American Economic Boom of the 1920s: Benefits and Contrasts

Did All Americans Benefit from the Boom?

Farmers and workers in many other industries, such as coal, leather, and textiles, did not benefit much.

• Coal suffered from competition from oil and electricity companies.
• Leather and textiles faced domestic competition.
• Industries struggled to compete with cheap labor in the South.
• Growth of industries, but no new jobs (machinery doubled production).

42% of Americans lived below the poverty line. Millions of unemployed people didn't share in the boom. It was a consumer-led boom, driven by ordinary families buying things for their homes, so demand began to tail off.

Chicago in the 1920s

Chicago was one of America's biggest cities.

It was a center of the steel, meat, and clothing industries that involved unskilled workers. These industries had busy and slack periods (seasonal unemployment). Workers were Polish, Italian, and Black immigrants. Only 3% of them owned a car. They didn't like to buy large items on credit; they preferred saving for when they might not have a job. Poor whites did not benefit from the new chain stores; they preferred to shop at the local grocer's where the owner was more flexible and gave them credit. They joined the movie craze (separated from the rich).

The USA in the Roaring Twenties

The 1920s was a time of riotous fun, loud music, and wild enjoyment. It was a decade of contrasts and confusion:

• Those who joined the party experienced a time of liberation and rebellion against traditional values.
• Those who didn't experienced anxiety and worry.

Growing Cities

In New York, skyscrapers were built because there was no more land available. There was tension between rural and urban areas (traditional values were under threat).

Entertainment

Entertainment blossomed. Spare time and money were channeled into entertainment.

Radio

Almost everyone listened to the radio.

Jazz

Jazz was an obsession among young people, particularly Black individuals. The 1920s were known as the Jazz Age. New dances emerged, such as the Charleston. The image of a flapper (a woman who wore short dresses and makeup and smoked in public, "expensive and about 19") became popular.

Sport

Popular sports included baseball and boxing.

Cinema

Hollywood became a major film industry. In 1927, the first "talkie" movie was released.

Morals

New attitudes emerged among young women. Before the war, sex had still been a taboo subject. After the war, it became a major concern of tabloid newspapers, films, and conversations.

The Car

The car was a factor that tended to make all the other features more possible. It helped the city to grow (opened up suburbs). It carried their owners to and from entertainment. It took Americans to an increasing range of sporting events, beach holidays, shopping trips, and picnics.