The Boom Years Flashcards
(248 cards)
1
Q
In the 1920 how many radios were sold?
A
60 000
2
Q
In what year were 60 000 radios sold?
A
1920
3
Q
How many radios were sold in 1929?
A
10 million
4
Q
In what year were 10 million radios sold?
A
1929
5
Q
How many telephones were sold in 1915?
A
10 million
6
Q
In what year were 10 million telephones sold?
A
1915
7
Q
How many telephones were sold in 1930?
A
20 million
8
Q
In what year were 20 million telephones sold?
A
1930
9
Q
How many homes had electricity in 1918?
A
Few homes
10
Q
In what year did few homes have electricity?
A
In 1918
11
Q
How many homes had electricity by 1929?
A
Most homes had it.
12
Q
By what year did most homes have electricity?
A
1929
13
Q
What was the first mail order catalogue?
A
Sears Roebuck
14
Q
What was Sears Roebuck?
A
The first mail order catalogue.
15
Q
How many pairs of silk stockings were sold in 1900?
A
Only 12 000 pairs
16
Q
What was invented in the 1920s which was a cheap substitute to silk?
A
Rayon
17
Q
How many pairs of silk stockings were sold in 1930?
A
300 million
18
Q
How many people were 300 million pairs of silk stockings sold to in 1930?
A
100 million people
19
Q
By how much did Queens grow by in the 1920s?
A
It doubled in size
20
Q
What was/is Queens?
A
A suburb outside New York City
21
Q
By how much did Grosse Point Park grow by in the 1920s?
A
700%
22
Q
What was/is Grosse Point Park?
A
A suburb outside Detroit.
23
Q
How many trucks were there in 1919?
A
1 million
24
Q
In what year were there 1 million trucks?
A
1919
25
By 1929 how many trucks were there?
3.5 million
26
By what year were there 3.5 million trucks?
1929
27
How many cars were sold in 1919?
9 million
28
In what year were 9 million cars sold?
1919
29
How many cars were sold in 1929?
26 million
30
In what year were 26 million cars sold?
1929
31
By 1930 how many flights were there a year?
162 000
32
By what year were there 162 000 flights a year?
1930
33
How did road length change during the 1920s?
It doubled
34
Why did road length double?
Due to the Federal Act of 1916
35
What industry employed more people than any other industry in the USA for the next 10 years?
Road building
36
What was there more being done in the 1920s than any other time in history?
Building
37
Where were skyscrapers built?
In New York City
38
How many times more fridges were there in 1929 for every fridge existing in 1921?
x167
39
Between 1920 and 1929 what did the Gross National Product rise by?
40%
40
Between 1920 and 1929 what did income per person rise by?
27%
41
How many Ford cars were built every 10 seconds by 1925?
1
42
By 1925 how often was one Ford car built?
Every 10 seconds
43
In the 1920s what materials were produced for the first time?
Plastic,
Cellophane,
Nylon
44
What acronym helps remember the causes of the 1920s boom in the USA?
FIRST
45
What does F in FIRST stand for?
First World War
46
When did the USA going the First World War?
Late in 1917
47
How did the First World War cause the boom?
* As the USA joined the war late in 1917 they lost fewer resources.
* The USA lent the allies money and sold them goods. This was one way trade.
* America took over trade around the world as Britain, France and Germany were too busy fighting.
* They became leaders in certain industries (they took over Germany's chemical industry).
48
What does the I in FIRST stand for?
Industries and methods
49
In what year was the first moving production line (assembly line) set up?
In 1913
50
Who was the first moving production line (assembly line) set up by?
Henry Ford
51
How many cars were made in 1900?
4000 cars
52
In what year were 4000 cars made?
1900
53
How many cars were made in 1929?
4.8 million
54
In what year were 4.8 million cars made?
1929
55
What was the first mass produced car?
The Model T Ford
56
What did cars have knock on effects to?
Oil,
Rubber,
Glass,
Steel,
House building,
Road building,
Holiday resorts,
Petrol stations.
More people bought cars therefore more people bought petrol, houses, holidays, and drove on roads (which led to a boom as road length had to be increased so people had to be employed to build them so more people had money to buy cars and the cyclical structure continues)
57
What consumer goods became cheaper due to assembly lines?
Cars,
Radios,
Vacuum cleaners,
Washing machines.
58
What did total industrial production increase by in the 1920s?
50%
59
What sophisticated sales techniques were introduced?
