Julian Phillips GCSE History Coursework
How did Americans lives change during the 1920s?
In the 1920's many American lives were improved greatly, but some lives were as bad as they had been before. The economy was booming, with cars being mass produced, and many other consumer goods such as radios, were widely available. Also more jobs became available, and many people received a par rise. However there were bad things such as racism about. Many ethnic minority groups were treated poorly. The most racist group around was the Ku Klux Klan.
During the 1920's there was an economic boom in America. With the new system of mass production there was plenty being made, and then sold. Particularly cars. When the Model T Ford was first being produced, it would have cost $850 to buy one but then when mass production was introduced, the price was reduced to $290. This meant that practically everyone that worked could afford a car. There were also many consumer goods, such as radios, Hoovers and washing machines, being produced. Another reason why people could afford to buy these luxuries was that wages rose to over 50cents and hour. Then in the 'Roaring Twenties' many American lives were changed, particularly those of women. This period also became known as the 'Jazz Age'. People started going to the cinema, and going out to night clubs. People also started dancing the Charleston and other 'exotic' dances. The lives of women were those that changed the most. One crucial factor was, when in 1919 women won the right to vote. During the war period, the women took on the jobs that the men at war had previously done. Then when the war was over, and the men returned, many women still wanted to keep their job. Another aspect that changed was women's fashion. They started to wear short skirts, and they wore their hair 'up'. Because the women no longer wore corsets, they could become more involved in sports such as tennis. This project from www.studentcentral.co.uk
