35 Comments
Arjana Begzati
3/28/2014 01:45:50 am
The economic prosperity of the 1920s was caused by a couple of major factors. First of all, more people were buying American goods, so booming manufacturing in the country. This was partially due to tariffs on European goods that made foreign import less profitable. In fact the manufacturing output increase by more than 60 percent. The other big factor leading to economic prosperity was technology. Advancement in the automobile industry, for example, lead to the prosperity of many more industries, such as the road construction, the oil and the steel industries. Then, improved innovations, like the radio, also contributed to economic prosperity through the new market items that it created. Improvements in travel technology contributed to efficiency and profit as well. Growing industrial consolidation is also an example of the economic prosperity in that it was the result of efforts to keep competition under control. All the economic well being, then increased standards of living in America and the prosperity of the stock market.
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Maddy Vogel
3/28/2014 02:40:03 am
Great post! The injustices in society were definitely covered up by the nation's prosperity. Also, family farms were sort of trumped by big business as well. I'm sure that left many people without jobs. They were probably forced into the unfair working conditions that you described!
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Michael Ricci
11/10/2014 08:03:57 am
We disagree with Maddy Vogel. 1. Farms weren't 'trumped' by big business. Many families moved off their farms because small farm life was miserable 24 hour by 7 days per week work! Also small farms are not productive and cannot compete (except in highly specialized agriculture near large cities). 2. Throughout this period farm families were thrilled to have family members working outside agriculture: it brought in much needed cash and gave kids a sense of liberty and independence they would not have had otherwise. 3. Not all factories, mills and offices had "unfair working conditions". This is a myth. Would you rather work a 12 hour laborious days on a dirt farm? Yes, there were abuses in the US. But, over time the government - state, local, and national - addressed these concerns as they do today. Overall, if we want to believe that industrial progress is bad for people we can - but that conclusion would be a false one based on selected observations such as "injustices were "covered up" by prosperity. Overall, the 1920s brought new kinds of goods and services to masses of people, provided affordable goods and services, and enabled people to improve themselves educationally (public and private schools flourished), financially (banks suddenly had numerous new small savings accounts), emotionally (through better housing with indoor plumbing), and an incredible number of tiny family businesses were started (Italians and French Canadians in New York State) leading to better lives for their children.
Me
4/17/2021 11:57:46 am
Ok but I need HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!
Becca Elaine
3/28/2014 03:13:17 am
I like your answer Arjana! but I wonder why they stayed and adapted to what the new economy and living became instead of finding some where either new and more beneficial or fought for a better pay like the economy went up.
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Maddy Vogel
3/28/2014 02:37:37 am
The 1920s proved to be a remarkable time for the United States. After a yearlong recession in 1921, prosperity made its mark on the country. This economic boom resulted from several factors. The greatest, however, was technology. The automobile industry grew rapidly during this time. Henry Ford and his assembly line created a system of efficient production using unskilled workers that did not require high pay. What did this mean? Cars were suddenly affordable. Steel production also increased due to a rise in automotive production. Rubber, glass, tools, and gasoline were stimulated by the automobile industry as well. Road construction also became of importance in the 1920s, and a demand for suburban living was seen as cars bought newfound mobility to Americans. Car production may have created a domino effect of growing industries, but other new industries made their own contributions to America’s prosperity. The radio saw innovations during this time, and by the end of the 1920s nearly every American owned one. Commercial aviation was starting to become popular as well. Technological advances in science were becoming clear, and genetic research made discoveries that would be important in the future. The growth of these industries created jobs and contributed greatly to the prosperity of the 1920s; however, this time was not without problems. From an economic viewpoint, overgrowth weighted heavily on the minds of large industries. Rapid expansion could lead to an economic collapse. Industrialists soughed to stabilize the economy as to not repeat the busts of 1893, 1907, and 1920. Agriculture felt a decline in food prices with the invention of the tractor. More crops could be produced with less workers to pay. This was a positive occurrence for the consumer, but family farms could not compete with big agriculture industries, and many went out of business. The 1920s were a time of innovation and industrialism. For many, this was a positive time. However, the prosperity hid several issues such as overgrowth that could lead to economic instability and the foreclosure of family farms.
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Elayna Muller
3/28/2014 06:46:40 am
Good answer! I think the rising economy hid more problems than it created more positive outcomes. The Roaring Twenties was not worth the repercussions it brought. While city folk enjoyed their riches and luxury, farmers were struggling to make it. While people, mainly women, abandoned their morals, crime and prejudices arose. NOT worth it! ;)
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Sabrina Lousberg
3/30/2014 02:39:00 pm
Elayna I would have to agree with you that the economy of the 1920s hid more problems than it created positive outcomes. Great comment!
kiki
5/3/2017 10:14:41 am
what?
