Why Was There An Economic Boom In The 1920’S? – History Essay

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Why Was There An Economic Boom In The 1920’S? – History Essay
The 1920’s was a time of extreme highs and lows, a time of dramatic changes in society and many new inventions. Following WW1 America had come away being a very powerful and confident nation. America had been able to take over

European overseas markets becoming the ultimate Industrial world leaders. With huge changes to Technology, Construction, Advertising, Entertainment and people’s Interests. America was experiencing a decade of a great business boom in almost every industry. This is referred to as the Economic boom of the 1920’s.

The average household was beginning to be able to afford new products which were becoming much more affordable as increased popularity caused many products to be massed produced. Making the price of many new inventions/products more affordable for the general public. Domestic goods like cookers, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, washing machines and radios becoming affordable products owned by the average family. Several new Industries began to appear as the publics demands increased for things like cars, electrical products, and domestic goods. Things like cars, chemicals, and electrical products were being produced by the masses to keep up with consumer demands. This caused Industries like steel, glass and rubber to boom creating more and more jobs. This helped America’s economy as less people were out of jobs and the unemployment rate was at an all time low.

Construction was at its busiest in the 1920’s than ever before. With Industrial growth at an all time high there was a huge demand for new factories, needed to produce the increase in new products. Hospitals began to be built as well as other public buildings like schools and cinemas. The 1920’s was ‘the age of the skyscraper’ introduced in the 1920’s due to the increase of buildings for new businesses. Office buildings were in high demand for the use of banks and insurance and advertising companies. So were showrooms for cars and new electrical products. This increased the level of employment with more people becoming employed in these new industries. Some employed to build much needed new roads, with the very high demand for cars. The increasing number of cars caused paved roads to double and the number of trucks increased to 3.5 million by 1929. The 1920’s saw the introduction of the Aircraft which by 1929 had made 162,000 flights. People were beginning to travel in buses and cars more than on train and foot taking passengers away from the railways.

Advertising was used to promote vast ranges of consumer goods using new and original techniques such as catch phrases and the use of colour which was introduced in the 1920’s.The use of magazines to advertise to the public was successful because it meant people could read and compare new products at home, mail order allowed consumers to order and buy from home as well, not having to visit chain stores to see the latest and greatest new products. Advertising could also be heard on the radio with the use of ‘catch phrases’ associating themselves with new innovative products which appealed to many housewives.

Chain stores opened stocking the latest woman’s clothing lines. Woman’s clothing became mass produced and dress sizes were introduced made to fit all woman’s shapes and sizes. With a wider selection and choice of materials and styles than ever before clothing sales went up 427% in the 1920’s. Clothing companies like Sears. Roebuck and Co of Chicago making $347 million the year of 1928.The new truck and road systems meant that products could be delivered efficiently and quickly by mail order. Mail order meant people who lived in the country could order farm machinery, frying pans and denim jeans from home.

The first tabloid newspaper to ever be published was the Daily News in 1919 and many others soon after followed in the 20’s.With popular articles including crime stories, cartoon strips and national disasters among the most popular. But most space was dedicated to Sports, fashion and movie stars this reflected how society had changed in the 1920’s with their main focuses and ways of spending their time dictated by sports, fashion and movie stars. Magazines became so popular that in 1922 10 magazines claimed a circulation of 2.5 million.

With increasing money and leisure time spectator sports became huge. With the most popular sports of the 1920’s being Football, Boxing and Baseball. All sports which people payed money to watch, people now had extra money to afford such leisure times. Making sport a profitable business which saw millions of dollars change hands.

In the 1920’s ‘Hollywood’ was the capital of the world for film making. Another leisure activity was movie going which was the most popular way of spending your time. In the 1920 40 million tickets were sold each week and in 1930 nearly 100 million. In all most every town there was a picture palace, our equivalent of a movie cinema. Film making became a mass production industry as 3 films were made each week. The most popular genre being Comedies. Movie stars began to become household names and were written about and in almost every magazine.

America experienced a huge economic boom in the 1920’s. Jobs were becoming more and more available with the new Industries creating available positions. The decade of the 1920’s experienced many changes to Transport, Construction, Advertising, Shopping and Entertainment. These industries influenced and affected the American boom. There are several reasons why the 1920’s is referred to as the Economic boom but the major factors which caused this change was the increase in new Industries. The industrial boom of America is what really caused an Economic boom of the country. America had come away from the war confident and in control and began to show confidence and control in itself as a country. The Economic boom was ‘self-generating with the ‘growth of industries’ and ‘mass production’ of several new products, many people employed and the development of electricity the 1920’s was a decade of all things good.

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