The Boom Years Flashcards
In the 1920 how many radios were sold?
60 000
In what year were 60 000 radios sold?
1920
How many radios were sold in 1929?
10 million
In what year were 10 million radios sold?
1929
How many telephones were sold in 1915?
10 million
In what year were 10 million telephones sold?
1915
How many telephones were sold in 1930?
20 million
In what year were 20 million telephones sold?
1930
How many homes had electricity in 1918?
Few homes
In what year did few homes have electricity?
In 1918
How many homes had electricity by 1929?
Most homes had it.
By what year did most homes have electricity?
1929
What was the first mail order catalogue?
Sears Roebuck
What was Sears Roebuck?
The first mail order catalogue.
How many pairs of silk stockings were sold in 1900?
Only 12 000 pairs
What was invented in the 1920s which was a cheap substitute to silk?
Rayon
How many pairs of silk stockings were sold in 1930?
300 million
How many people were 300 million pairs of silk stockings sold to in 1930?
100 million people
By how much did Queens grow by in the 1920s?
It doubled in size
What was/is Queens?
A suburb outside New York City
By how much did Grosse Point Park grow by in the 1920s?
700%
What was/is Grosse Point Park?
A suburb outside Detroit.
How many trucks were there in 1919?
1 million
In what year were there 1 million trucks?
1919
By 1929 how many trucks were there?
3.5 million
By what year were there 3.5 million trucks?
1929
How many cars were sold in 1919?
9 million
In what year were 9 million cars sold?
1919
How many cars were sold in 1929?
26 million
In what year were 26 million cars sold?
1929
By 1930 how many flights were there a year?
162 000
By what year were there 162 000 flights a year?
1930
How did road length change during the 1920s?
It doubled
Why did road length double?
Due to the Federal Act of 1916
What industry employed more people than any other industry in the USA for the next 10 years?
Road building
What was there more being done in the 1920s than any other time in history?
Building
Where were skyscrapers built?
In New York City
How many times more fridges were there in 1929 for every fridge existing in 1921?
x167
Between 1920 and 1929 what did the Gross National Product rise by?
40%
Between 1920 and 1929 what did income per person rise by?
27%
How many Ford cars were built every 10 seconds by 1925?
1
By 1925 how often was one Ford car built?
Every 10 seconds
In the 1920s what materials were produced for the first time?
Plastic,
Cellophane,
Nylon
What acronym helps remember the causes of the 1920s boom in the USA?
FIRST
What does F in FIRST stand for?
First World War
When did the USA going the First World War?
Late in 1917
How did the First World War cause the boom?
- As the USA joined the war late in 1917 they lost fewer resources.
- The USA lent the allies money and sold them goods. This was one way trade.
- America took over trade around the world as Britain, France and Germany were too busy fighting.
- They became leaders in certain industries (they took over Germany’s chemical industry).
What does the I in FIRST stand for?
Industries and methods
In what year was the first moving production line (assembly line) set up?
In 1913
Who was the first moving production line (assembly line) set up by?
Henry Ford
How many cars were made in 1900?
4000 cars
In what year were 4000 cars made?
1900
How many cars were made in 1929?
4.8 million
In what year were 4.8 million cars made?
1929
What was the first mass produced car?
The Model T Ford
What did cars have knock on effects to?
Oil,
Rubber,
Glass,
Steel,
House building,
Road building,
Holiday resorts,
Petrol stations.
More people bought cars therefore more people bought petrol, houses, holidays, and drove on roads (which led to a boom as road length had to be increased so people had to be employed to build them so more people had money to buy cars and the cyclical structure continues)
What consumer goods became cheaper due to assembly lines?
Cars,
Radios,
Vacuum cleaners,
Washing machines.
What did total industrial production increase by in the 1920s?
50%
What sophisticated sales techniques were introduced?
Travelling salesmen,
Poster adverts,
Radio adverts,
Billboard adverts.
What did credit schemes encourage?
They encouraged poorer people to buy items such as cars on credit.
How many radios were bought on credit?
8 out of 10
How many cars were bought on credit?
6 out of 10
What was the saying associated with credit schemes?
Buy now pay later
What was hire purchase?
