usa features part 1- roaring 20s

two features of the economic benefits of WW1 for the USA

Feature 1 – Growth in Industry:

One feature was the rapid growth of American industry during the war. The USA exported weapons, ammunition, and manufactured goods to the Allies, which caused a huge industrial boom. For example, total US exports rose from $2.4 billion in 1913 to $6.2 billion in 1917, helping industries like steel and chemical manufacturing to expand and dominate global markets.

Feature 2 – Agricultural Boom:

Another feature was the agricultural boom experienced by American farmers. With European farming disrupted by war, US farmers increased exports of wheat, corn, and meat. Farm income rose by around 30% between 1915 and 1918, and US agricultural exports to Europe more than doubled, making farming one of the most profitable sectors during and after the war.

Two features of Henry ford and mass production

Feature 1 – Assembly Line Innovation:

One feature was Ford’s use of the assembly line to revolutionise car manufacturing. Instead of skilled workers building a car from start to finish, each worker had one specific task as the car moved along the line. This drastically reduced production time — the time to build a Model T fell from 12 hours in 1913 to just 93 minutes by 1914, and by 1921, a new Model T was produced every 10 seconds, allowing Ford to produce cars on an unprecedented scale.

Feature 2 – Affordable Cars and Rising Ownership:

Another feature was the way mass production made cars more affordable for ordinary Americans. The price of a Model T dropped from $850 in 1908 to under $300 by 1925, due to efficiency and economies of scale. As a result, car ownership soared — by 1929, over 26 million cars were on American roads, transforming transport and boosting industries like steel, rubber, and oil.

Two features of hire purchase

Feature 1 – Buying on Credit:

One feature was that hire purchase allowed Americans to buy expensive goods by paying in small instalments over time, rather than paying the full amount upfront. This made consumer goods like radios, refrigerators, and cars more accessible to ordinary people. By the late 1920s, around 75% of cars and 50% of electrical appliances were bought using hire purchase, showing how widespread this method had become.

Feature 2 – Growth in Consumerism:

Another feature was that hire purchase contributed to a boom in consumer spending. As people could now afford goods they previously couldn’t, demand increased, which boosted mass production and the overall economy. By 1929, consumer debt in the USA had risen to over $7 billion, largely due to the popularity of hire purchase schemes, reflecting how deeply embedded credit buying had become in American life.

Two features of advertising and consumerism

Feature 1 – Exposure to More Products:

One feature was that advertising exposed people to a wider range of products than ever before. With the growth of national radio stations, cinemas, and mass-circulation magazines, companies could reach millions of Americans. By 1929, businesses were spending over $3 billion a year on advertising, which promoted products like cars, cosmetics, and household appliances, shaping desires and encouraging people to buy.

Feature 2 – Rise in Consumer Spending:

Another feature was the sharp increase in consumer spending on new goods. People bought radios, vacuum cleaners, fridges, and especially cars. For example, by 1929, around 70% of American homes had electricity, which made it easier to use these products. This surge in demand helped drive mass production and economic growth during the 1920s.

Two features of the popularity of the stock market

Feature 1 – Widespread Public Investment:

One feature was that millions of ordinary Americans began investing in the stock market, not just the wealthy. Thanks to rising share prices and a booming economy, people believed they could get rich quickly. By 1929, around 20 million Americans (roughly 1 in 6) were involved in buying and selling shares, many of them with little financial knowledge or experience.

Feature 2 – Buying on the Margin:

Another feature was the popularity of buying shares ‘on the margin’, which meant borrowing money to invest. Investors could pay just 10% of the share price up front and borrow the rest, expecting to pay it back once they made a profit. This risky practice contributed to the bubble in share prices, as demand soared even when company profits didn’t match. By 1929, an estimated $8.5 billion had been lent for margin loans.

two features of the decline of older industries in the 20’s

Feature 1 – Falling Demand for Coal:

One feature was the decline in the coal industry, which had once powered American industry and homes. Newer energy sources like oil, gas, and electricity became more popular. As a result, coal production fell from 568 million tons in 1920 to 518 million tons in 1930, and thousands of coal miners lost their jobs, particularly in states like West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Feature 2 – Struggles in the Textile Industry:

Another feature was the decline of the textile industry, especially in the northern states. American textile mills faced competition from cheaper foreign producers and from southern factories that paid lower wages. Between 1920 and 1929, over 100,000 workers lost their jobs in textile factories, and wages remained low due to overproduction and falling prices for goods like cotton and wool.