Elayna Muller
3/28/2014 06:38:44 am
“The nation’s manufacturing output rose by more than 60%, per capita income, grew by a third, and inflation was insignificant.” Technology, specifically automobiles, became vital for America’s industries during the Roaring Twenties. The rate of automobile ownership changed dramatically by increasing one car per 15 Americans to one per five. Also, washing machines, planes, and radios became very popular and helpful. Planes were used for commercial aviation, but mostly as sources of entertainment. Along with the introduction of planes, trains grew in speed and efficiency using the diesel-electric engine. These inventions provided many more less important ones such as home appliances, plastics, oil, electric power, and more. America’s economy was expanding and producing a plethora. The advertising industry even grew accompanied by network radio and Hollywood cinema. The 1920s was growing in consumer culture so much that there were more than 30 million cars by 1930. The radio was to blame; furthermore, the first national radio network, KDKA in Pittsburg for the production of advertisements. After the ban on alcohol, bootleggers were piled in money. “However passive the New Era presidents may have been, much of the federal government was working effectively and efficiently during the 1920s to adapt public policy to the widely accepted goal of the time: helping business and industry operate with maximum efficiency and productivity.” They did this by allowing Andrew Mellon to lower the top marginal income tax rate for the wealthiest Americans from 73% to just 25%. This increase in consumerism caused psychological problems for the American people, but also led to developing more medicine and science. Following the rise of anxiety, this prosperity hid the women who were working nonprofessionally and had to endure lower-class work. It also hid the change of women’s lifestyle from being respectable and motherly to “flappers” and interested in birth-control. Not only was modern society being critiqued constantly, but the exclusion of selling/trading alcohol began. This rule outraged most Americans and many more crimes were being committed. A new group arose called the Klansmen which whipped, tarred and feathered, burned, and lynched people of color, Jews, Catholics, and foreigners. This occurred after the National Origins Act of 1924 that banned immigration from East Asia. There was even conflict amongst fundamentalists and modernists. Plus, for the large minority of Americans who made their livelihoods in agriculture, this decade was difficult and depressing at best. Real wages for urban workers increased by about 20%, and nearly half the nation's population that still resided in rural areas, depended upon agriculture for survival. With farmers in such disastrous situations, the world faced a huge surplus of agricultural products, with no market of buyers. Farm foreclosures and rural bank failures increased at an alarming rate as well. The proportion of farms with access to a telephone actually fell in that time. Rural life became more and more painful. The divide between Haves and Have Nots in the 1920s was the divide between city and country.
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Arjana Begzati
3/28/2014 08:56:29 am
Your post is really elaborated with many good details. I think that especially your examples, like that about the radio, are very specific and great.
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Luke Stewart
3/31/2014 03:19:02 am
Great answer! the facts bring the answer good justification.
Timmi Keisel
3/30/2014 08:16:22 am
The 1920’s was a time for great economic growth (after the recession in 1921-1922), and the American culture became more focused around consumerism than it had in previous years. The most influential factor, in my opinion, during this period was the rise of automobiles. Other than the fact that they were selling so rapidly, this industry affected the sale on many other items also. Those who owned automobiles also obviously needed gas as well, and the road construction business boomed too. Also, the construction of cars required steel, rubber, and other tools. Progress in the technology of aviation during the 1920’s became a good foundation for their increased popularity in the future. Trains were also becoming more and more advanced during this time period, moving quicker and becoming more efficient. The radio system was also becoming more advanced, and a radio could be found in almost every household by the end of the decade. Other household appliances like the telephone were experiencing major technological advancements, also boosting the economy. Although more jobs were being created in the city areas, many were lost in the rural ones. Due to the invention of the tractor, fewer workers were needed to plant and harvest crops and small farms were no longer able to compete, thus beginning the decline in agricultural workers that is still experienced today. The sudden rise in economy also led to a more unstable economy and could foreshadow a crash in the future.
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Rachel Frantz
3/30/2014 11:23:29 am
I love how you mentioned the idea of the focus becoming more on consumerism. I totally agree with that. I think your post was spot on especially your last sentence.
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Megan Chintala
3/31/2014 01:18:38 am
Good job Timmi! I love all the support of your answer. You did good on that. And you gave a lot of examples that also helps. Can you imagine where we would be if the automobile would not have been invented? Or the airplane?
