During the aftermath of World War I great change was happening to America’s society. Of the nations that were involved in the worldwide conflict from 1914 to 1918 no other nation experienced prosperity socially, politically, and economically as quickly as did the United States of America. The middle-class American suddenly became the most important component to the growth of the American economy. As the purchase of luxuries, the automobile in particular, became more available to middle-class, opportunity in the housing and labor industries expanded. World War I had placed great strains on the economies of the most European nations that were involved in the conflict. With trade agreements with countries like Britain, France and United Kingdom America’s economy flourished, as they forced these countries to accept goods in exchange for debt. The economy of America soared to new heights. America’s abundant natural resources and technological advances were used to become leaders in manufactured exports. (Encl) Usually the general public would opposed big business owners to partner with government, but as the lifestyles of many Americans elevated these relationships were accepted. By the end of the decade, 1910 to 1919, annual incomes rose from $580 to $1300 setting the stage for the “crazy years” known as the “Roaring Twenties”. As WWI ended and America transitioned from wartime mindset to peacetime lifestyle the economy of the nation had placed the United States as the world’s superpower. As all of the fighting occurred on foreign soil there was no added expense to rebuild infrastructure of the nation as other countries were required. Instead of rebuilding roads, buildings, hospitals, schools from new designs America could... ... middle of paper ... ...the customer had completed their bank transaction they could return to the ground level and enjoy a moment of shopping at the various retail shops that were housed in the dedicated retail spaces directly below the main banking floor. Works Cited Encl. "World War I and the Economy." January 2001. Encyclopedia.com. Electoronic. 24 October 2013. . James F. O'Gorman, Dennis E. McGrath. ABC of Architecture. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1998. Document. October 2013. Jordy, William H. "PSFS: Its Development, and Its Significance in Modern Architecture". Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, 1962. Print. 14 October 2013. Schumpter, Joseph A. "The Decade of the Twenties." The American Economic Review 36.2 (1946): 4. Document. 24 October 2013. .
Hunt, William Dudley Jr. “Beaux Arts, Ecole Des.” Hunt Encyclopedia of American Architecture, 1980 ed.
Boom Period in the 1920 America By the end of the First World War America was regarded as the most powerful and richest country in the world. In the 1920´s the United States' economy was 'booming' with success and increasing prosperity, in which a great deal of Americans, though certainly not all, shared. This period was also known as the 'roaring twenties´. With a plentiful supply of raw materials (e.g. oil and coal) and the policy of isolation and containment in place, America soon became even more powerful and wealthier. America had great regional diversity, with each region contributing something different to the economy.
The roaring twenties was a decade of excitement. For the first time in many families’ lives, leisure times were extended thanks to the time saving inventions such as the vacuum cleaner, the refrigerator, and the washing machine. Another factor that made the 20s the best decade for many Americans was because of installment, also known as “buy now, pay later,” buying which allowed the middle class families to afford those products when needed and pay it off later. Clubs bustled with life, filled with the stench of alcohol, and the noise of tapping shoes as men and women danced their soles off their shoes. New thing occurred and made many Americans’ lives a paradise.
After the heavy stresses of WWI, many young soldiers returned home with a need to feel alive again. With the war over and the American economy growing, many US citizens found themselves with money, time, and new ways of expressing themselves. Over one long, prosperous decade, United States grew and changed drastically. The younger generations turned the societal norms of their forefathers on their heads and women began to take large steps away from their stereotyped lifestyle. There were movements in art, music, writing, and politics, as well as an introduction of new cars and machines. With changes in constitutional laws, public ideas, and everyday ideals, the 1920s are considered some of the most pivotal times in the history of the United States.
On the heels of war, new technology caused a decrease in prices of goods in the 1920’s and in the 1950’s the GI Bill increased income. The bureaucratization of business in the 1920’s meant that more people could be employed in higher paying white-collar jobs than before, including, for the first time, housewives. This new income combined with the reduced prices for goods that resulted from mechanized production, assembly lines and a general decrease of the cost of technology created a thriving consumerist middle class that went on to fuel the economy in all sectors, especially the upper classes. Likewise, during World War II Americans saved up around 150 billion dollars, and this sum combined with the income of the GI Bill allowed normal people to buy expensive things, from houses to cars to electronics to educations at a rapid rate, fueling the trademark prosperity of the 1950’s. The new automobile culture of the 50’s spawned new businesses that catered to mobile Americans, such as nicer and more standardized hotels like Holiday Inn, and drive-up restaurants like McDonalds. Just as the culture of the 1920’s was transfo...
