Essay On Consumerism In The 1920s

Technology played a vital part in helping America become the great economic and cultural success that it was during the 1920s. New advancements, new discoveries, and new inventions improved American lives in every imaginable way but not without a few negative side-effects. As mentioned earlier, the automobile really came into play during the 1920s by making traveling a common thing for anyone who could afford a car (Trueman, 2000). Henry Ford started the Ford Motor Company, which began to mass produce affordable automobiles known as the Model-T. Ford's Model-T car became such an irresistible success that by the end of the decade, there was almost one car per family in the United States (Bruce, 1981). The automobile seemed to give people a type of new freedom, but the automobile also proved to be a dangerous item in the hands of many irresponsible people who loved to drink during the 1920s. The washing machine, telephone, and radio made their arrival during the twenties. People were discovering life to be far easier than the previous generations because of technology, but they were also slowly being driven into an industrial nation. People were lured

The 1920s was a major turning point in American history. Known as “the roaring twenties”, the citizens of the United States enjoyed the new found wealth from the economic turnaround. The United States’ wealth more than doubled as the nation turned into a consumer society. Not all Americans were fond of the changes in society, and not all of the changes were good.

The Roaring Twenties is known as an age of parties, jazz, and overspending. After World War I, the optimistic American people reacted by celebrating and overspending. They purchased new appliances such as cars, radios and refrigerators; they purchased luxury items like clothes and invested in stocks. Their new attitude towards the booming American economy was carefree, leading to a series of events. First the stock market crashed. Next, the banks failed. Then, companies laid off employees who were unable to make the payments on the items they purchased. Tariffs and droughts further complicated the situation. This decade became known as the Great Depression, because the economic setbacks impacted everyone and everything. But the question is “Why did Americans lose so much money in such a short period of time?” One answer is, the failing stock market. A second is unregulated banking systems which allowed for buying on margin. Third, the lifestyle following World War I was too materialistic. The Great Depression was caused by Americans failing to responsibly manage their money.

The 1920s was known for its prosperous and flamboyant lifestyle. The GDP during that time had risen by 30 percent and unemployment was as at an all-time low of 3 percent. This was not meant to last forever. In fact, it was nearly impossible for this to last any longer than it did due to an imbalance that society was unaware of including that not every citizen was experiencing this uncommon wealth. There were still 3 percent unemployed and even some of the employed members of society did not make enough to support a family and were considered homeless. It was in October of 1929 when this so-called luxurious lifestyle vanished as the stock market crashed at a time when the stock market seemed it would never stop increasing. This caused an economic, downhill, rolling ball effect. Those who took out loans to invest in stocks could not afford to repay the banks causing the banks to fail and close down. When the banks closed down, the depositors of that bank lost their life savings causing them to go broke and some company owners to close their doors. This led to a loss of jobs by the employers of those companies. This time period was known as the Great Depression and rightfully so. It is the most significant setback in the American Economy to date. The Herbert Hoover administration was in effect at this time giving the society an easy target to blame. Come time for the next election in 1932, Americans were ready for a change in authority to bring them out of this seemingly black

During the “Roaring Twenties” in the United States, the stock market had never been better. When vice president Calvin Coolidge took the reins in 1923, business soared. Factories were turning to Henry Ford’s model of the assembly line to drastically increase product output, and many companies in America were becoming multinational, (Foner, 615), such as General Electric and International Business Machines (IBM), who bought out other companies in war torn Europe. Unlike in past years, Americans were focused on having a good time. They were taking their families on vacations across the country or out to sporting events. With the majority of the United States out enjoying the booming economy and all the luxuries that accompany it, no one was paying attention to the signs of trouble on the horizon. All of their reckless choices and decisions were leading to a major downfall. During the Roaring Twenties, the people skyrocketed the American debt.

During the 1920s, America’s economy was terrible. The culture of the 1920s played a big role in causing the stock market crash of 1929. According to the The Roaring Twenties Bubble & Stock Market Crash article, it states “The 1920s marked a decade of increasing conveniences that were made available to the middle class. By and large Americans as a whole were weary of war and looking for a way to put the horrors of the last few years behind them. New products made chores around the home easier and resulted in increased leisure time”. This means the once expensive items were now affordable for middle class because of Americans buying things on credit. This method is described as buy now and pay later. But soon, more Americans used this paying

The roaring twenties was a decade of excitement. For the first time in many families’ lives, leisure times were extended thanks to the time saving inventions such as the vacuum cleaner, the refrigerator, and the washing machine. Another factor that made the 20s the best decade for many Americans was because of installment, also known as “buy now, pay later,” buying which allowed the middle class families to afford those products when needed and pay it off later. Clubs bustled with life, filled with the stench of alcohol, and the noise of tapping shoes as men and women danced their soles off their shoes. New thing occurred and made many Americans’ lives a paradise. However, there were few groups of people who didn’t view the same decade the

When Korean veterans returned from the fighting, everyone was overjoyed to be reunited with their loved ones after two huge, deadly wars.

