The USA In The 1920-30s

Question 1

When was WW1?

Answer 1

July 1914- November 1918

Question 2

Who was president of America during WW1?

Answer 2

Woodrow Wilson

Question 3

How many Americans died in WW1?

Answer 3

100k.

Question 4

How did WW1 affect America after it ended? Discuss the nature of the USA between WW1 and WW2.

Answer 4

After the war, most Americans wanted nothing to do with the rest of the world. 100 thousand Americans were killed in WW1, and the war had disrupted trade with other counties. In 1920, half of all Americans had been born outside of America - mostly in Europe. Many immigrants had unhappy memories of Europe. This pushed to move America into a policy of isolationism: AKA, staying out of involvement with other countries. This policy remained active until 1941. Woodrow Wilson established the League of Nations but the USA didn’t join nor did they sign the Treaty of Versailles.

Question 5

Discuss the nature of capitalism in the USA.

Answer 5

Capitalism was a vibrant economic system in the US, and many people made vast fortunes during the late 1800s. By 1900 there were 5000 millionaires in the USA and four multi-millionaires. New arrivals found many entrepreneurial opportunities and opened small businesses. Between 1820 and 1930 the value of manufactured goods increased sevenfold during the USA’s ‘industrial revolution.’ By 1900, they were the world’s leading producer of steel, iron and coal.

Question 6

What is the American Dream?

Answer 6

The ‘American dream’ is the idealised perfect life - white picket fences, a happy family of four… that kind of thing. The American Dream follows the belief that anything can be achieved through hard work, determination, ambition and self-reliance. This essentially leaves no blame for one’s poverty or failures on the capitalist system, and rather on the individual themselves: this is called ‘rugged individualism,’ the idea that people can succeed through their own efforts and hard work. Herbert Hoover was an example of someone who went from ‘rags to riches.’ The United States was seen as the land of opportunity where anyone can achieve anything/live a successful life, regardless of their background.

Question 7

Who was the president after Woodrow Wilson and how long was he president for?

Answer 7

Herbert Hoover. He was president from 1929 to 1933.

Question 8

What occurred in 1920s America in the context of the economy?

Answer 8

There was a massive boom. The 1920s were a time of extraordinary economic growth.

Question 9

What were the foundations of the boom that happened in 1920s America?

Answer 9

• abundant raw materials that were accessible
• skilled labour
• growing market for manufactured goods

Question 10

What was the economic policy of the Republican Party at the time?

Answer 10

• As little govt interference as possible
• High customs duties on imported goods (encouraging people to buy locally)
• Low taxes (more disposable income)
• Weak trade unions (workers had limited power)

Question 11

Describe the industrial development of America in the late 19th century to early 20th century.

Answer 11

There was rapid industrial development during this time.

Question 12

What were the reasons for the rapid industrialisation in America in the late 19th century to early 20th century?

Answer 12

• Growing population to serve as a workforce and provide market for goods
• Natural resources such as coal, iron, oil
• World War One provided foreign markets for the sale of agricultural goods and armaments
• The Republican govt had a laissez-faire approach to the economy
• low taxes gave people spending power
• High import tariffs gave the govt additional revenue
  This all lead to rapid industrial development (e.g, the automobile). The optimistic state of mind in economic development and capitalism.

Question 13

Discuss the production and consumption of products in America in the early 1900s with an example.

Answer 13

Production increased as did consumer’s ability to buy new mass produced products.
For example, Henry Ford’s “Tin Lizzie” — Model T Ford. Up to 6000 cars were being produced each day by 1923. Henry Ford made more money by reducing the cost and selling more rather than making his product expensive.
Other industries were stimulated by the motor industry: iron / steel / rubber / glass / highways / petroleum stations / hotels / restaurants / tourism / housing in newly developed suburbs.

Question 14

Who was Thomas Edison?

Answer 14

Thomas Edison was a folk hero (inventor of the light bulb) - by 1920s only half of USA had electricity, but this was changing fast.

Question 15

Give examples of products that went onto the market in the 1920s for the first time.

Answer 15

Household products such as refrigerators and waxing machines. Office equipment such as electric typewriters. Skyscrapers

Question 16

What was American society like in the 1920s?

Answer 16

• by the 1920s, the USA had the highest standard of living in the world.
• the “Roaring Twenties” = time when conservative social customs changed and people enjoyed life
• decade of mass entertainment = movies, Hollywood, radio, celebrities etc…
• “Jazz age” because the jazz and blues became popular.
• Jazz clubs, dancing, and new fashions became particularly popular - this challenged traditional conservative practises.

Question 17

What three big events occurred in 1920s America?

Answer 17

There was the red scare, prohibition of alcohol, and the Ku Klux Klan.

