AMERICA 1920-1973 - Boom, Entertainment and Prohibition

1.1 BOOM

There was a boom in the American economy during the 1920s, which meant industrial production doubled, the economy increased rapidly and fortunes were made. This happened for several reasons, such as World War I. The long war cost a huge amount of money, which European economies struggled with. However, the US grew rich during the war years. Due to not being destroyed by bombs meant that the country could dominate the European industry. There was also a huge technology advance in the early 20th century. Machines improved manufacturing techniques, producing huge amounts of good quality goods.  Mass production started, and within the decade, economic output increased by 50%. This meant products were affordable, so more people bought them. The 1920s were the wealthiest that America had ever been, and was called the time of Confidence. The government had very little interference with the economy, but helped by keeping taxes as low as possible. By 1928, 20% of Americans owned a car, and by 1929, 10 million radios had been sold.

ENTERTAINMENT

Jazz music was a craze in the 1920s, as it was accessible due to radios. The music genre stemmed from spirituals sung by African slaves, used to boost their morale in the tough times. Famous jazz performers of the 1920s were Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. More people had also started to go to clubs, to drink socially. Women were also starting to have a more important role, due to the…