Travelling salesmen,
Poster adverts,
Radio adverts,
Billboard adverts.
60
What did credit schemes encourage?
They encouraged poorer people to buy items such as cars on credit.
61
How many radios were bought on credit?
8 out of 10
62
How many cars were bought on credit?
6 out of 10
63
What was the saying associated with credit schemes?
Buy now pay later
64
What was hire purchase?
Hire purchase was buying products using loans, it allowed people to buy from mail order catalogues and make weekly payment instalments rather than paying the full amount all at once.
65
What movement proposed the newest and most efficient industrial techniques and methods?
The Industrial Efficiency Movement
66
How did industries and methods cause the boom?
* The first moving production line (assembly line) increased production massively. Each worker had a specific job.
* Other consumer goods became cheaper due to assembly lines.
* Sophisticated sales techniques were introduced.
* Credit schemes encouraged poorer people to buy items (Buy now pay later).
* Hire purchase allowed people to buy from mail order catalogues and make weekly payments.
67
What does the R in FIRST stand for?
Republican policies
68
Who were the Republicans?
A political party.
69
When were the Republicans in power?
From 1920 - 1932
70
What is the order of the Republican presidents?
Harding
Coolidge
Hoover
71
Who was in charge for most of the 1920s?
Secretary of Treasury Andrew Mellon (of the Republicans)
72
How did low taxation help people?
They had more money to spend
73
What were import tariffs?
Tax on foreign goods
74
Which Act introduced import tariffs?
The Fordney McCumber Tarrif Act of 1922
75
What does Laissez faire mean?
Leave well alone
76
What did Laissez faire mean the government did?
They stayed out of business affairs - allowing industry to grow without interference.
77
What were trusts?
Huge super corporations dominated by businessmen.
78
What was Normalcy?
Normalcy meant staying out of world economic problems, it kept America out of world politics and problems.
79
What is an economic boom?
When the economy grows fast
80
What is the cycle of prosperity?
When demand leads to growth.
81
What is taylorism?
Industrial efficiency
82
Who was John D Rockefeller?
An oil baron
83
Who was Nelson Rockefeller?
An oil baron
84
Who was JP Morgan?
A banker and he established US steel
85
Who was Owen Young?
A radio producer and the founder of NBC
86
Who was Donald Douglas?
An aircraft industrialist
87
Who was Warren Harding?
The president until 1923
88
Who was Calvin Coolidge?
The president until 1928
89
Who was Herbert Hoover?
The president until 1932
90
How did Republican policies cause the boom?
* Low taxation helped people by giving them more money to spend.
* Import tariffs put tax on foreign food which made them more expensive so people bought cheaper American goods.
* Laissez Faire (leave well alone) meant that the government stayed out of business affairs allowing industry to grow without interference.
* Trusts were huge super corporations dominated by businessmen such as Rockefeller and Carnegie who made decisions to help their industry grow.
* Normalcy kept America out of world politics and problems
91
What does the S stand for in FIRST?
State of mind
92
What did most Americans believe about spending money?
That it was good to spend and bad to save.
93
How did State of mind cause the boom?
* Most Americans at the time believed that it was good to spend and had to save. They wanted plenty to eat and the latest consumer goods. They wanted to keep up with the neighbours.
* A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage - Herbert Hoover
94
What was the saying which contributed to state of mind?
"A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage" - Herbert Hoover
95
Who said "A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage"?
Herbert Hoover
96
What does the T in FIRST stand for?
Three raw materials
97
What raw materials did America have an abundance of?
Coal,
Oil,
Iron.
98
How did the three raw materials cause the boom?
* America had an abundance of raw materials including coal, oil and iron.
* They could make money by selling raw materials abroad (exporting).
* They could save money by not importing.
* They could use the materials to make consumer goods.
99
How did industrialists benefit from the boom?
They controlled business through Laissez faire and amassed vast fortunes.
100
How did share holders benefit from the boom?
Their investments grew as companies grew.
101
How did shop owners benefit from the boom?
They sold more goods and made more profit.
102
How did the rich and middle class benefit from the boom?
They could buy all the latest consumer goods.
103
How did unskilled workers benefit from the boom?
They could get a job in factories operating machines.
104
How did immigrants benefit from the boom?
They were cheap labour and at least they had jobs and hope.
105
How did workers in consumer industries benefit from the boom?
Low taxation gave them more money to spend.
106
How did factory owners benefit from the boom?
They used assembly lines to produce huge amounts of goods which resulted in fortunes.