Question 18

Discuss the rise of the Ku Klux Klan in 1920s America.

Answer 18

• It was resurrected after WW1
• Targeted African Americans, Jews, Catholics and Communists
  -It had 5 million members by the 1920s
• Lost power by 1930 because of internal feuds
• Black individuals wanted more equality and power in rural southern areas, which led to the KKK congregating there specifically
• in 1928 there was a march in Washington DC, wearing white robes
• there was lots of violence by KKK against “blacks,” Asians (Japanese), Jews, CAtholics ad liberal whites.
• There was an increase in hangings
• the KKK were known for tarring and feathering their victims as well

Question 19

Discuss the Red Scare in 1920s America.

Answer 19

• Involved the constant perceived threat of communism. Thousands of immigrants were arrested and deported.
• in 1917: Russian revolution (communism) made americans scared
• in 1919 + 1920: climax of 1st Red Scare: violence and law enforcement raids on anarchists and leftist radicals. This led to a period of unrest, known as the “Red Summer.”

Question 20

Discuss Al Capone during the prohibition of alcohol in 1920s America.

Answer 20

• The prohibition of alcohol was implemented in 1919 by the 18th amendment of the constitution. It banned the manufacturing and sale of alcohol.
• However, the black market developed and was run by gangs like the Mafia - and this was the time of Al Capone (Chicago Mafia boss)
• the illegal smugglers of alcohol were called “bootleggers” and alcohol was sold illegally at clubs called “speakeasies.”

Question 21

Discuss the social landscape of America in the 1920s. (Population)

Answer 21

• It was the 1st time in American history that more people lived in cities than rural areas.
• There was growing workplace development
• Continuous growing population
• There was an increase in crime, overcrowding, unsafe conditions in urban areas (this remained through and beyond the progressive era).

Question 22

Discuss the social landscape of America in the 1920s (18th Amendment).

Answer 22

• The 18th Amendment banned production and sale of alcohol.
• this was hard to implement and happened due to conservative groups trying to get it banned because they claimed it causes abuse, laziness and other social ills
• Public saloons closed down. Private secret pubs opened called speakeasies opened (that required secret codes to enter for example) and illegal alcohol was sold (very expensive though)
• some were hidden, others payed off local officers

Question 23

Discuss the social landscape of America in the 1920s (Women)

Answer 23

• New rights and freedom for women: short hair / short clothing / swearing / etc; these were called “Flappers”
• Increase in popularity of dance clubs
• increase in popularity in car dates
• 19th amendment: women allowed to vote!
• women were a key part of industrial America at the time but roles changed as new jobs arose:
  > some women broke barriers and became politicians / doctors / lawyers etc, but this was rare
  > still limited equality or opportunities for advancement for women
  > new safer and more stable jobs arose

Question 24

Discuss the social landscape of America in the 1920s (economy)

Answer 24

• The standard of living increased in the 1920s
• There was growth of the middle class
• More disposable income —> bigger market and people buying things they want rather than things they need
• American consumerism grew and there was an abundance of:
  > mass advertising
  > big businesses
  > new products
  > college-educated management
• “buying on time” emerged: larger items, paying in instalments

Question 25

Discuss the technological landscape of America in the 1920s

Answer 25

• the electricity industry grew massively:
  > new cheap efficient sources of power for factories meant that large machines could be used simultaneously
  > therefore productivity and efficiency increased and mass production was introduced
• many new forms of entertainment such as cinemas / sports stadia / speakeasies
• by 1929 70% of homes had electricity

Question 26

How did the use of the radio change in the 1920s? What affect did this have?

Answer 26

It became a form of entertainment, advertising, news etc. Lots of new radio stations emerged in the 1920s. This helped to create and share national culture.

Question 27

Discuss the Harlem Renaissance.

Answer 27

• new social change
• people of all colour coming together to enjoy music and life (e.g, at the Cotton Club)

Question 28

Discuss the rise of cinema in the 1920s.

Answer 28

• By 1920s most Americans went to the cinema at least once a week.
• Movie entertainment was a massive hit and led to the growth of stars and starlets.
• Hollywood emerged
• Movies showed the opportunities available to the watchers worldwide, and helped to open everyone up to the changes in society.

Question 29

Give examples of stars/starlets in early Hollywood (America, 1920s).

Answer 29

Clara Bow, Mary Pickford, Gloria Swanson

Question 30

Discuss the arts in America in the 1920s.

Answer 30

• Art and literature intentionally broke tradition, attacking social injustices and expressing new ideas from the changing generations.
• Vivid stories and portraits became popular
• There were major artistic contributions from Harlem: creators/musicians/artists giving interpretations of African-American life in the US. (E.g, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Claude McKay).
• The increase in education and leisure time led to an increase in reading.
• New musical foundations converged in NYC: New mix of instruments / styles / themes formed Jazz Music which became increasingly popular

Question 31

What is hire purchase and advertising?

