Roaring Twenties

Question 1

Why was there an economic boom in USA 1920?

Answer 1

WW1: created a demand for American produce; lifted her out of an economic depression (4.25 year boom)

Question 2

How did arms industry change during and after WW1?

Answer 2

During: It developed
After: Was much larger than before and adapted to peacetime demands

Question 3

How did USA share of international trade change?

Answer 3

Share of international change increases considerably during WW1, trend continued in 1920 (+15%)

Question 4

How did USA role as a creditor change during WW1?

Answer 4

Transformed America into a major creditor;
Before: owed $3.7 billion
After: was owed $12.6 billion
Increased economic leverage over other countries.

Question 5

How was steel production affected in the USA?

Answer 5

Increased in the USA by 25% between 1913-1920, at same time fell by 1/3 in other major steel producing countries.

Question 6

How did WW1 influence methods of mass persuasion post-WW1?

Answer 6

Were adapted post-war by American companies, and used to create increased demand for consumer products.

Question 7

How was America stronger post-war relative to other powers?

Answer 7

The American economy was stronger in absolute terms compared to other powers. Its competition had become bankrupt.

Question 8

What were the physical long term factors for the economic boom?

Answer 8

The size of the USA and population
Rich in oil, coal, iron ore, lead, tin, copper and timber, which were used for mass production eg. Henry Ford
The trans-continental road massively aided the flow of goods and services.

Question 9

What were the non-physical factors for the economic boom?

Answer 9

American dream
Poor people from Europe brought frustrated talents and capacity for hard work to the USA
Those who had survived WW1 wanted to embrace life and pleasure, which led to consumer spending etc.

Question 10

What was the American Dream?

Answer 10

The belief that talent and hard work would be richly rewarded irrespective of social background. This helped to drive entrepreneurial spirit.

Question 11

What was the role of the government in the economic boom?

Answer 11

Laissez-Faire , minimum government interference in the economy

Question 12

What really stimulated investment in businesses during the boom?

Answer 12

Series of tax cuts for the rich between 1921-1926.

Question 13

What really stimulated investment in businesses during the boom?

Answer 13

Series of tax cuts for the rich between 1921-1926. top1% of USA families earned 24% of all American income

Question 14

What legislation did businesses benefit from during boom?

Answer 14

Anti-union legislation and court decisions, which outlawed strikes.

Question 15

What were Henry Ford‘s new mass production techniques?

Answer 15

Made it possible for unskilled and semi-skilled workers to work on assembly lines.
Workers were situated along a conveyer belt which brought car framers and they could do their part before it moved along a conveyer belt to the next step.

Question 16

What were the disadvantages of Ford‘s mass production techniques?

Answer 16

The job was very repetitive and monotonous. This could lead to mental problems, eg. Charlie Chaplin film Modern times.

Question 17

Why did cars become affordable?

Answer 17

Ford was able to reduce time taken to build car to 90 minutes. This brought the price down.

Question 18

What other industries benefited from increase in demand for cars?

Answer 18

Caused a boom in the glass, rubber, steel and paint industries, and the oil industry expanded.

Question 19

How did the government contribute in demand for cars?

Answer 19

Federal Highways Act 1921 - Us government took responsibility for road-building, 662,000 miles of surface roads

Question 20

How were suburbs affected by mass car ownership?

Answer 20

They sprang up, because people did not need to live as close to their place of work. This led to a boom in in house building.

Question 21

How did hire purchase schemes contribute to consumerism?

Answer 21

Consumers received good they could not afford to pay, and then paid the balance later on. Credit facilities helped to sustain consumer demand. Big risk because if there was a crash, no one could pay for their purchases.

Question 22

How did advertising contribute to consumerism?

Answer 22

Increased demand for consumer products, eg. Slicker adverts attracted buyers.
Direct result of technology and the demand for radio, because people could hear abt new products.

Question 23

What were the limitations of higher purchase schemes?

Answer 23

Dangerous because risk of economic downturn, which would lead to laid off works, no more hired, and companies losing money.

Question 24

How did radio contribute to advertising and examples?

Answer 24

Created a truly national audience for major sporting events.
Spread the culture of marketing the American life
Helped to make public opinion more national
Limitation: Did not erode class distinctions

Question 25

Why was the stock market popular?

Answer 25

The Americans thought everyone was a winner, too many people were buying shares on credit.
The Stock market success depended on confidence.
People were over-confident due to rapid industrial growth and victory in WW1

Question 26

What industries were negatively affected by the car industry boom?

Answer 26

Old methods of transport: eg. The horse, which led to demand for blacksmiths and farriers plummeted, leading to unemployment.

Question 27

Why was there a crisis in the farming sector and problems with it post WW1?

Answer 27

By 1920, European agriculture had recovered, which meant foreign demand for US crops fell.

Question 28

How did the government try to combat crisis in farming sector post WW1?

Answer 28

They tried to pass laws to prevent farm incomes from falling, because the government would have brought surplus produce. But they were vetoed by the Republican president.

Question 29

How did the film industry change in the 1920s?

Answer 29

It expanded massively. More films were made during the 1920s and 1930s than they are today. Film budgets rose, and the boom of the film industry had a long lasting effect on language.

Question 30

What were the 2 systems in film making during the 1920s?

Answer 30

Studio system : Controlling and systematising film by appointing a producer.
Star system : Stars were tied to studios by long-term contracts.

Question 31

Why was the film industry so popular in 1920s?

Answer 31

Films offered excitement and glamour in people‘s lives.

Question 32

Why was there a growth in popularity in the sports industry?

Answer 32

Generally rising incomes, generally reduced working hours.

Question 33

What was the change in college sports?

Answer 33

They became much bigger and lots of universities built their own stadiums.

Question 34

How did media contribute in popularity of sport?

Answer 34

It accounted for increasing interests in sport, because major events were covered on radio and in print journalism.

Question 35

Sport in the black community differences?

Answer 35

They had their own leagues which produced their own stars. These stars were idolised in the Black community, they earned their greatest popularity and support. This was because people had the income and leisure to attend sports.

Question 36

Sport in the black community differences?

Answer 36

They had their own leagues which produced their own stars. These stars were idolised in the Black community, they earned their greatest popularity and support. This was because people had the income and leisure to attend sports.

Question 37

What was the Black Sox scandal?

Answer 37

Where several member of the great Chicago White Sox team accepted bribes to lose on purpose.

Question 38

Who were flappers and what did they symbolise?

Answer 38

A minority of the female populations, they were northern, urban, single, young, middle-class women with a job and a disposable income.

Question 39

Were all women flappers and what factors determined this?

Answer 39

No, they did not represent women as a whole. Known due to the flaps on their galoshes (footwear), this symbolised carefree attitude to convention. Determined by class, race and geographic location.

Question 40

When were women granted the vote and under what amendment?

Answer 40

19th amendment, 1920

Question 41

How did technological advances help women?

Answer 41

Produced labour-saving devices, eg. Vacuum cleaners. Which could leave time for leisure.

Question 42

What were divorce statistics in 1920s?

Answer 42

200,000 by 1929(double ). Suggested knock- on effect form women getting vote and having more job opportunities

Question 43

Did attitudes towards women change?

Answer 43

No not really, there were still traditional roles and expectations persisted.

Question 44

What were the positive changes for women?

Answer 44

More job opportunities: 10 million women in jobs
Technological revolution created new jobs
Many women found work in new department stores

Question 45

What were the negative changes for women?

Answer 45

Women did not receive equal pay
Some women lost jobs that they had during the war industries.