Hire purchase was buying products using loans, it allowed people to buy from mail order catalogues and make weekly payment instalments rather than paying the full amount all at once.
What movement proposed the newest and most efficient industrial techniques and methods?
The Industrial Efficiency Movement
How did industries and methods cause the boom?
- The first moving production line (assembly line) increased production massively. Each worker had a specific job.
- Other consumer goods became cheaper due to assembly lines.
- Sophisticated sales techniques were introduced.
- Credit schemes encouraged poorer people to buy items (Buy now pay later).
- Hire purchase allowed people to buy from mail order catalogues and make weekly payments.
What does the R in FIRST stand for?
Republican policies
Who were the Republicans?
A political party.
When were the Republicans in power?
From 1920 - 1932
What is the order of the Republican presidents?
Harding
Coolidge
Hoover
Who was in charge for most of the 1920s?
Secretary of Treasury Andrew Mellon (of the Republicans)
How did low taxation help people?
They had more money to spend
What were import tariffs?
Tax on foreign goods
Which Act introduced import tariffs?
The Fordney McCumber Tarrif Act of 1922
What does Laissez faire mean?
Leave well alone
What did Laissez faire mean the government did?
They stayed out of business affairs - allowing industry to grow without interference.
What were trusts?
Huge super corporations dominated by businessmen.
What was Normalcy?
Normalcy meant staying out of world economic problems, it kept America out of world politics and problems.
What is an economic boom?
When the economy grows fast
What is the cycle of prosperity?
When demand leads to growth.
What is taylorism?
Industrial efficiency
Who was John D Rockefeller?
An oil baron
Who was Nelson Rockefeller?
An oil baron
Who was JP Morgan?
A banker and he established US steel
Who was Owen Young?
A radio producer and the founder of NBC
Who was Donald Douglas?
An aircraft industrialist
Who was Warren Harding?
The president until 1923
Who was Calvin Coolidge?
The president until 1928
Who was Herbert Hoover?
The president until 1932
How did Republican policies cause the boom?
- Low taxation helped people by giving them more money to spend.
- Import tariffs put tax on foreign food which made them more expensive so people bought cheaper American goods.
- Laissez Faire (leave well alone) meant that the government stayed out of business affairs allowing industry to grow without interference.
- Trusts were huge super corporations dominated by businessmen such as Rockefeller and Carnegie who made decisions to help their industry grow.
- Normalcy kept America out of world politics and problems
What does the S stand for in FIRST?
State of mind
What did most Americans believe about spending money?
That it was good to spend and bad to save.
How did State of mind cause the boom?
- Most Americans at the time believed that it was good to spend and had to save. They wanted plenty to eat and the latest consumer goods. They wanted to keep up with the neighbours.
- A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage - Herbert Hoover
What was the saying which contributed to state of mind?
“A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage” - Herbert Hoover
Who said “A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage”?
Herbert Hoover
What does the T in FIRST stand for?
Three raw materials
What raw materials did America have an abundance of?
Coal,
Oil,
Iron.
How did the three raw materials cause the boom?
- America had an abundance of raw materials including coal, oil and iron.
- They could make money by selling raw materials abroad (exporting).
- They could save money by not importing.
- They could use the materials to make consumer goods.
How did industrialists benefit from the boom?
They controlled business through Laissez faire and amassed vast fortunes.
How did share holders benefit from the boom?
Their investments grew as companies grew.
How did shop owners benefit from the boom?
They sold more goods and made more profit.
How did the rich and middle class benefit from the boom?
They could buy all the latest consumer goods.
How did unskilled workers benefit from the boom?
They could get a job in factories operating machines.
How did immigrants benefit from the boom?
They were cheap labour and at least they had jobs and hope.
How did workers in consumer industries benefit from the boom?
Low taxation gave them more money to spend.
How did factory owners benefit from the boom?
They used assembly lines to produce huge amounts of goods which resulted in fortunes.
How did women benefit from the boom?
They could now earn their own money and no longer had to rely on their husbands.
Who benefited from the boom?
Industrialists,
Share holders,
Shop owners,
The rich and middle class,
Unskilled workers,
Immigrants,
Workers in consumer industries,
Factory owners,
Women.