107
How did women benefit from the boom?
They could now earn their own money and no longer had to rely on their husbands.
108
Who benefited from the boom?
Industrialists,
Share holders,
Shop owners,
The rich and middle class,
Unskilled workers,
Immigrants,
Workers in consumer industries,
Factory owners,
Women.
109
Who did not benefit from the boom?
Farmers,
Black people,
Immigrants,
Coal and steel workers (and old/traditional industries),
Textile workers (and old/traditional industries),
Union members,
Workers.
110
What was farm income in 1919?
$22 billion
111
What was farm income in 1928?
$13 billion
112
What did farm income drop to from 1919 to 1928?
$22 billion to $13 billion
113
In what year was farm income $22 billion?
1919
114
In what year was farm income $13 billion?
In 1928
115
What was a bushel of wheat worth in 1920?
$233
116
In what year was a bushel of wheat worth $233?
1920
117
What was a bushel of wheat worth in 1931?
$32
118
In what year was a bushel of wheat worth $32?
1931
119
From 1920 to 1931 what did the value of a bushel of wheat drop to?
From $233 to $32
120
What percentage of farms had electricity or mains water?
Less than 10%
121
What did less than 10% of farms have?
Electricity or mains water
122
What was the largest subsection of society?
Farming
123
What fraction of all Americans lived in rural areas?
Over half
124
Where did over half of all Americans live?
In rural areas
125
What pest killed crops in the south?
Boll Weevil
126
Where did the Boll Weevil pest kill crops?
In the south
127
What does COE stand for?
Competition from Canada
Overproduction of goods
European markets declining
128
How does the acronym COE help us remember?
Reasons why farmers did not benefit from the boom.
129
What did competition from Canada mean for US farmers?
They couldn't compete with the efficiency of Canadian farmers meaning that Americans bought cheaper goods and American farmers lost money.
130
When did the overproduction of goods happen?
Between 1900 and 1920
131
What happened between 1900 and 1920?
Overproduction of goods
132
Why did overproduction of goods happen?
Because farmers invested in machinery such as combine harvesters and fertilisers.
133
Why did European markets decline?
Because the USA had sold Europe millions of dollars worth of grain in the war and now the demand was lost. Europe was also bankrupt and couldn't afford US grain.
134
How many dollars worth of grain did the USA sell Europe?
Millions of dollars worth
135
Why couldn't Europe afford US grain?
Europe was bankrupt.
136
What did tariffs mean for Europeans?
That Europeans had less money to buy US goods as they couldn't sell their goods to America.
137
Why did farmers not benefit from the boom?
* Between 1919 and 1928 farm income dropped from $22 to $13 billion. In 1920 a bushel of wheat was worth $233 but by 1931 it was just $32.
* Less than 10% of farms had electricity or mains water.
* Farming was the largest subsection of society and over half of all Americans lived in rural areas.
* In the South pests such as the Boll Weevil killed crops.
* Competition from Canada meant that US farmers couldn't compete with the highly efficient wheat producers of Canada. This meant that Americans bought the cheaper goods and American farmers lost money.
* Overproduction of goods had happened between 1900 and 1920 as farmers had invested in machinery such as combine harvesters and fertilisers. By 1920 surpluses were being produced which nobody wanted.
* European markets were declining as the USA has sold Europe millions of dollars worth of grain in the war and now they lost that demand. Also Europe was bankrupt and couldn't afford US grain. In addition tariffs meant that Europeans had less money to buy US goods as they couldn't sell their goods in America.
138
Why were black Americans and immigrants very badly hit by the boom?
Because they did the least skilled jobs.
139
What did Polish and Irish immigrants suffer from?
Seasonal unemployment (e.g. in steel, meat and clothing)
140
What percentage of semi skilled workers owned a car?
3%
141
How many black farm labourers lost work in the 1920s?
1 million
142
Who were the last to be hired and the first to be fired?
Black Americans and immigrants
143
Why did black Americans and immigrants not benefit from the boom?
* They were very badly hit as they did the least skilled jobs.
* They were the last to be hired and the first to be fired and were still segregated in many jobs.
* Polish and Irish immigrants suffered from seasonal unemployment (e.g. in meat, steel and clothing)
* Only 3% of semi skilled workers owned a car.
* 1 million black farm labourers lost work in the 1920s.
144
When were there strikes in the coal and steel industries?
In 1918 and 1920
145
What industries went on strike in 1918 and 1920?
