In United States cultural history, during which decade did the period popularly known as the Jazz Age take place, marked by jazz music, flappers and changing social values?

Introduction / Context:
The Jazz Age is a term used to describe a distinctive cultural period in United States history when jazz music, new dances, flapper fashion and changing social norms became highly visible. It is also linked with economic prosperity, Prohibition and the rise of mass entertainment such as radio and cinema. Knowing the decade in which the Jazz Age occurred is a basic fact often tested in general knowledge and history examinations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks during which decade the Jazz Age took place.
• Options are four ten year periods from 1900 to 1940.
• We assume knowledge about the Roaring Twenties and the timing of Prohibition and the stock market boom.

Concept / Approach:
The Jazz Age is closely associated with the Roaring Twenties, a name for the decade from 1920 to 1929. During these years, jazz music spread from African American communities into mainstream culture, and many social changes took place. To answer the question, we match the cultural markers of the Jazz Age with the correct decade. We also recall that the Great Depression began at the very end of the twenties and continued through much of the nineteen thirties, which is considered a separate period.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the term Roaring Twenties refers to the period 1920 to 1929, known for prosperity and cultural experimentation.Step 2: Know that jazz music became especially popular in the twenties, with famous musicians such as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington gaining wider audiences.Step 3: Remember that Prohibition in the United States began in 1920 and lasted through most of the twenties, contributing to nightlife associated with the Jazz Age.Step 4: Match these events with the decade options. They clearly fit the decade 1920 to 1930.Step 5: The decade 1910 to 1920 includes World War One and the lead up to Prohibition, but not the full Jazz Age culture.Step 6: The decade 1930 to 1940 is dominated by the Great Depression and the lead up to World War Two, not the Jazz Age.Step 7: The decade 1900 to 1910 is even earlier and not associated with jazz as a mass cultural phenomenon.

Verification / Alternative check:
Cultural histories and textbooks repeatedly connect the Jazz Age with the Roaring Twenties. They mention speakeasies, flappers, the Harlem Renaissance and new consumer goods during that period. The Wall Street crash of 1929 is usually treated as the symbolic end of this era. By contrast, the nineteen thirties are described as years of economic struggle and changing political responses to the Depression. Therefore, cross checking with basic period labels confirms that the Jazz Age belongs to the decade from 1920 to 1930.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The decade 1910 to 1920 is wrong because while jazz was developing, the full cultural mood of the Jazz Age had not yet emerged, and much of that decade was taken up by World War One. The decade 1930 to 1940 is wrong because it is more closely associated with the Great Depression and New Deal policies rather than dancing and flapper culture. The decade 1900 to 1910 is wrong because it is too early and belongs to the Progressive Era, well before jazz became a major national craze. Only the decade 1920 to 1930 matches the standard historical definition.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to confuse the Jazz Age with the entire first half of the twentieth century and to guess either the 1910s or the 1930s. Another pitfall is to think mainly of the Great Depression and incorrectly link it to jazz culture. To avoid this, remember three key phrases together in your mind: Jazz Age, Roaring Twenties and the decade 1920 to 1930. This association will help you quickly pick the correct decade in exams.

Final Answer:
The Jazz Age occurred during the decade 1920 - 1930, also known as the Roaring Twenties.