Economic reasons for prosperity (S)

Basic

Economic prosperity (2)

A time of great prosperity

New mass production techniques in industry and agriculture allowed more to be produced, faster and for cheaper

Political climate (2)

The Republican Presidents had a laissez-faire approach to the economy

This meant there was very little regulation and monitoring of businesses, and low taxes

Social climate (2)

America was a divided nation

There was great suspicion of immigrants and mistreatment of African Americans.

Cultural prosperity (2)

The Jazz age

The Roaring-Twenties were a time of excess and parties for many

There was also a renewal of African American culture called the Harlem Renaissance

Prosperity

The condition of being successful or thriving

The USA after WWI (4)

The USA were relatively unscathed by the War

C.115,000 dead compared to 900,00 British and 2 million German

Spent nearly half that of Britain on the war effort. 

The USA loaned the allies some $10 billion during and immediately after the war

Railroad lines

Railroad lines expanded from 35,000 miles in 1865 to 254,000 miles in 1916 - these would be replaced by the automobile after WWI

How did car ownership increase between 1920 and 1929?

Car ownership increased from 7.5 million in 1920 to 27 million in 1929.

Model T-Fords

15,458,781 Model T-Fords were built between 1908 and 1927, and they were very affordable at $260 in 1925

Henry T Ford (3)

Henry Ford - maximised the assembly line

Ford broke the Model T’s assembly into 84 steps, and trained each of his workers to do just one, meaning he could employ unskilled workers

His innovation reduced the time it took to build a car from more than 12 hours to 1 hour and 33 minutes

How did the car change america? (3)

Cities became larger as people could drive and get places much quicker leading to the creation of suburbs

Changed culture and leisure as people could travel to cinemas

Made America smaller as people could travel greater distances much quicker

How did the car change american industry? (2)

His methods inspired other industries lowering the cost of other consumables

Helped other industries to grow rapidly. For example, cars used 90% of America's petrol, 80% of the country's rubber and 75% of its glass

How did the assembly line help socio-economic employment? (2)

1922-1929: Production of industrial goods rose by 50%

1920-1928: Unemployment never rose above 3.7%

How did attitudes change towards electronics?

Between 1912 and 1929 number of electrical goods sold per year went from 1.4 million to 160 million.

How did most americans pay for their consumables?

Hire purchase (type of credit) - pay an initial deposit then spread the rest of payment through monthly installments with interest