The 1920s: Social Changes and Economic Developments

These flashcards highlight key concepts and vocabulary related to the social and economic developments during the 1920s in the United States.

Eighteenth Amendment

Prohibition law that made the sale of alcohol illegal in the United States.

Speakeasy

Illegal bars that operated during Prohibition, often hidden in discreet locations.

Bootlegging

The illegal production and distribution of alcohol during Prohibition.

Flapper

A fashionable young woman in the 1920s known for unconventional behavior, such as smoking and drinking in public.

Widespread use of electricity

Significant increase in electricity access in homes during the 1920s, leading to increased use of appliances.

Radio

Innovative communication device introduced in the 1920s, allowing people to listen to music, news, and entertainment broadcasts.

Per capita income

The average income earned per person in a given area over a specific time period, which increased by 40% in the 1920s.

Mass production

The large-scale manufacturing of products using assembly lines, notably implemented by Henry Ford in the production of Model T cars.

Margin buying

Purchasing stocks with borrowed money, allowing investors to buy more shares than they could afford outright.

Great Depression

A severe worldwide economic downturn that began in 1929 and lasted for a decade, following the economic boom of the 1920s.