Coal and steel industries
146
Why were there strikes in the coal and steel industries?
Because of low pay and bad work conditions.
147
What fraction of the national average wage was the wage of coal workers?
One third of the national average wage.
148
What was coal being replaced by?
Hydro electricity, natural gas and oil.
149
What did hydro electricity, natural gas and oil replace?
Coal
150
How did strikes (of coal and steel workers) in West Virginia end?
With state troopers being sent to disperse the strikes.
151
Where were the strikes about coal and steel workers which were dispersed by state troopers?
In West Virginia
152
Who set up an inquiry about the work conditions of miners?
Warren Harding
153
What did Warren Harding find out in his inquiry about the work conditions of miners?
That they were very bad.
154
What did the government do about Warren Harding's findings about miners work conditions?
They did nothing to help
155
When was there a strike in North Carolina about the wages of male and female coal and steel workers compared to the minimum wage?
In 1928
156
Where did a strike in 1928 take place about the wages of male and female coal and steel workers compared to the minimum wage?
In North Carolina
157
In 1928 how much were male coal and steel workers paid for a 70 hour week?
$18
158
In 1928 how much were female coal and steel workers paid for a 70 hour week?
$9
159
What was the minimum wage required for a 70 hour week for the basic standard of living?
$48
160
Why did coal and steel workers not benefit from the boom?
* In 1918 and 1920 there were strikes in the coal and steel industries over low pay and bad work conditions.
* Coal workers wage was one third of the national average.
* Coal was being replaced by hydro electricity, natural gas and oil.
* Strikes in West Virginia ended with state troopers being sent in to disperse the strikers.
* Warren Harding set up an inquiry and it found that miners working conditions were very bad but the government did nothing to help them.
* In 1928 there was a strike in North Carolina because male workers were only paid $18 and women $9 for a 70 hour week when $48 was seen as the minimum required for the basic standard of living.
161
What was cotton being replaced by?
Artificial fibres
162
What factories made cheaper goods than US textile factories (so were competition)?
Asian factories
163
In 1927 what Union went on strike?
The United Textile Workers Union
164
Where did the United Textile Workers Union go on strike in 1927?
Elizabeth Town, Tennessee
165
Why did the United Textile Workers Union go on strike in 1927?
The girls had to work 56 hour weeks at only 18 cents an hour ($10.08 a week).
166
How did the United Textile Workers Union strike in 1927 end?
State troopers were used to get rid of the strikers
167
Where were there textile strikes?
In West Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee
168
Why did textile workers not benefit from the boom?
* Cotton industry was very depressed because they were being replaced by artificial fibres and Asian factories made cheaper goods.
* In 1927 the United Textile Workers Union went on strike in Elizabeth Town, Tennessee as the girls had to work 56 hour weeks at only 18 cents an hour ($10.08 a week). State troopers were used to get rid of the strikers.
* Strikes in North Carolina and West Virginia followed and again force was used.
169
Did the Government nearly always take the side of the managers or the workers?
The managers
170
How many state laws did the Supreme Court over rule which banned child labour?
2
171
What laws did the Supreme Court ban?
Laws setting minimum wages.
172
What was Trade Union membership in 1920?
5.1 million
173
What was Trade Union membership in 1929?
3.6 million
174
Why did union members not benefit from the boom?
* The Government almost always took the side of the managers over the workers.
* The Supreme Court over ruled 2 state laws which banned child labour and it banned laws setting minimum wages.
* Trade Union membership fell from 5.1 million to 3.6 million between 1920 and 1929.
175
What percentage of wealth went to the bottom 42% of the population?
10%
176
What percentage of Americans lived below the poverty line?
42%
177
What were workers wages in 1919?
$1158
178
What were workers wages in 1927?
$1304
179
What were millionaire numbers in 1914?
7000
180
What were millionaire numbers in 1928?
35000
181
What percentage did unemployment stay at despite the boom?
4%
182
Why did unemployment stay at 4% despite the boom?
Due to electrification
183
Why did workers not benefit from the boom?
* Only 10% of wealth went to the bottom 42% of the population.
* 42% of Americans lived below the poverty line.
* Between 1919 and 1927 workers wages only rise from $1158 to $1304 while millionaire numbers rose from 7000 to 35000 between 1914 and 1928.
* Despite the boom unemployment stayed at around 4% due to electrification.
184
What is a quotation from Herbert Hoover from 1928?
"We in America today are closer to the final triumph over poverty than ever before in the history of any land."