Who did not benefit from the boom?
Farmers,
Black people,
Immigrants,
Coal and steel workers (and old/traditional industries),
Textile workers (and old/traditional industries),
Union members,
Workers.
What was farm income in 1919?
$22 billion
What was farm income in 1928?
$13 billion
What did farm income drop to from 1919 to 1928?
$22 billion to $13 billion
In what year was farm income $22 billion?
1919
In what year was farm income $13 billion?
In 1928
What was a bushel of wheat worth in 1920?
$233
In what year was a bushel of wheat worth $233?
1920
What was a bushel of wheat worth in 1931?
$32
In what year was a bushel of wheat worth $32?
1931
From 1920 to 1931 what did the value of a bushel of wheat drop to?
From $233 to $32
What percentage of farms had electricity or mains water?
Less than 10%
What did less than 10% of farms have?
Electricity or mains water
What was the largest subsection of society?
Farming
What fraction of all Americans lived in rural areas?
Over half
Where did over half of all Americans live?
In rural areas
What pest killed crops in the south?
Boll Weevil
Where did the Boll Weevil pest kill crops?
In the south
What does COE stand for?
Competition from Canada
Overproduction of goods
European markets declining
How does the acronym COE help us remember?
Reasons why farmers did not benefit from the boom.
What did competition from Canada mean for US farmers?
They couldn’t compete with the efficiency of Canadian farmers meaning that Americans bought cheaper goods and American farmers lost money.
When did the overproduction of goods happen?
Between 1900 and 1920
What happened between 1900 and 1920?
Overproduction of goods
Why did overproduction of goods happen?
Because farmers invested in machinery such as combine harvesters and fertilisers.
Why did European markets decline?
Because the USA had sold Europe millions of dollars worth of grain in the war and now the demand was lost. Europe was also bankrupt and couldn’t afford US grain.
How many dollars worth of grain did the USA sell Europe?
Millions of dollars worth
Why couldn’t Europe afford US grain?
Europe was bankrupt.
What did tariffs mean for Europeans?
That Europeans had less money to buy US goods as they couldn’t sell their goods to America.
Why did farmers not benefit from the boom?
- Between 1919 and 1928 farm income dropped from $22 to $13 billion. In 1920 a bushel of wheat was worth $233 but by 1931 it was just $32.
- Less than 10% of farms had electricity or mains water.
- Farming was the largest subsection of society and over half of all Americans lived in rural areas.
- In the South pests such as the Boll Weevil killed crops.
- Competition from Canada meant that US farmers couldn’t compete with the highly efficient wheat producers of Canada. This meant that Americans bought the cheaper goods and American farmers lost money.
- Overproduction of goods had happened between 1900 and 1920 as farmers had invested in machinery such as combine harvesters and fertilisers. By 1920 surpluses were being produced which nobody wanted.
- European markets were declining as the USA has sold Europe millions of dollars worth of grain in the war and now they lost that demand. Also Europe was bankrupt and couldn’t afford US grain. In addition tariffs meant that Europeans had less money to buy US goods as they couldn’t sell their goods in America.
Why were black Americans and immigrants very badly hit by the boom?
Because they did the least skilled jobs.
What did Polish and Irish immigrants suffer from?
Seasonal unemployment (e.g. in steel, meat and clothing)
What percentage of semi skilled workers owned a car?
3%
How many black farm labourers lost work in the 1920s?
1 million
Who were the last to be hired and the first to be fired?
Black Americans and immigrants
Why did black Americans and immigrants not benefit from the boom?
- They were very badly hit as they did the least skilled jobs.
- They were the last to be hired and the first to be fired and were still segregated in many jobs.
- Polish and Irish immigrants suffered from seasonal unemployment (e.g. in meat, steel and clothing)
- Only 3% of semi skilled workers owned a car.
- 1 million black farm labourers lost work in the 1920s.
When were there strikes in the coal and steel industries?
In 1918 and 1920
What industries went on strike in 1918 and 1920?
Coal and steel industries
Why were there strikes in the coal and steel industries?
Because of low pay and bad work conditions.