The "roaring twenties" was an era when our country prospered tremendously. The nation's total realized income rose from $74.3 billion in 1923 to $89 billion in 1929(end note 1). However, the rewards of the "Coolidge Prosperity" of the 1920's were not shared evenly among all Americans. According to a study done by the Brookings Institute, in 1929 the top 0.1% of Americans had a combined income equal to the bottom 42%(end note 2). That same top 0.1% of Americans in 1929 controlled 34% of all savings, while 80% of
The rapid economic expansion and changing social attitudes both contributed to the growing sense of confidence shown in the 1920’s. Due to new ideas and better working conditions, the economy was booming. More people were able to afford goods due to the fact that they could be produced in greater numbers allowing the prices to decrease. This led to significant increases in the sales of products such as cars, refrigerators, radios and cookers. A man by the name of John R. Lee mentioned that companies successfully lowered the prices of the convenient car in order to make it affordable for more people to purchase their products. Also, there were plenty of jobs with better working conditions than before the war that allowed people to step into the middle class (D). Hoover also stated that to keep the economy going, the companies would have to maintain their moral values and treat the workers well, but the workers should not try to ask for too much. The balance that he spoke of was se...
During the years of 1914-1918 was “the greatest wars to end all wars” known as World War I that jumpstarted our journey towards the Great Depression. In this war it involved fighting in between nations, alliances, imperialism, militarism, nationalism, and assassinations. After all this fighting came the Roaring 20s. The Roaring 20s was a time period when many people defied prohibition, indulged into new styles and art, and the economy was at an all time high. Now imagine having a luxurious mansion and you leaving your family at home to go to work at your fancy job. Then you come home that evening and you’re all of a sudden broke. Unreal right? Well this was what happened to many families on October 29, 1929 when the stock market crashed and the Great Depression started. United States economy took a turn for the worst and brought about devastation which resulted into problems for the American people/government and them having to deal with it in different ways.
Victory in the Great War allowed the United States to rise as one of the dominant powers in world affairs. As soldiers returned home, there was a new sense of hope and prosperity. This aura, driven by money and wealth acquired from the war, was the basis of the 1920s. The 1920s is attributed to be the “Golden Age” of America as business prospered, innovations arose, and the standard of living boomed. The change in the standard of living induced drastic evolvement in the class system of America. There were 2 major classes in the 1920s: the upper class and the lower class. There was no in between, one was either fortunate to be wealthy, or attempting to gain the fortune to be wealthy. This stark division was the source of the drastic change for
Wukovits, John F., ed. America's Decades: The 1920's. San Diego: Greehaven Press Inc., 2000. Print.
In 1914, World War I began. The United States intended on keeping out of the war, but by 1917, it was no longer just their exports involved, but their soldiers too. This struggle was financed by highly inflationary means and even though the U.S. involvement was limited in time, the postwar economy had to adjust to the lack of heavy military payouts. In 1919, after the armed forces were almost completely discharged, business activity took a sharp down fall. However, a postwar boom allowed for a quick rise in business activity that lasted about a year, taking us into the roaring 20's.
Jencks believes “the glass-and-steel box has become the single most used form in Modern Architecture and it signifies throughout the world ‘office building’” (27). Thus, modern architecture is univalent in terms of form, in other words it is designed around one out of a few basic values using a limited number of materials and right angles. In...
Solar Flare Studios. "Modern Architecture : International Style." Solar Flare Studios. Accessed April 22, 2014. http://www.solarflarestudios.com/demosites/architecture/international.htm.
The 1920s in America was an exciting rise socially and economically. The economic rise of the 1920s was based on selling more and more goods.There was Prohibition and at one point selling alcohol was illegal. Speakeasies and bootleggers had alcohol illegally and flappers (a fashionable young woman intent on enjoying herself and flouting conventional standards of behavior) would drink, go out, and smoke. Also, many people went out to go see movies in theaters. Historians estimated that three quarters of the population saw a movie every week. (Source 1) It became okay for women to do this in society but they were considered rebellious. Frequent new merchandise came out so people kept on buying to excess. People had the money because of the stock they invested in and pay was high. There were more and more new objects, such as the Model T, refrigerator, dishwasher and many others. (Source 1) There was no more room for these objects so they were stored in warehouses. Eventually there was a collapse because there was more...