, such as the automobile, in the 1920s.
Estimated Time:1m 30s