The Changing Quality of Life 1917-80 Flashcards
What did post-war cotton farmers struggle with?
Boll Weevil
What were farmers urged to do during WWI? How did this lead to issues post-war?
Produce more wheat. They produced too much and prices fell
The coal industry went from producing 90% of the US energy to what by 1930?
60%
Who created the ‘scientific management’ technique used by Ford and other manufacturers?
Fredrick W. Taylor
Between 1919-29, consumer debt rose from 3.3bil in 1920 to what by 1929?
7.6bil
How much were workers paid by Ford in 1914?
5 dollars
The amount of passenger cars increased from 4.7mil in 1917 to what by 1929?
23,060,420 (23mil is OK)
Before 1920, people borrowed, on avg, 5% of their income. What had this become by 1929?
Almost double
What encouraged ordinary people to buy stocks in the 1920’s?
The media
What did banks begin to do during the 1920’s?
Using customers’ investments to trade in shares
What contributed to the ‘boom cycle’ ending?
A lack of demand for consumer goods
What did people begin to do in an attempt to make even more money in the stock market?
Buying on the margin
What did the FED do to control the boom that only exacerbated the depression?
Tightening the money supply
What was FDR’s first action as president?
Close all banks and have FED officials inspect them, only reopening the ones they deemed healthy
What proportion of all banks in operation before the crash were bankrupt by 1933?
1/3
When was the Wall St Crash?
28th of October 1929
What was the 1937 act that set up the Federal Housing Admin. for the clearance of slums and building of low-income housing?
Wagner-Steagall National Housing Act
The number of live births increased by how much between 1940-55?
Went from 2.5million to 4.1mil
What were some of the benefits the government provided for veterans after WWII?
GI Bill which 12 million participated in
Leaving payment
Loans to buy a home/business
Medical and healthcare
Unemployment pay for 1 yr
Who was a notable builder of Suburbs?
Levitt company
What act encouraged the building of suburbs indirectly?
1956 Highway Act - Built 41,000 of interstate highways
What was stagflation?
Businesses stop growing but inflation continues
What groups of people felt the pitfalls of stagflation in the 70’s?
People on fixed incomes and the unemployed
Why was stagflation happening in the 1970’s?
Falling productivity levels
USA no longer leading in tech development
USA exporting less manufactured goods (only 13% in 1973 globally)
Business taxes rising
What was the first fuel crisis in 1973 about?
Arab-Israeli war, OPEC supported Palestine whilst US supported Israel
- OPEC put up prices by 70% and then embargoed exports to the US
- OPEC put up prices even after the war had ended (4X in 1974)
What was the difference in home ownership between 1920-40?
6.7mil in 1920 - 15.2 mil in 1940
What was the second fuel crisis in 1979 about?
Fuel shortage - only lasted 3 months but led to half of the US petrol stations being without fuel and the ones that did have it, charged 50% more for it
In 1979, how much more would a white man make on average per annum compared to other races of men?
approx 10k more
What % of homes had electric light in 1940? How many relief on oil lamps?
78.7% - 20% on oil lamps
What % of people said they owned a radio in 1940?
82.8%
What did the rise in chain stores from the 1930’s onwards create?
An ‘American’ culture in any state
What economic impacts did the Rural Electrification Act have?
Rural homes now became consumers of electrical goods
How much has the govt spent on providing free healthcare for those who could not afford it between 1917-40?
3.1mil and increased to 32.7mil by 1940
What did Roosevelt set up in 1935 to get electricity in rural areas?
Rural Electrification Administration
How was education an indicator of the standard of living
Less and less children sent to work - kids did not have to work in order to provide for the family in most cases
How much less would a farmer worker make compared to the avg earnings of a white man in 1941?
1/4 of a white man
By 1950, 9% of homes had a television, by 1960 how many owned a TV?
85%
Whats one policy which companies adopted that increased consumerism?
Built in obselescence
Whats one example of consumers being targeted through television in the 1950’s?
In 1955, Davy Crockett became a famous television character, and the company behind them made 100 million in 5 months selling the raccoon-skin caps of the characters outfit
What groups were targeted by TV advertising in particular?
Women and Children
How much were teenagers consuming per year in 1959 ($ amount)
10 billion
Where were teenagers spending post-war?
Transport (38%)
Clothing and sports (24%)
Food and drink (22%)
Entertainment (16%)
What percentage of people owned their home in 1960 compared to 43.6% in 1940?
62%
What percentage of people had running water in their home by 1960?
93%
In 1960, how much less was the average annual income of a black family compared to a white family?
2605
What was the idea of closing down subways, police & fire stations and schools in areas called?
Planned Shrinkage - Roger Starr
What did Johnson’s Great Society form?
Independent agency to fight the war on poverty, with over 130 staff and a budget of 960 million to run the anti-poverty policies
What were CAPs?
