Aspects of the USA: Full notes from the BBC bitesize Videos

The Roaring 20's:

• America entered the age of consumerism where people had money to spend on consumer goods.
• The spending stimulated industry and business, leading to massive change in entertainment and leisure. 
• Fashion changed, bringing in bobbed hair, shorter skirts, make up and cigarettes. These woman were known as flappers.
• Certain woman won the right to votes, and new laws meant that woman could file for a divorce. 
• However, more the 60% lived below the poverty line.

Industry and social change: 

• Industrial production virtually doubled in the 1920's. America was in the cycle of prosperity.
• The 5 causes of this were isolationism, technology, mass production, hire purchase and shares. 
• Isolationism- the government imposed high import tariffs to limit foreign competition and to keep out of foreign affairs.
• Technology- advances led to the rise in the electrical, chemical and film industries and new products were available to buy.
• Mass production- Henry Ford's assembely line method increased car production, other factories copied this so mass production spread.
• Hire purchase- buying now and paying later meant that more people could afford products and increased the demand for goods.
• shares- business raised money for expansion by selling shares on the stock exchange.

Problems in the 1920's:

• Farmers, industrial workers and African Americans all struggled in this period.
• Farms were producing too much, which led to food prices dropping. 
• Farm Labourers earned around $49 a mouth where as a skilled factory worker could earn $140 a mouth.
• Because of America's high import tariffs, countries put customs duties on all American goods. This reduced American exports.
• Modern machinery and electricity meant facotries…