Divisons In American Society Flashcards
How were the Young and Old divided in 1920s
WW1 - Young survived, change in attitude. Seem more horror than parents. Felt they had earned the right to live how they want.
Sex - not taboo. Popularised by cinema, music, books and dance. Contraception was widely available. Young wanted to enjoy life (war).
Money - Had new industries and jobs. Not dependent on family businesses.
Left home - Old couldn’t rely on help from Young. Role change - old not needed like before
How did the role of women change in the 1920s?
Some girls changed……but not all
Mostly middle class women became more modern.
How did the modern city girls change 1920 America?
- WW1= freedom. Worked during the war whilst men were fighting. Became skilled. Earned their own money = independence.
- Less likely to say in unhappy marriages. Increase in divorce - lower attendance at church.
- Got the vote.
- Freedom from cars, domestic appliances - more time away from the house.
- Contraception - they controlled child birth.
- Less restrictive clothing. Didn’t have to act proper. Free to be themselves. Short skirts, high heels. Lipstick
- Films - new role models. Sex symbols.
- Post war - wanted to work/ independence - encouraged by Big Business cos cheaper than men = female workforce = more profit.
- Women with £ brought more things - helped consumer cycle. Big Business knew this…wanted women. (Targeted advertising)
What didn’t change for women in the 1920s?
Limitations.
Mostly country girls didn’t change.
- Traditional male values - man head of household, superior, supported in public office.
- Poor women - had to work in field and look after home and family. Homemakers. Unskilled / low paid.
- Religious women - saw their role as supporting their husbands.
- All women - May have the vote but seen as unelectable so not given the chance to stand for political office. Kept the inequality.
- Paid less then men - for the same jobs. Couldn’t complain. No political representation.
What are the Old Industries and the New Industries in 1920s America?
Old industries - Farming, coal, leather, textiles, ship building.
New industries - manufacturing, chemicals (plastic, nylon), electricity / power stations, oil, advertising, travelling salesmen, entertainment
Why did Farming decline from 1921 onwards?
Farming - prospered during war but fell from 1921.
- Machines, fertiliser, easier to produce goods = over production (surplus),
- Tariffs on US exports,
- Competition from Canadian, Russia, Argentina and Australia in the world market.
- Drop in size of US population.
- Increases in taxes, mortgages, and wages - less profits.
Results in unsold goods, fall in the price, and fall in profits. Farms went bankrupt. Unskilled workers (mostly black) moved to cities - little demand for their labour - unemployed
Republican Govt didn’t believe in helping farmers. Thought that if the Govt brought framers crops, it would encourage more over production.
Why did the coal, leather and textiles industries decline in the 1920s?
Replaced by oil and electricity…..and by cheaper man made modern materials (nylon).
Lack of coal mining meant communities died. Coal couldn’t compete with oil. Cars and truck took over from the railways.
More efficient mining technologies also meant unemployment and lower wages.
Wartime cotton boom collapsed. In 1921 boll weevil (a beetle that feeds on cotton plants) saw crops destroyed. In mid 1920s - opposite problem, over production so price fall.
What were the effects of the new industries in 1920s America?
New industries didn’t need to employ as many people. Machines did the work.
Used electrical and mechanical production (ie machines).
Result - unemployment
How were the Cities and the Country divided in 1920s?
Farming increased but machines did the work - so people left the country (mostly the South) and moved to the Cities (mostly in the North).
Cities grew - no land, so skyscrapers - development. Sign of prosperity. Everyone wanted skyscrapers.
Cities threatened religion, family life, role of women. Change in values
Encouraged criminals, sex, drunks, meeting immigrants (different beliefs, values and cultures)
What was the affects of a decline in farming in the 1920s?
Americans forced to sell farm. Most farms in the South. People moved to the cities….decline in the Southern way of life and traditional values.
Issue - Half population worked on farms or related businesses. If farms went down, affected others. Unskilled workers moved to city. Little demand for their labour. African Americans worse affected.
How bad was unemployment in the 1920s?
Although a time of booms, unemployment was a problem thought out this time.
New industries didn’t create new jobs and many people were forced to live below the poverty line.
Poor unskilled whites, African Americans, Hispanic and immigrants
Consumer boom would tail off if ordinary people had no money…..but Republican Govt didn’t interfere. Did nothing about unemployment and poverty.
How were the rich and poor divided in 1920s America?
Big contrast - by 1929 - 1/3 of nations wealth owned by 5% of population. Big gap between rich and poor
Govt allowed this by imposing Republican beliefs and allowing Trust and not interfering with business.
Consumer boom bound to tail off eventually….couldn’t sell to ordinary people if they had no money.
Why was there poverty in some cities?
- Monopolies (where industry are owned /controlled by one company or alliance) kept prices high and wages low. This stopped competition - which affected workers and customers. Had no choice. Couldn’t go anywhere else.
- African Americans moved to north but were often restricted by prejudice and poverty and forced to live in poor areas. No money, jobs, education.
- Some poverty due to the fact that so many people moved from the country to the cities - there were just too many workers. Some were left with no jobs.
