1920s America

Question 1

Why did the economic boom happen? Give three reasons

Answer 1

Laissez-Faire
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High tariffs so more money went to American businesses
New consumer goods

Question 2

What is the American dream?

Answer 2

The idea that everyone can make it in America if they work hard to succeed. America is the land of opportunity, freedom and equality.

Question 3

By 1929, America produced what percentage of all consumer goods in the world?

Answer 3

50%

Question 4

What is rugged individualism?

Answer 4

The idea of relying upon yourself to work very hard.

Question 5

What percentage of Americans lived below the poverty line?

Answer 5

42%

Question 6

Give examples of people who didn’t benefit from the boom and explain why

Answer 6

Unskilled labourers- unskilled labourers living rurally relied on farm work. However, as farms closed down, they were forced to move into nearby cities where there was very little demand for unskilled labour.
Coal miners- demand for coal decreased with new industries like oil and electricity. They were paid below the minimum wage.
The unemployed- new industries were using electricity and mechanised production, so while manufacture doubled, unemployment remained at 5%. This hit the immigrant communities hardest.

Question 7

How often did cars come off the production line in 1927?

Answer 7

One every ten seconds

Question 8

Define the roaring twenties

Answer 8

A period of time that brought about massive social, economic and political change. Society changed massively as people began to demand more freedom.

Question 9

When did women in America gain the right to vote and by what amendment?

Answer 9

1920, the 19th amendment

Question 10

How much did moving assembly lines reduce the time to make a car by?

Answer 10

12 hours to 2 hours

Question 11

Name some examples of more freedom for women

Answer 11

More women than ever before had paid jobs
Some went to college, high school, left home to study, etc
Duties and tasks were changing due to electricity
Flappers

Question 12

How many more divorces were there in 1929 compares with 1914?

Answer 12

Twice as many

Question 13

When was the prohibition?

Answer 13

1920-1933

Question 14

Define temperance

Answer 14

A movement where people were not drinking alcohol and encouraging others to do the same

Question 15

What were bootleggers?

Answer 15

People who illegally manufactured or distributed alcohol

Question 16

What was a speakeasy?

Answer 16

An illegal or underground bar

Question 17

Who were the dries?

Answer 17

People in favour of banning alcohol

Question 18

Who were the wets?

Answer 18

People against banning alcohol

Question 19

What was the volstead act?

Answer 19

The informal name given to the law banning alcohol

Question 20

What was the 18th amendment national prohibition act?

Answer 20

A law passed in 1920 that banned the manufacture, transportation and sale of alcohol

Question 21

Why did the prohibition happen?

Answer 21

Now they could get money from income tax, the government didn’t have to depend on alcohol taxes.
Racist reasons- lots of people believed alcohol turned black men into “brutes”.
Rich people and middle-class people supported the prohibition because they wanted a more productive workforce
To stop men spending everything they earned in the saloons

Question 22

Why did prohibition lead to the rise of gangsters?

Answer 22

There was more demand for illegal alcohol, so gangsters could get rich

Question 23

What is a share?

Answer 23

A proportion of a company entitling the owner to that proportion of its profits (a dividend)

Question 24

What is a shareholder?

Answer 24

Someone who owns a share of a business

Question 25

What is speculation?

Answer 25

Investing in shares with hope of gain, but risk of loss