185
Who said "We in America today are closer to the final triumph over poverty than ever before in the history of any land."?
When did they say it?
Herbert Hoover
In 1928
186
What was one of the most powerful symbols of 1920s America?
Skyscrapers
187
How did rural areas (country folk who were predominantly traditional) view urban areas?
As vice ridden
188
What did Scott Fitzgerald say about the roaring 20s?
"none of the mothers knew how casually their daughters were accustomed to be kissed"
189
Who said "none of the mothers knew how casually their daughters were accustomed to be kissed"?
Scott Fitzgerald
190
How many states threatened to introduce censorship (to stop sex being showed in films)?
36
191
When was the Hays Code introduced?
In 1930
192
What was the Hays code?
It controlled how relationships between sexes was shown. (Censorship)
193
What two things about sex became more common during the roaring 20s?
Contraceptive advice and sex outside marriage
194
How many licensed radio stations were there in America in August 1921?
1
195
How many licensed radio stations were there in America by 1922?
508
196
When was there only 1 licensed radio station in America?
August 1921
197
By what year were there 508 licensed radio stations in America?
1922
198
How much money was NBC making by 1929?
$150 million per year
199
By what year were NBC making $150 million per year?
1929
200
How many dollars worth of radios were purchased in 1920?
$2 million
201
In what year were $2 million worth of radios purchased in the USA?
1920
202
By 1929 how many dollars worth of radios had been purchased in the USA?
$600 million
203
By what year had $600 million worth of radios been purchased in the USA?
1929
204
Who brought jazz and blues to urban America?
Black people from the country
205
What did the 1920s become known as?
The Jazz Age
206
What dances (associated with jazz) developed in the 1920s?
The Charleston and the Black Bottom.
207
What did many people think about jazz?
That it was a corrupting influence
208
Where was the Cotton Club?
In Harlem
209
What performers did the Cotton Club attract?
Jazz musicians :
| Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and Bessie Smith.
210
What baseball teams were popular in the roaring 20s?
The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.
211
Who was Babe Ruth?
A famous baseball player in the roaring 20s.
212
How much was Babe Ruth paid a year?
$80000
213
Who was a prominent figure who was a sports fan?
Al Capone
214
Who was a popular boxer?
Jack Dempsey
215
Who was a popular golfer?
Bobbie Jones
216
What were cinemas called in the roaring 20s?
Nickelodeons
217
Who were two stars in Nickelodeons?
Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton
218
When was the first "talkie" film made?
In 1927
219
What were "talkie" films?
Films with sound
220
Who were three Hollywood stars in films?
Clara Bow, Theda Bara and Rudolph Valentino.
221
What were two controversial 1920s films?
When a Woman Sins and Up in Mabel's Room.
222
How many stages was wheel making (of cars) split into?
100 different stages
223
What kept workers in line?
Plant Protection Service
224
What did Plant Protection Scheme do?
It kept workers in line
225
What scheme encouraged workers to save for a car?
Company Saving Scheme
226
What did Company Saving Scheme do?
It encouraged workers to save for a car.
227
How many cars were there by the end of the decade?
29 million
228
What fraction of cars by the end of the decade were Model T Fords?
Half
229
What ratio of Americans owned a car?
1 in 5
230
How many Model T Fords did the River Rouge plant make per day?
2500
231
How many men worked at the River Rouge plant?
80000
232
Before the assembly line was introduced how many cars could be made per day?
200
233
After the assembly line was introduced how often could one car be made?
Every 1 and a half hours
234
In what year was the 10 millionth Model T Ford built?
1924
235
What percentage of households had flushing lavatories by 1930?
51%
236
By what year did 51% of households have flush lavatories?
1930
237
What buildings were considered symbols of wealth?
Skyscrapers
238
Who was responsible for the Industrial Efficiency Movement?
Frederick Taylor
239
How much did a Model T Ford cost by 1924?
$260
240
Where was the River Rouge plant built?
In Detroit
241
What was the River Rouge plant?
Henry Ford's second plant built in Detroit
242
By what percentage did total industrial production increase by in the 1920s?
50%
243
What product type was protected by the Fordney-McCumber Tariff Act of 1922?
Food
244
How much did the price of wheat drop by between 1920 and 1931?
$201
245
What were young urban women better known as?
Flappers
246
Who was world heavy weight champion in the 1929s?
Jack Dempsey
247
By the end of the century what percentage was America richer by?
40%
248
What was NBC?
A radio company
