America - the 'Roaring 20s' Flashcards
Who won the 1920 presidential election?
Warren Harding
Why was America the most powerful nation in the world after WW1? (3)
1) Didn’t join WW1 till 1917 so spent less money
2) Main industrial supplier for the allies
3) Received reparations from Germany
1) What was Harding’s policy in the election campaign?
2) What was his slogan?
1) ‘Normalcy’
2) America first
Why did Americans support the policy of isolationism? (3)
1) 100,000 Americas died in WW1 and trade with other countries had suffered
- wanted to stay out of international affairs
2) By 1920, half of all Americans were immigrants, mainly from Europe
- they had harsh memories of the ‘old country’ and did not want more involvement
3) Europe was going through a wave of communism (Russian revolution)
In 1920, what proportion of the American population were immigrants?
50%
Why were many Americans opposed to the League of Nations? (2)
1) They felt that disputes hundreds of miles away didn’t concern them
2) They believed that the USA would have to bear the cost of keeping peace
Name 4 republican policies that contributed to the ‘boom’
1) Tariffs
2) Laissez-faire
3) Trusts
4) Low taxation
What is meant by the Republican policy of Laissez-faire?
Minimal government interference in the everyday lives of people
Why did republicans keep taxes low?
So that people could spend it on consumer goods and the stock market
Give 2 examples of industry leaders who benefited from the policy of trusts
1) Carneige (steel)
2) Rockerfeller (iron)
What were the average annual industrial wages in:
a) 1919
b) 1927
a) $1,158
b) $1,304
How many millionaires were there in:
a) 1914
b) 1928
a) 7,000
b) 35,000
How did the war benefit American exports?
USA supplied materials to the allies
Americans were able to take over international European trade. Exports to areas controlled by European colonial powers increased
Give an example of an industry that America took over
Chemical industry
- Germany used to have the most successful chemical industry, but war inhibited its growth
- USA out-produced Germany and created jobs in the process
- Explosives manufacture also stimulated many by-products
e. g plastics
How did natural resources help the boom?
There was little need to import from other countries, so most American money was spent in a
America itself
What was capital investment in the film industry in the 20s?
$2 billion
How many Hollywood studios were there by 1929?
20
1) In the 1920s what was the average annual output of feature films?
2) What is the annual output in the 21st century?
1) 800 per year
2) 500 per year
What percentage of American fiction films were produced by the ‘Big 5’?
90%
How many cars were made in America in:
1) 1900
2) 1929
1) 4000
2) 4.8 million
By 1929 a car was owned by what proportion of:
1) Americans
2) British
3) Russians
1) 1/5
2) 1/43
3) 1/7000
How many jobs depended driectly or indirectly on the moor industry?
4 million
What percentage of radios were bought on credit in the 1920s?
80%
What percentage of cars were bought on credit in the 1920s?
60%
Which one of Wilson’s policies did tariffs end?
Free trade
When was the Fordney McCumber tariff introduced?
1922
How many times did Warren Harding vary the rate of the Fordney McCumber tariff?
37
How many times did Calvin Coolidge vary the rate of the Fordney McCumber tariff?
32
What were the benefits of tariffs? (2)
1) American goods were cheaper as they were not effected by tariffs, more people bought these goods and therefore helped the US economy
2) Ended farmers opposition to protectionism.
- they could make more profit because there was less foreign competition
What were the disadvantages of tariffs? (3)
1) Tensions with other countries
- especially struggling European powers
2) Eventually American industries would need a new market, but it would be harder to export their own goods because other countries may introduce tariffs on the USA
3) Led to overproduction, which in turn led to poverty
How many women were in employment in 1929?
How does this compare to 1920?
10 million by 1929, 24% more than in 1920
How many divorces were there in:
1) 1914
2) 1929
1) 100,000
2) 200,000
What are the limitations women faced by the end of the 20s? (5)
1) Political influence
2) Wages
3) Religion/upbringing (Catholics kept womens’ status low)
4) Location
5) Marital status
How much did unemployment fall between 1920 and 1929?
It stayed the same (5%)
Even though industrial production doubled
What percentage of the population were below the poverty line during the 20s?
42%
How much of the overall income did the poorest 42% receive?
10%
How much of the overall income did the richest 5 % receive?
32%
How much did company profits and dividends to shareholders increase by from 1920-29?
How much did average wages increase by from 1920-29?
60%
10%
What percentage of semi-skilled workers in Chicago owned car?
What was this in other areas?
3%
29%
Give an example of a strike in the 20s due to exploitation of workers
1928: Coal industry of North Carolina
-Male workers $18
-Female workers $9
For a 70 hour week
($48 considered minimum for a decent life)
What was the total US farm income in:
1) 1919
2) 1928
1) $22 billion
2) $13 billion
How much food did the average farmer produce during the 20s?
Enough to feed his family and 14 others
How much did farm prices fall by in 1921?
50%