Community Action Programmes
What’s one successful example of CAPs?
Project in Memphis which worked with professionals to solve the high infant mortality - scheme was then used all over the country
What did Nixon emphasise in terms of welfare?
Workfare not welfare
What did Nixon do to encourage the poor to find work?
Earned Income Tax Credit - gave working poor with children up to $400 a year, linked to their earnings
What did Nixon also set up in relation to the poor?
Family planning and resources for the poor so they could access contraception and understand financial management
How did living standards change between 1940 and 1960 in the United States?
Home ownership increased significantly from 43.6% in 1940 to 62% in 1960.
Basic amenities like running water, indoor toilets, and baths/showers became more widespread by 1960.
Introduction of modern appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, radios, washing machines, telephones, televisions, and air conditioning in households contributed to improved living standards.
What did Johnson introduce with his Great Society policies in terms of healthcare?
Medicare for over-65’s and those with disabilities
What did Carter aim to do with welfare in 1976?
Aimed to help both the working and non-working without raising budget costs
When did the first theme American theme park open? What was it called?
Disneyland - 1955
What were the economic divisions and inequalities observed during the 1960s and 1970s?
The wealth gap widened, with the richest 1% controlling an increasing share of the nation’s wealth by the late 1960s.
Disparities in income between production workers and executives grew significantly during this period.
Non-white Americans faced discrimination in employment and income, despite progress in some professions.
What were some of the challenges faced in inner-city areas during the 1960s and 1970s?
- Non-white Americans and impoverished communities faced inadequate housing, urban decay, and limited resources.
- Inner-city areas experienced housing deterioration, increased crime, and lack of essential services.
How did anti-poverty policies and reforms change from the 1960s to the 1980s?
shifts in focus towards aiding the working poor during the Nixon administration.
Policies encouraged workfare not welfare
Describe the changes in leisure and travel patterns from 1917 to 1980.
After World War I, there was a shift towards shorter workweeks and increased leisure time.
The 1920s-1930s witnessed the growth of leisure industries including movies, theatres, sports, and amusement parks.
Car ownership expanded, leading to changes in shopping habits, tourism, and transportation infrastructure.
What role did shopping malls and drive-in culture play in American life during the mid-20th century?
Drive-in culture, including restaurants and movie theatres, revolutionized leisure activities
How did air travel impact American society from the mid-20th century onwards?
Facilitated faster and more convenient travel.
It transformed mobility and tourism patterns, allowing people to take jobs farther away and commute by plane.
How did motels and Greyhound buses contribute to societal changes during the mid-20th century?
Allowed freedom rides to take place
How did car ownership and road infrastructure impact American society post-World War II?
The expansion of road networks and interstate highways facilitated suburbanization, commuting, and tourism.
What were some of the challenges associated with increased car ownership?
While car ownership provided mobility and convenience, it exacerbated economic disparities, as the poorest Americans struggled to afford cars.
Public transportation options declined, impacting non-drivers and further dividing society based on transportation access.
Environmental concerns such as pollution and congestion emerged with the proliferation of automobiles in urban areas.
How did air travel evolve post-World War II?
Aircraft manufacturers introduced a new generation of large, four-engine airliners after World War II that soon dominated U.S. and international air travel and helped lower fares
What were the social and economic impacts of shopping malls?
Shopping malls centralized retail, providing convenience and diverse goods.
They changed shopping habits, spurred suburban growth, and boosted local economies.
How did anti-poverty policies change during the Nixon administration?
Nixon shifted focus from welfare to work-oriented policies, aiming to support the working poor and reduce welfare dependency.
Initiatives like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) incentivized employment among low-income families.
Changes in welfare benefits and family planning services aimed to address poverty and encourage self-sufficiency.
Describe the impact of airline deregulation in the late 1970s.
he Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 eliminated federal controls over airline operations, leading to increased competition and lower ticket prices.
Airlines could adjust routes, services, and pricing independently, resulting in improved efficiency and innovation.
Deregulation transformed the airline industry, benefiting consumers with greater choice and affordability in air travel.
How did motels contribute to societal changes during the civil rights era?
Motels played a role in advancing civil rights by providing accommodations to minority travelers and activists.
Motels became hubs for social and political activities, fostering connections and mobilizing support for civil rights movements.
By 1970, what % of the suburban population was black?
4%
In 1966, what % of white Americans and non-white Americans wre living below the poverty line?
12% of white Americans and 41% of non-white Americans
Between 1960 to ‘80, how many shopping malls opened up?
around 30,000
What did many of the inner city areas in the US have people living in?
Housing Units - subdivided homes
What type of plane was adapted for consumer use post-WWII?
Boeing 707 - could carry 181 passengers
What Act ended federal control over ticket pricing, routes, buyouts and mergers in the airline industry?
1978 Airline Deregulation Act