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Rachel
3/30/2014 09:12:41 am
There are many elements that contributed to the prosperity of the 1920’s. One of the greatest was the changing mindset of Americans. Before this era, people bought what they could afford. If they didn’t have the cash to pay for it they were out of luck. But with the twenties came the idea of credit and a more careless approach to money management. The idea of, “Buy now, pay later” began to emerge. This concept coupled with inventions such as the automobile laid foundation for a roaring economy. Henry Ford provided America with affordable transportation. The percentage of Americans who owned cars began to drastically rise. With the innovations of this time came new luxuries. These luxuries were highly sought after by Americans leading to Americans spending money they didn’t have and instead simply relying on their credit. This sort of consumerist economy was great for business. However, this era of prosperity could only thrive so long. Perhaps one of the biggest underlying problems was the fact that Americans were spending money they didn’t have. Eventually those bills would be due, and I believe that many people weren’t in any position to be paying them. While the economy was booming it was also setting up for a bust. There’s a vast variety of different problems masked by this time of prosperity, but I believe the biggest to be the careless approach to money and the abuse of the privilege of credit.
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McCall Etl
3/30/2014 03:20:53 pm
I really agree with your point about Americans spending what they didn't have causing these underlying problems! Imagine today with no option of buy now, pay later.
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Keeya Marquez
3/30/2014 11:46:55 pm
Interesting point that people's carelessness with finances would eventually cause economic collapse. I definitely agree that fact could cause economic problems. Great answer.
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Zane Boerner
3/30/2014 12:04:08 pm
During this time period manufacturing outputs grew by more than 60%. At this time manufacturers were focusing less on producing raw materials such as steel and rubber and more on products for the consumer. Technological advances such as creating the automobile greatly affected the economy. Cars were not exactly cheap when they first started, and if people didn't have enough cash they would not be able to purchase one. Henry Ford helped change this by mass producing cars using an assembly line to reduce the time and cost needed to produce vehicles; however, not every one could afford a car. The idea of credit changed this by allowing people to buy now and pay later. Other luxuries also began to appear such as the radio, commercial flying, refrigerators, washing machines, and vacuums. Businesses did great in this consumerist economy, but the new form of banking based on credit allowed people to rely too much on their credit to purchase items that they would not be able to pay for. The economy hid this fact and set the U.S. up for a big recession.
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Sabrina Lousberg
3/30/2014 02:18:46 pm
The prosperity of the 1920s were caused by many factors. I believe the greats was the change of the mindset of Americans. The idea of “Buy now, pay later” was beginning to come into play. The twenties brought the idea of credit and a more careless approach to spending money. Before this time, people only bought what was necessary; if they didn’t have the money to pay for something, they were out of luck. This new idea of credit along with new inventions began to lay the foundation for a booming economy. With the changing times came new luxuries. These new luxuries had Americans going crazy spending money they didn’t necessarily have to be spending; they relied heavily on the new concept of credit. Henry Ford introduced the automobile during this time. He provided America with affordable transportation. This new economy system was great for businesses. This newly found prosperity could only last for so long. The bills would eventually be due and many people weren’t in the right state to being paying their debts. This era of prosperity brought many underlying problems with it, but I do believe the biggest problems were the abuse of the privilege of credit and the fact that many Americans were spendin money they didn’t have.
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McCall Etl
3/30/2014 04:03:18 pm
A lot of factors contributed to the prosperity of the people and the economy in the 1920s. As its been discussed, automobiles were a large part of this prosperity. They were becoming much cheaper due to the tactics of Henry Ford, and everyone had to have one. Many things were advancing during this time, and we saw a shift to a society doing things for leisure and fun. People were focusing more on city life also due to all of the things they could do there. With this change to city life came the need for more things to build and pay for. Subways and trains grew, and offered a simple way for people to get around. The car industry and idea of spending money provided the need for people to create things like drive-in movies, strictly for leisure purposes. People were paying for things they didn't even need for a change. A lot of things were also improving for convenience purposes. For example, the washing machine came about, and anyone that could buy one would. The convenience was key. With people changing their ideas on the way to spend money, the economy was growing. Industry was changing too which added to the success in the end. Another big factor to the prosperity was the buy now, pay later mindset. Credit was becoming the way to pay. People could buy whatever they wanted and pay for it later. I think this was also a huge problem that prosperity made irrelevant. Eventually only so many things can be paid for on credit before one must stop and work to pay back their mistake. Another problem was life was going great in cities, but farms were struggling. The tractor made life much easier which reduced labor. The food pricers were declining (great for the consumer) and the farmers were suffering from that fact. Every great thing has its negative side.
