The Boom 1920s

Question 1

Republican policies which helped make America wealthier in the 1920s?

Answer 1

• Laissez Faire ; leave businesses alone to maximise profit

- Low taxes ; so workers had more money to spend on America products

Question 2

Factors that led to an increase in the sale of consumer goods?

Answer 2

• Mass production ; goods produced on large scales more cheaply
• Advertising ; new techniques encouraged people to spend
• Credit ; people were able to borrow money to buy goods (hire purchase)

Question 3

How did Henry Ford revolutionise car production?

Answer 3

• Created the first production line ; one car produced every ten seconds
• Costs fell so a lot more people could afford a car
  ( Most popular model was a Ford Model T )

Question 4

In what ways did old industry workers, farmers and African Americans not benefit from the boom?

Answer 4

• Demand for food fell after WWI, farmers struggled as people weren’t buying their produce
• Workers in old industries such as coal and textiles lost their jobs
• KKK membership soared during the 20s ; 300 African Americans were lynched

Question 5

Describe music, cinema and radio in the 1920.

Answer 5

• Jazz music was very popular ; inspired new dances such as the Charleston (African American performers brought the music to the cities)
• ‘Talkies’ revolutionised the film industry
• Most homes bough a radio during the 20s ; 500 radio stations (sport, stories, news, weather etc)

Question 6

In what ways did women progress during the 1920s?

Answer 6

• Had been working in factories to support WWI and had earned respect (women in work increased to 24% over the decade)
• Had more time to work ; less labour (washing machines)
• Won the right to vote
• Flappers

Question 7

Why didn’t women’s lives improve for all?

Answer 7

• Traditional views of women continued in rural areas
• Still payes much less than men
• Few female politicians

Question 8

What was prohibition and how did it change America?

Answer 8

• National ban on the selling and consumption of alcohol between 1920-1933
• Reduced alcohol consumption by 30%
• Led to an increase in crime
• Speakeasies ; bootleggers smuggled alcohol into the US
• Gangs ; Al Capone
• Police officers were often corrupt

Question 9

What was the Red Scare and how did it impact on American society?

Answer 9

• After the Communist Russian Revolution (1917), there was an increased fear of communism in the USA
• Trade unions who campaigned for better pay were accused of wanting a communist uprising
• Immigrant groups were accused of being communist and planning bombings (Sacco and Vanzetti)
• Less immigrants being allowed to enter the USA