Two features of cinema

Feature 1 – Rapid Growth of the Film Industry:

One feature was the rapid growth of the American film industry, centered in Hollywood. By 1927, over 90 million Americans were going to the cinema each week, showing how popular movies had become as a form of entertainment and leisure.

Feature 2 – Introduction of ‘Talkies’:

Another feature was the introduction of sound films, or ‘talkies’, which began in 1927 with the release of The Jazz Singer. This innovation revolutionised cinema by making movies more engaging and accessible, boosting attendance and profits for film studios

Two features of dancing and jazz

Feature 1 – Popular with Youth:

One feature was that jazz music and new dances like the Charleston became extremely popular with young people. Jazz clubs and dance halls attracted thousands of young Americans who enjoyed the lively, energetic music. By the mid-1920s, there were over 500 jazz bands performing regularly across the country, reflecting its huge appeal to the youth culture.

Feature 2 – Controversial and Divisive:

Another feature was that jazz and the associated dances were controversial, especially among older generations and traditionalists. Many saw jazz as immoral and linked it to the loosening of social norms, with some religious leaders condemning it as ‘devil’s music’. Jazz also highlighted racial tensions, as it originated in African American communities but was embraced by white youths, challenging existing social boundaries.

Two features of the radio

Feature 1 – Rapid Increase in Popularity:

One feature was the rapid growth of radio as a mass entertainment and information medium. By 1929, there were over 10 million radio receivers in American homes, making radio a central part of daily life for millions and helping spread news, music, and advertisements nationwide.

Feature 2 – Uniting the Nation:

Another feature was that radio helped unite the USA by broadcasting popular programmes, news, and sports to a wide audience. It created shared experiences, such as the live broadcast of the 1927 heavyweight boxing match between Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney, which was heard by an estimated 60 million Americans, helping to shape a common culture.

Two features of sport In 1920s

Feature 1 – Rise in Popularity and Spectatorship:

One feature was the growing popularity of professional sports, with millions of Americans attending games and following athletes. By the late 1920s, baseball was known as America’s favourite pastime, with over 10 million tickets sold annually for Major League Baseball games, showing how sport became a major form of entertainment.

Feature 2 – Famous Sports Heroes:

Another feature was the rise of famous sports stars who became national celebrities, like Babe Ruth in baseball and Jack Dempsey in boxing. Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs in 1927, a record that made him a household name and helped increase interest and attendance at baseball games.

Two features of motoring (can answer same as H. FORD)

Feature 1 – Rapid Increase in Car Ownership:

One feature was the huge growth in car ownership due to affordable mass-produced vehicles like Ford’s Model T. By 1929, there were over 26 million cars on American roads, transforming everyday life by giving people greater freedom to travel.

Feature 2 – Growth of Related Industries and Infrastructure:

Another feature was the expansion of industries and infrastructure linked to motoring. The demand for cars boosted industries such as steel, rubber, glass, and oil. Additionally, the government invested in building roads and highways, with over 400,000 miles of paved roads by 1930, facilitating easier travel and commerce.

Two features of changing position of women

Feature 1 – Increased Political Rights:

One feature was that women gained more political rights. The 19th Amendment, passed in 1920, gave all American women the right to vote in federal elections. This was a major step towards equality and allowed women to have a greater voice in society and politics.

Feature 2 – Social and Lifestyle Changes:

Another feature was that many women, especially in cities, began to enjoy more freedom in how they dressed, behaved, and spent their time. ‘Flappers’ wore shorter skirts, smoked, and went dancing in jazz clubs. By 1929, around 10 million women were in paid employment, reflecting their growing independence and role outside the home.