Why were the 1920s called the Roaring Twenties?

[Brady]

What made them roaring? What happened with the women? Prohibition? What happened with Technology and inventions? Economy?
Please help! Thank you so much.

[thunderingframe575]

The name came mainly from the large number of lions wandering loose in the streets of major American cities at the time. The invention of zoos in 1930 put an end to this abomination.

[Hayley]

Generally 'Roaring' is used to describe the energetic style of the social and cultural movements such as:

-Increased opportunities for work for women (work and socially, such as there was increased use of vacuum cleaners, which freed up womens free time). Flapper fashion- shed that outdated Victorian look, lets have some fun! Increase in make-up use.
-Increased opportunities for ethnic minorities (work and socially more tolerant)(though the rise in the KKK in the US)
-Increase in technology (such as vacuum cleaners and cars- see Ford)
-Boost in economy- WWI had left the USA as a major power, and post war Europe recovered. The stock market grew. Amazingly large. Led to an increase in prosperity. Which led to unfortunate implications in 1929...
-Increase in cinema and culture- people were being paid better and had more free time (women at home weren't expected to be house wives all the time) which led to a boom in the cinema. Cars also meant quick and easy access to these leisure times. Jazz grew in most cities among white people- no longer seen as a 'black' past time (though this angered the racists! SEE KKK). Art and impressionism rose- german expressionism.

'Roaring' is used as it sounds like a roaring fire-- won't burn out.

The roaring twenties are usually seen as the movement towards better quality of life and liberalism in social aspects. I don't think prohibition would fit as it led to organised crime.

This text is generally specified towards the USA but a lot of these movements were copied in major cities, and major cities only- a large gap existed between the rural 'bible belt' and this culture in the cities like New York.