Social and Cultural Changes Notes

Cultural Transformation and the Arts

1. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw a cultural awakening across the Americas, as rapid industrialization, urbanization, and social change reshaped art, literature, and music.
2. In the United States, artists and writers explored themes of modern life, realism, and social critique. Movements like the Ashcan School depicted gritty urban life, while authors such as Mark Twain and Upton Sinclair exposed inequality and corruption.
3. The early 20th century brought modernism, emphasizing experimentation and individual expression. The Harlem Renaissance (1920s) became a major cultural movement celebrating African American identity through the works of Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Duke Ellington.
4. In Latin America, the arts reflected both nationalism and cultural revival. The Mexican Muralist Movement, led by Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueiros, used public art to celebrate Indigenous heritage, revolution, and social justice.

Changing Role of Women

1. The late 19th century saw women increasingly enter the workforce and public life, especially in industrial and urban centers. Middle- and working-class women worked in textile factories, teaching, and clerical jobs, contributing to the growing urban economy.
2. The women’s suffrage movement gained momentum across the Americas. In the U.S., leaders like Susan B. Anthony and Alice Paul achieved victory with the 19th Amendment (1920), granting women the right to vote.
3. In Latin America, women’s activism expanded through education and social reform. Feminist pioneers such as Bertha Lutz (Brazil), Julieta Lanteri (Argentina), and Hermila Galindo (Mexico) advocated for political participation and equal rights.