1a: 1920s Econ boom - Limits to prosperity

Question 1

Which three groups did not see an improvement over this period?

Answer 1

Women, Farmers, and black Americans

Question 2

How did farmers benefit from the war and the years preceding 1920?

Answer 2

Prices rose over 25% and more land was taken into cultivation.

Question 3

What was the issue for farmers in the 1920s?

Answer 3

Demand fell; so did prices.

Wheat prices fell from $2.5 per bushel to $1.

Question 4

Why did demand for grain fall over this time?

Answer 4

Prohibition: Grain wasn’t needed for alcohol manufacturing.

Higher living standards meant more people were eating meat, and less cereals.

Question 5

How did the growth of synthetic fibres impact farmers?

Answer 5

The market for natural fibres, such as cotton, fell, harming farmers.

Question 6

How did technological advancements affect farmers?

Answer 6

They became more efficient, thus 13 million acres were taken out of production (and farm population decreased by 5%) but productivity increased by 9%.
Further, it led to overproduction.

Question 7

How did the increase in tractor usage negatively affect farmers?

Answer 7

Horses were no longer that necessary.

Thus, demand for animal food declined.

Question 8

Overall, what issue were farmers facing across the 1920s?

Answer 8

A fall in demand.

Question 9

How many farms were operating at a loss due to these factors?

Answer 9

66%.

This really impacted many black Americans who filled jobs such as wage labourers, tenant farmers, and share-croppers.

Question 10

What was the biggest problem for farmers?

Answer 10

Overproduction, as this meant prices became lower but no one wanted to risk underproducing as they could not trust their neighbours to do the same.

Question 11

What did farmers want the govt to do with their surpluses?

Answer 11

They wanted the govt to try and sell as much of it abroad as possible, for whatever price.

Question 12

Which group of farmers were hurt the most?

Answer 12

Small scale farmers - often went bankrupt.

Many big farmers actually improved.

Question 13

What did the state do to help farmers and what is this emblematic of?

Answer 13

Encouraged farms to co-operate together to market produce, emblematic of the laissez-faire, do nothing approach.
The Agricultural Credits Act of 1923 funded 12 Intermediate Credit Banks to offer loans to co-operatives.

Question 14

Why did state policy not benefit small farmers?

Answer 14

Unlike large agricultural businesses, small farmers could not afford to take out loans to market their produce more effectively as it would saddle them with debt.
This meant large businesses could squeeze small farmers out even more.

Question 15

What happened to the land of farmers and their mortgages?

Answer 15

Their mortgages were foreclosed and the land they had been on for generations was taken away.

Question 16

What demonstrates the massive increase in foreclosure?

Answer 16

1913-1920: 3.2 per 1000

By 1926, 17.4 per 1000.

Question 17

What did farmers need in order to survive?

Answer 17

They needed to make profit, which was becoming increasingly difficult.

Question 18

What were agricultural businesses?

Answer 18

Large scale, well-financed cereal cultivation, ranching and fruit production enterprises that used mass production techniques and needed little labour compared to traditional farmers.
They took over the agriculture industry.

Question 19

What demonstrates a lack of improvement in female opportunities during the 1920s?

Answer 19

By 1930, there were only 150 female dentists and <100 female accountants.
Less than 2% of lawyers and judges were women.

Question 20

Did political representation improve for women?

Answer 20

Not really; despite gaining the vote in 1920, there were only 2 women in the HoR, out of 435 delegates, in 1928.

Question 21

How did educational opportunities actually get worse for women?

Answer 21

Those receiving a college education actually fell by 5% during the decade.
This lack of education would hinder further job opportunities, keeping women in lower-status jobs.

Question 22

Despite an increase in clerical jobs, what type of jobs did women mainly stay in?

Answer 22

Low-paid, menial jobs.

There were 700,000 female domestic servants.

Question 23

Even when working in the ____ job as a ___, the woman received ____ money.

Answer 23

Even when working in the same job as a man, the woman received less money.

Question 24

Was flapper culture widespread?

Answer 24

No, it only resembled a small minority of the population.

Women were generally expected to concentrate on marriage and homemaking.

Question 25

Overall, did economic and employment opportunities improve for women?

Answer 25

No, the notion that they did is a myth.
Women had little economic freedom and indepedence due to the lack of employment opportunities. Ultimately, this would mean they were reliant on their husband, perpetuating gender inequalities.

Question 26

How many black Americans were living in the South, and what did this mean for them?

Answer 26

Black Americans made up 10% of the total population but 85% lived in the South.
This is important as this was the poorest part of the US and was also a hub on racial discrimination.

Question 27

What demonstrates the increase in northern migration?

Answer 27

The population of Harlem increased exponentially:

1914: 50,000 black Americans.
1930: 165,000

Question 28

Why did people move north, and was it worth it?

Answer 28

Black Americans journeyed north in search of better opportunities, however they faced much discrimination in housing and employment.
Further, they often lived in overcrowded, ‘ghetto’ areas, compounding their poor living standards.

Question 29

Overall, did Black Americans share in the prosperity?

Answer 29

No.

They had few opportunities and their living standards were incredibly poor.

Question 30

Ultimately, the USA _______ to be very prosperous, however, _____ groups, ______, and _______ did ___ share in this prosperity; living with ________ employment opportunities.

Answer 30

Ultimately, the USA appeared to be very prosperous, however, ethnic groups, farmers, and women did not share in this prosperity; living with limited employment opportunities.