As America continues to grow, it goes through many dramatic changes, and downfalls, allowing it to develop. The 1920s and the 1930s are examples of such time periods that enabled America to mature as a nation. Many Americans perceived the 1920s as a time of economic and social prosperity, while they regarded the 1930s as a time of economic and societal disaster. Though the differences are striking, the two decades are closely connected and both have their positives and negatives. For numerous Americans, the 1920s appeared to be a decade of welfare; it was a time of economic and social renewal.

The 1920s or The roaring twenties were an era of social and political change. The dramatic change were a lot such many Americans lived in cities rather on farm , the country wealth doubled between 1920 and 1929. After the World War one in 1918 , american had a massive economic boost with plenty of job with new manufacturing plants and built things aside from airplane engine but household item such has TV , cars, refrigerator , radio , and washing machine . Car was not necessary but a luxury for the super-rich, which helped the cities into their “modern incarnations” according to Heather whipps.

The 1920s were a time of dramatic social and economic change in America. For the first time in America’s history, more people lived in cities than on farms due to industrialization. Labor laws put in place after the Progressive Era not only raised hourly wages, but also gave workers more free time. People had money to spend and plenty of time to spend it, which led to consumerism. This era of consumerism took place from 1920 until 1929, Americans were challenging the traditional ways of the past. Changes in traditional values led to tensions between old and new generations. The tension was manifested in how society viewed women and consumerism. Women didn’t play the traditional role that they were expected to in the past which conflicted with how all of society viewed women. The new era of consumerism and buying on credit was seen as a luxury to the younger generation and a waste to the older one, raising even more tension.

Ford Motor company not only revolutionized production with the assembly line, but also paid its workers well enough that they could afford to buy its cars too. This boom in car ownership encouraged other industries to grow as well, sectors such as road and bridge construction, glass and leather manufacturing, and naturally, oil production expanded also. Advertising built brand identification and created a consumer culture that equated patriotism, and piety with consumerism. For the first time, companies like Coca Cola, and General Electric sold hope and lifestyle, encouraging the creation of a consumer culture. Unfortunately this "roaring twenties" boom economy lead many to lean too heavily on credit, leading to an inevitable down cycle called the Great Depression.

While technological and cultural changes were at an all-time high, many people experienced harsh times and a lack acceptance. This time in US history has monikers, including: The Roaring Twenties and The Jazz Age. But, in actuality, it is similar to post Civil War America in the time called the Gilded Age. The 20s were romantically excessive, socially diversifying, and on the outside seen in a golden hue. However, on the inside, they were dark, flawed, and exclusive. The 1920s did propel the United States of America in to modernism but instigated the attitude that lead to the most devastating recession in history, the Great Depression. Bringing back to mind the buy now pay later sentiment, the American people paid dearly in 1929 when the stock market utterly collapsed. (Especially those who were not on the successful side of the spectrum.) Nonetheless, this time is history for a reason. And that reason is that the mistakes of the past can hopefully be

The roaring twenties was a time filled with hope and change. President Warren G. Harding promised a “return to normalcy”, which reflected his own conservative values and the voters’ wants for stability and order. Americans felt that they had been through more than enough, and desired prosperity. During the years 1919 and 1920 the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Amendments were passed; the outlaw of alcoholic beverages and the right for women to vote, which ones of the many reasons society was turning their backs on Progressivism. Republicans were beginning to return to their previous dominance. The 1920’s was an economic boom for America, including everything from an increase in jobs, a rise in plentiful goods, new consumer products, and the reduction of taxes. The country was filled with jazz music, dance, and what appeared to be a brighter future. The 1929 crash of stock market was the beginning of a downward spiral leading in to the Great Depression. The stock market crash is often to be confused as the cause of the Great Depression, although that is false. A few of the issues that lead to the Great Depression included; farming (which decreased in demand as farms increased through the states during World War I), banking, and mass unemployment. Capitalism took shape as what was once the individualistic Protestant work ethic was reshaped into industrial work on a grand scale. Each worker contributed to the greater good, and the workers were presided over by a boss

The Roaring Twenties is known as a time of prosperity due to consumerism and mass-production from the years 1920 to 1929. This era in American history could be considered one of the most excessive times to date. Because of the United States’ triumph in World War I, the country had its first involvement of being a world power. The increase of consumer goods greatly impacted the U.S. economy during this time of success. Also, the start of the airline industry along with the expansion of automobile manufacturers helped profit banks. Several Americans became dependent on the newly developed methods of payment, which eventually became the American standard way of living. The quest to achieve this ideal lifestyle also known as the American Dream led to a severe shift in the nation’s economy. Through both fiscal and monetary policy along with laissez-faire tactics, the Roaring Twenties ended with the 1929 Wall Street Crash, which was the precursor to the worst economic decline in history, The Great Depression.