What fraction of the national average wage was the wage of coal workers?
One third of the national average wage.
What was coal being replaced by?
Hydro electricity, natural gas and oil.
What did hydro electricity, natural gas and oil replace?
Coal
How did strikes (of coal and steel workers) in West Virginia end?
With state troopers being sent to disperse the strikes.
Where were the strikes about coal and steel workers which were dispersed by state troopers?
In West Virginia
Who set up an inquiry about the work conditions of miners?
Warren Harding
What did Warren Harding find out in his inquiry about the work conditions of miners?
That they were very bad.
What did the government do about Warren Harding’s findings about miners work conditions?
They did nothing to help
When was there a strike in North Carolina about the wages of male and female coal and steel workers compared to the minimum wage?
In 1928
Where did a strike in 1928 take place about the wages of male and female coal and steel workers compared to the minimum wage?
In North Carolina
In 1928 how much were male coal and steel workers paid for a 70 hour week?
$18
In 1928 how much were female coal and steel workers paid for a 70 hour week?
$9
What was the minimum wage required for a 70 hour week for the basic standard of living?
$48
Why did coal and steel workers not benefit from the boom?
- In 1918 and 1920 there were strikes in the coal and steel industries over low pay and bad work conditions.
- Coal workers wage was one third of the national average.
- Coal was being replaced by hydro electricity, natural gas and oil.
- Strikes in West Virginia ended with state troopers being sent in to disperse the strikers.
- Warren Harding set up an inquiry and it found that miners working conditions were very bad but the government did nothing to help them.
- In 1928 there was a strike in North Carolina because male workers were only paid $18 and women $9 for a 70 hour week when $48 was seen as the minimum required for the basic standard of living.
What was cotton being replaced by?
Artificial fibres
What factories made cheaper goods than US textile factories (so were competition)?
Asian factories
In 1927 what Union went on strike?
The United Textile Workers Union
Where did the United Textile Workers Union go on strike in 1927?
Elizabeth Town, Tennessee
Why did the United Textile Workers Union go on strike in 1927?
The girls had to work 56 hour weeks at only 18 cents an hour ($10.08 a week).
How did the United Textile Workers Union strike in 1927 end?
State troopers were used to get rid of the strikers
Where were there textile strikes?
In West Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee
Why did textile workers not benefit from the boom?
- Cotton industry was very depressed because they were being replaced by artificial fibres and Asian factories made cheaper goods.
- In 1927 the United Textile Workers Union went on strike in Elizabeth Town, Tennessee as the girls had to work 56 hour weeks at only 18 cents an hour ($10.08 a week). State troopers were used to get rid of the strikers.
- Strikes in North Carolina and West Virginia followed and again force was used.
Did the Government nearly always take the side of the managers or the workers?
The managers
How many state laws did the Supreme Court over rule which banned child labour?
2
What laws did the Supreme Court ban?
Laws setting minimum wages.
What was Trade Union membership in 1920?
5.1 million
What was Trade Union membership in 1929?
3.6 million
Why did union members not benefit from the boom?
- The Government almost always took the side of the managers over the workers.
- The Supreme Court over ruled 2 state laws which banned child labour and it banned laws setting minimum wages.
- Trade Union membership fell from 5.1 million to 3.6 million between 1920 and 1929.
What percentage of wealth went to the bottom 42% of the population?
10%
What percentage of Americans lived below the poverty line?
42%
What were workers wages in 1919?
$1158
What were workers wages in 1927?
$1304
What were millionaire numbers in 1914?
7000
What were millionaire numbers in 1928?
35000
What percentage did unemployment stay at despite the boom?
4%
Why did unemployment stay at 4% despite the boom?
Due to electrification
Why did workers not benefit from the boom?
- Only 10% of wealth went to the bottom 42% of the population.
- 42% of Americans lived below the poverty line.
- Between 1919 and 1927 workers wages only rise from $1158 to $1304 while millionaire numbers rose from 7000 to 35000 between 1914 and 1928.
- Despite the boom unemployment stayed at around 4% due to electrification.
What is a quotation from Herbert Hoover from 1928?
“We in America today are closer to the final triumph over poverty than ever before in the history of any land.”