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Keeya Marquez
3/30/2014 11:41:52 pm
In the 1920s, America was experiencing an economic boom. Part of this was largely due to the automobile industry. The automobile industry needed steel, rubber, glass, tools, gas, etc. This allowed for these industries to grow. The new mobility that cars presented Americans with allowed them to live farther away from their job sites, and thus construction of suburban housing began. The road construction industry also grew during this time. Other new technologies for the American people to buy were presented, such as high-tech radios, home appliances, etc. However, this economic prosperity hid some very big problems. For instance, while some people were living large in the new economy, some workers still faced poverty. Women and minorities also struggled to gain voices in the labor organizations to protect their rights. Declining food prices due to new technology creating a surplus of food put many farmers out of business during this time as well. I also personally think that the 1920s, namely the car industry, are a big reason why the Great Depression occurred. Eventually, people are going to stop buying new things so quickly as they did in the 1920s. Thus, that economic boom is going to result in a very large economic collapse.
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Megan Chintala
3/31/2014 01:17:01 am
The rise of the economy began after the recession of 1921-1922. There was lots of different things that sparked this rise. One of the major things that helped in my opinion, was the start of the automobile industry. The economy really started to grow after this happened. It also stimulated growth in other industries as well. They had to buy the steel, rubber, glass, and tools from different companies to produce these cars. People were also having to buy their gasoline for their automobile. Road construction was now a very important part. You would now find more radios being purchased to be put in households. Commercial aviation also sparked a high in the economy. It wasn't quite a boom yet, but it was laying the foundation for a late boom. So people saw that this was going to be something very important and huge for their -economy. Farmers were becoming successful. Tractors were being brought it for them. But this also led to more crops and less workers. Making it a little difficult to get all the jobs done. Overall the economy was doing very well. The prosperity of the economy after the recession of 1921-1922, was more successful than not. One downfall was the fact that there was becoming less and less workers because there were machines now to do all the work for them. But in a sense this was helping the economy in more ways than not.
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Kirsten Comstock
3/31/2014 01:54:11 am
Good answer Megan. I agree that this was helping the economy in more ways than it wasn't. You made good points.
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Kirsten Comstock
3/31/2014 01:52:38 am
A lot of things contributed to the prosperity of the 1920's. Things were becoming more advanced during this time and people were branching out and doing things for fun now. Automobiles were a huge part of the rise of economic prosperity. They were becoming cheaper thanks to Henry Fords help and everyone thought that they needed to have a car. People were really moving in to the idea of city life for different reasons. The city was closer to a lot of things and it was a lot more convinient to get there if you lived in the city. With everyone moving into the city came the demand to build more buildings. Subways and trains became more popular. People were buying all sorts of things and with everyone buying cars came the drive in movie. With people buying all of these new things that they necessarily didn't need, the economy was growing and so was the industry. Another huge factor to this all was the whole "buy now, pay later" that lots of people were taking a liking to. Credit was now introduced and for the first time people could buy things and then pay them later. With this though came great responsibility and people needed to realize that they would eventually need to pay everything they bought back. Tractors were also being introduced and with that the need for less labor so people were also loosing their jobs. This definetly had its good sides and bad sides, just like everything else in time.
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Luke Stewart
3/31/2014 03:15:40 am
There were many causes for the economic prosperity that occurred during the 1920's. Yet the large economic boom also caused problems that occurred later. One of the causes for economic prosperity was the 60 percent increase in manufactured goods. Another largely being the increase in technology. The rise in new technology helped the automobile industry immensely, but it also increased the sale of products such as steel, for the framework of the car; Rubber for the tires; glass for the windows; and tools to assemble the cars for the buyers. The new owners of a car would also have to purchase gasoline. The demand for these products increase so rapidly that they created and economic boom. During this time of prosperity problems that caused The Great Depression went noticed. One of the largest problems was the rise of unemployment that the technological advancements had caused.
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mando treviƱo
10/9/2015 01:19:22 pm
Fuck this its too much reading
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average last minute student
2/4/2019 05:08:09 pm
wow literally just wanted a simple answer ugh why can't i be smart
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average last second student
12/5/2019 06:16:42 am
LMFAOOOO i feel you :') i was expecting a straightforward list
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SASAKI
5/5/2020 12:53:29 pm
i deadass got the q from a textbook
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