The Roaring Twenties Flashcards
When did USA enter WW1
1917 (2nd April)
Why did WW1 benefit the US economy DURING WW1
Europe did not have enough time and resources to grow enough food, extract enough fuel or produce enough iron or steel, so they imported it from America.
How much did factory production increase in USA during WW2
35%
How many tonnes of steel did USA produce in 1910 and 1920
1910 - 26.1 million tonnes
1920 - 42.1 million tonnes
What industries in USA benefitted from WW1
Natural resources - coal, petrol, gas, food
Transport - shipbuilding, railways were modernised for more efficient and effective transport
Consumer goods - American brands especially cigarettes became very popular in Europe
By the end of WW1, what percent of the world’s wheat and cotton was supplied by USA
Wheat - 30%
Cotton - 55%
By what % did the price for farm produce in America rise during the war
25%
What percentage did the average income for a farmer (who owned their land) increase
30%
How many more people were employed in America during the last 2 years of the war
1.3 million
By what percent did unskilled workers’ wages increase during WW1 in America
20%
How did farmers benefit from WW1
They could afford tractors to make work easier and more efficient and they could afford to take out loans to expand their farms to increase production of wheat to sell abroad. Income went up 305% (farmers who owned their land) and their goods went up 25% in price
How were minority groups (women, blacks) benefitted by WW1
More jobs opened up, so they could join the workforce in the industrial jobs in the north rather than staying at home or working on farms in the south
What were the problems with the economic benefits at the end of the war
- European farming recovered by 1920 so demand for USA industrial and agricultural produce fell
- Returning soldiers re-entered the workforce, so new workers, especially women lost their places
- The increased number of black workers in cities caused race riots
- Farmers who borrowed money to expand their production struggled to pay them back as European demand fell
What were the problems with the economic benefits at the end of the war
- European farming recovered by 1920 so demand for USA industrial and agricultural produce fell
- Returning soldiers re-entered the workforce, so new workers, especially women lost their places
- The increased number of black workers in cities caused race riots
- Farmers who borrowed money to expand their production struggled to pay them back as European demand fell
What is the definition of an economic boom
A period when the economy is growing and unemployment is low
What is credit
Money loaned by a bank to a customer for a fixed period of time, usually repaid in instalments along with an additional amount called interest
What are shares
Evidence of onership of part of a company, allowing the holder to receive a portion of any profit made by the company, known as a dividend
What are shares
Evidence of ownership of part of a company, allowing the holder to receive a portion of any profit made by the company, known as a dividend
Why did America experience an economic boom
- Newer production methods allowed factories to produce goods at a faster rate
- The availability of credit to buy things
- Advertising that encouraged people to buy newly available consumer goods
- The increased popularity of investing in stocks and shares
What happened to American wages and work hours
The average income was rising, the average working hours was falling
What was the height of unemployment in the 20s up until 1929
3.7%
What was the height of unemployment in the 20s up until 1929
3.7%
How long did it take to produce a car before mass production techniques
12 hours
How often was a Ford car produced by the time the production line was created
Every 10 seconds