Who said “We in America today are closer to the final triumph over poverty than ever before in the history of any land.”?
When did they say it?
Herbert Hoover
In 1928
What was one of the most powerful symbols of 1920s America?
Skyscrapers
How did rural areas (country folk who were predominantly traditional) view urban areas?
As vice ridden
What did Scott Fitzgerald say about the roaring 20s?
“none of the mothers knew how casually their daughters were accustomed to be kissed”
Who said “none of the mothers knew how casually their daughters were accustomed to be kissed”?
Scott Fitzgerald
How many states threatened to introduce censorship (to stop sex being showed in films)?
36
When was the Hays Code introduced?
In 1930
What was the Hays code?
It controlled how relationships between sexes was shown. (Censorship)
What two things about sex became more common during the roaring 20s?
Contraceptive advice and sex outside marriage
How many licensed radio stations were there in America in August 1921?
1
How many licensed radio stations were there in America by 1922?
508
When was there only 1 licensed radio station in America?
August 1921
By what year were there 508 licensed radio stations in America?
1922
How much money was NBC making by 1929?
$150 million per year
By what year were NBC making $150 million per year?
1929
How many dollars worth of radios were purchased in 1920?
$2 million
In what year were $2 million worth of radios purchased in the USA?
1920
By 1929 how many dollars worth of radios had been purchased in the USA?
$600 million
By what year had $600 million worth of radios been purchased in the USA?
1929
Who brought jazz and blues to urban America?
Black people from the country
What did the 1920s become known as?
The Jazz Age
What dances (associated with jazz) developed in the 1920s?
The Charleston and the Black Bottom.
What did many people think about jazz?
That it was a corrupting influence
Where was the Cotton Club?
In Harlem
What performers did the Cotton Club attract?
Jazz musicians :
Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and Bessie Smith.
What baseball teams were popular in the roaring 20s?
The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.
Who was Babe Ruth?
A famous baseball player in the roaring 20s.
How much was Babe Ruth paid a year?
$80000
Who was a prominent figure who was a sports fan?
Al Capone
Who was a popular boxer?
Jack Dempsey
Who was a popular golfer?
Bobbie Jones
What were cinemas called in the roaring 20s?
Nickelodeons
Who were two stars in Nickelodeons?
Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton
When was the first “talkie” film made?
In 1927
What were “talkie” films?
Films with sound
Who were three Hollywood stars in films?
Clara Bow, Theda Bara and Rudolph Valentino.
What were two controversial 1920s films?
When a Woman Sins and Up in Mabel’s Room.
How many stages was wheel making (of cars) split into?
100 different stages
What kept workers in line?
Plant Protection Service
What did Plant Protection Scheme do?
It kept workers in line
What scheme encouraged workers to save for a car?
Company Saving Scheme
What did Company Saving Scheme do?
It encouraged workers to save for a car.
How many cars were there by the end of the decade?
29 million
What fraction of cars by the end of the decade were Model T Fords?
Half
What ratio of Americans owned a car?
1 in 5
How many Model T Fords did the River Rouge plant make per day?
2500
How many men worked at the River Rouge plant?
80000
Before the assembly line was introduced how many cars could be made per day?
200
After the assembly line was introduced how often could one car be made?
Every 1 and a half hours
In what year was the 10 millionth Model T Ford built?
1924
What percentage of households had flushing lavatories by 1930?
51%
By what year did 51% of households have flush lavatories?
1930
What buildings were considered symbols of wealth?
Skyscrapers
Who was responsible for the Industrial Efficiency Movement?
Frederick Taylor
How much did a Model T Ford cost by 1924?
$260
Where was the River Rouge plant built?
In Detroit
What was the River Rouge plant?
Henry Ford’s second plant built in Detroit
By what percentage did total industrial production increase by in the 1920s?
50%
What product type was protected by the Fordney-McCumber Tariff Act of 1922?
Food
How much did the price of wheat drop by between 1920 and 1931?
$201
What were young urban women better known as?
Flappers
Who was world heavy weight champion in the 1929s?
Jack Dempsey
By the end of the century what percentage was America richer by?
40%
What was NBC?
A radio company
