History: The USA 1919-41 Flashcards
What was the economic boom?
-> dynamic growth of the American economy after WWI leading to prosperity
New industries:
->consumer goods (used or consumed) domestic appliances that became common in the 1920s
-washing machines, vacuum cleaner, electrical iron, toaster, fan, ovens…
Transport:
-first plane that crosses the Atlantic non-stop-> took 16 hours (1919)
-Charles Lindeberg ( first solo Atlantic Crossing)
-Mail order became more common with availability of delivery trucks
Advertising:
-began to focus on effects of the products and colour (1920s); adverts, slogans
Clothing:
-Sears-mall (chainstore)
Entertainment:
-Average working week dropped from 47 to 44 hours, people had more leisure
-Average wages rose by 11%
-Almost everyone listened to the radio
Sport:
-Baseball became a big money sport with teams like the Yankees + Red Sox
-Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey = boxer
Construction:
New York Skyline -> Age of the Skyscraper
-Empire State Building -> completed in 1931 with 102 stories and at 1,250 feet high, became the tallest building in the world
-Roads -> infrastructure -> gas stations, garages, hotels, traffic police, signs = jobs
Southern and Eastern Europeans:
-new immigrants from southern and eastern countries (Russia, Poland + Italy)
-were escaping persecution + poverty
Black Americans:
-In the 18th + 19th century, millions of Africans were brought to work as slaves (ends in 1865)
-Majority were farmers in the South but increasingly moving north (1920s)
Asians:
-On the West Coast there was a growing number
-Helped cities and worked on the construction of railroads
Old immigrants:
-European immigrants e.g: Britain
-Often held the best jobs and political power (language + race)
Native American Indians:
-By 1917 many Indians lived in a number of reservations
-They had been affected by waves of immigration until 1850-1890s, where they were forced to leave
The Hispanics:
-Usually from Mexico, shared a common language
-Often stayed in rural neighbouring states, eg: Texas- Cowboys
What did all the groups have in common + difference?
-Economic opportunities W hite (race)
-Freedom A nglo (heritage)
S axon
-Race + language P rotestants (religion)