Not only did sixteen million Model T’s sell by 1927, but the automobiles popularity lead to the construction of more roads and highways through the funds of the public. Because more roads were built, more people commuted to the cities to find work, which impacted the economy. Many reso... ... middle of paper ... ...n as The Great Depression which lasted ten years and ended at the start of World War 2. The Twenties are associated with wealth, extravagance, and optimism. After success from war and an economic boom, everyone had positive spirits.
The roaring twenties were the most important years contributing to the change in America. First off, the twenties made such an important impact because this was a time for the economy to boom and reform, also during this time women’s rights became more focused on, and lastly due to the many advancements in technology the twenties was a time of great prosperity and wealth. The twenties made life seem so easy, until reality sets in. To start off, the economy boom was when many Americans came to the peak of their financial gains. Because of Americas new founded wealth, americans citizens used their new extra money on entertainment.
During the American Modernist Fiction period, Americans became increasingly materialistic throughout the roaring twenties; therefore, the American Dream was to obtain upper class status through the possession of material goods, which was reflected in many of this period’s works. There were many revolutionary changes in the economy of the roaring twenties that affected the American Dream. Among these were the rapid expansion of the radio, film, advertising, and automobile industries. These all grew exponentially in the 20’s, a decade of economic expansion. “Between 1919 and 1929 horsepower per wage earner in manufacturing skyrocketed by 50 percent, signaling a robust wave of mechanization that increased productivity by 72 percent in manufacturing, 33 percent in railroads, and 41 percent in mining” (Lehrman 2).
Reasons Behind the Economic Boom of 1920's There was an economic boom in the 1920s for 5 main reasons. Firstly the growing strength of American Industry meant that the USA was a leading producer of many raw materials. This was partly due to the second main cause of the boom, which was World War 1. This had helped the American Industry to grow, as during World War 1 new markets had opened up to America. Also, after World War 1, America took over as a leading producer as many European industries had suffered greatly because of the war.
The Boom in Nineteen-Twenties The economic boom in America was the sudden increases in economics. The economics of America was America's money. Businesses grew because they were selling more goods, and making more money. Because of increased demand and increased production, companies had to employ more people. This means that more money was available to spend.
This change created a higher standard of living, a larger middle class, and new opportunities for most people. Wages were raised by major industrial leaders. Consumer credit was greatly expanded and new installment plans allowed families to spend money upfront. With a prospering economy and employment at an all time high, more people began to spend their money on entertainment, household products, and luxury items such as the automobile. The automobile was the most important consumer product of the 1920s as it became the symbol of the new America.... ... middle of paper ... ...otwear through the Ages.
The 1920s, often referred to as the Roaring Twenties, was a time of great change and a time of powerful enthusiasm in many areas of society. The world had just finished the biggest war in history, the First World War, and the United States was left almost unharmed by the war. The United States was able to experience a decade of peace and success following the war. During this decade, America became the wealthiest country in the world (Trueman, 2000). The people in the United States went through a colorful period during the twenties.
After World War I, economy shot up causing historians to call the 1920s the second industrial revolution.' The economy of the 1920's was a key change as it brought about new mass production, mass consumption, and set the stage for the ever-looming Great Depression. The 1920's saw a great boom in mass production which allowed for cheaper prices of technology products. This decade was marked by an enormous expansion of consumer credit, where Americans were used to finance purchases of new products such as the growing popularity of cars and radios, which were created by the mass production. The automobile, movie, radio, and chemical industries skyrocketed during this decade-one of the most important was the automobile industry.
The federal government supported big businesses by way of high tariff policies and cutbacks in the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). From 1922-1929, the national income was up 40% from $60.7 billion to $87.2 billion (The Roaring Twenties). Also, the War stimulated a number of old industries, such as petroleum and steel, and helped create a host of new industries, such as plastic and rayon production; nonetheless, the total annual expenditure of money spent on new machinery for industry in 1918 was $2.5 billion, compared to $600 million in 1915 (Schultz). Furthermore, the use of labor saving machinery in factories and on farms enabled workers to produce more goods faster and less expensively, which led to higher amounts of production and worker productivity, thereby raising the wages of workers (The Roaring Twenties). Many new businesses became preeminent and prosperous during the 1920's, such as the steel industry, department stores, and the automobile industry.
The roaring twenties were a time of cultural, artistic, and social explosion for the United States of America. This era was distinguished by several inventions and discoveries, rapid industrial growth, accelerated consumer demand and significant changes in American lifestyle. It was a time when people lived life to the fullest and pursued having a good time. The census of 1920 showed that for the first time in American history, more people lived in urban areas such as cities than out in the country. While the amount of modern technology would be somewhat lackluster in comparison to what we have today, I would be glad to live in the 1920’s.