Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression

In Girl in the Glass, the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression are both mentioned. First, when Bruce describes the area surrounding the Willard Hotel:

“The muck is now buried underground,” explained Bruce. “During the Roaring Twenties, the federal government leveled the whole area to build Federal Triangle. Those are the handsome buildings you see today.”

Later on, when Declan pushes back on the Clypeate's involvement in helping the U.S. Army develop a nuclear weapon, Bruce counters:

“Our country has wasted two decades, the self-indulgent Roaring Twenties followed by the dozen years mired in the Great Depression.”

Roaring Twenties - the 1920s, or "Roaring Twenties," were a time of economic prosperity and cultural change in the United States, marked by increased consumerism, new technologies like radios and automobiles, and a vibrant urban culture. The decade's economic boom ultimately led to overproduction and speculation, culminating in the stock market crash of 1929 and the start of the Great Depression. 

The Great Depression - lasting from 1929 to the late 1930s, the Great Depression brought unprecedented economic misery. Millions lost their jobs when businesses closed and their life savings when banks failed. Complicating the situation, drought, over-plowing, and high winds created the "Dust Bowl.” Massive dust storms decimated huge areas of the Midwest, leading to widespread homelessness and migration. The Depression exposed the fragility of the economic system and led to significant government intervention, including New Deal programs aimed at recovery and social welfare.

Roaring 20’s fashion

Drinking in a Speakeasy

Depression line for free coffee and donuts