Answer 31

• Hire Purchase (HP) was introduced as a new way for people to buy goods when they didn’t have money
• Pay a deposit of around 10% and then pay monthly instalments
• Advertising thrived and helped to promote consumer culture
• Advertisers promoted HP’s to encourage potential buyers

Question 32

Discuss the weaknesses in the US economy.

Answer 32

1. An uneven distribution of wealth:
   •Not everyone could afford to buy consumer goods
   •Millions lived in poverty
   •Demand began to drop, factories decreased production, and workers began to lose their jobs
2. Problems in agriculture:
   •WWI = boom period for American farmers
   •After the war, demand dropped = huge surpluses = drop in food prices = farmers don’t make enough money
   •Resulted in farmers leaving the land and out of work
3. Problems in trade:
   • Policy of protective tariffs = protect local industry from cheaper imports
   • Meant to help the economy but had the opposite effect
   • Stopped the free flow of trade between the USA and the rest of the world
4. Unsound business practices (credit):
   • People could get credit too easily = owe lots of money
   • No protection for people who brought shares or put money in banks
   • Business had to sort itself out without interference = problems manifest

Question 33

What was the Wall Street Crash?

Answer 33

A major American stock market crash that occurred in the autumn of 1929.

Question 34

What are shares?

Answer 34

•Few businesses have enough capital to get their companies up and running
•They sell people shares in exchange for capital to raise funds
•People who buy shares are investors who hope to make a a profit in the long-term by investing in the business
•The share promises the investor that they will have a share in the profits the company makes
•Shares are traded on Stock Markets in the hopes that their value will increase and the investors will make a profit

Question 35

What are shares?

Answer 35

•Few businesses have enough capital to get their companies up and running
•They sell people shares in exchange for capital to raise funds
•People who buy shares are investors who hope to make a a profit in the long-term by investing in the business
•The share promises the investor that they will have a share in the profits the company makes
•Shares are traded on Stock Markets in the hopes that their value will increase and the investors will make a profit

Question 36

How did stock investors make money?

Answer 36

Buy shares on the margin —> company does well ∴ supply & demand increases ∴ share price increases —> sell shares once value has increased —> profit!!

Question 37

Why did the Market collapse?

Answer 37

Buy shares on the margin —> stock/share prices start to fall/stagnate —> investors lose confidence and PANIC - sell shares! —> 24 October 1929 = Black Thursday; 13 million shares dropped on market —> no one wants to buy shares —> 29 Oct 1929 = Black Tuesday; 16 million shares dropped —> shares become worthless —>stock market COLLAPSES

Question 38

Why did the economy collapse?

Answer 38

Stock market collapses —> banks begin to fail —> people lose money, cant buy goods —> businesses and factories start to close —> people lose jobs = no money = can’t buy goods —> whole economy collapses

Question 39

What were the causes of the depression?

Answer 39

People lose their jobs —> fewer goods are sold —> demand drops —> businesses cut wages to stay in business —> people lose their confidence and start saving money, spend less —> demand drops further —> business forced to cut costs via retrenchment —> even more people lose confidence and spend less money —> fewer goods sold, cycle continues

Question 40

What are the summarised reasons for the economic crash in 1929

Answer 40

•Unequal distribution of wealth
•Excessive optimism in the economy and in capitalism
•No government interference
•Bad economic practices – easy credit, overspending
•Over-speculation on the Stock Market
•Trade – surpluses could not be dumped on the European market
•Unwise loans to foreign governments
•Market for agricultural goods became smaller after WWI – overproduction, surpluses, prices drop, financial ruin

Question 41

What were the effects of the Great Depression?

Answer 41

•The USA was unprepared and had no policy to remedy the effects of the Crash
•Unemployment and Retrenchment:
>Demand for goods dropped, thus costs had to be cut by firing workers. Car production fell by 80%
>Eventually whole factories/companies had to close: By 1933 about 25% (16 million) of the US workforce had no jobs
•People had to stand in breadlines as they waited for food handouts
•There was no social security
• Homelessness:
• People could not afford rent and were evicted
• many moved to “Hoovervilles” (named after President Hoover)
•The Banking system collapsed – over 11 000 closed down
>People couldn’t repay loans
>Lost faith in banks and withdrew any savings they had
•Foreign Trade declined, spreading the Great Depression across the world (also due to Hoover’s insistence on high import tariffs)
•Agriculture suffered – drought and poor farming methods in the late 1920s turned the Midwest into “the Dust Bowl”