New industries were emerging, led by the production of cars. Chemicals, electricity and electrical products had also increased greatly compared with the 1910s. Due to the increased industry, construction boomed. America was growing and unemployment was falling causing most Americans to become wealthier. For example in around a decade the amount of cars went up from 9 million to 26 million, the amounts of radios went from 60,000 to 10 million, the amounts of telephones doubled and after for every 1 refrigerator there were 167. The amounts of paved roads doubled and the earnings of companies between 1920 and 1929 went up 60 percent. This shows you that America was definitely growing, and lots of people were getting richer.
Transport in the 1920s had improved massively. This was mainly due to Henry Ford as he had created the legendary model T which was every 1 out of 2 cars sold. His famous assembly line had made it possible to produce more cars at cheaper costs. As a consequence of this, the miles of paved road doubled. It had also boomed other industries such as the glass, steel and rubber industries which the car was made out of. The American population could move around the country much easier, women got out of the house, and it paved the way for mail order and advertising. The newly increased range of goods on offer could move around America with ease. Advertising made people realize they could get these goods easily through mail order from a place hours away from where they lived. This was a huge change.
As well as being able to get goods from all round America, the American population could now go shopping in the huge shopping centres which emerged in cities. Chain-stores emerged and many goods were now being mass produced and transported around the country. Men and women got involved in brands and fashion. Clothing sales went up by 427 percent. This was possible due to the increased wealth of the population.
Young women became much freer than they had before the 1920s causing them to smoke in public, drink, dance, ride motorcycles and have sex before marriage. These women became known as ‘Flappers.’ These were the new age of women. They cut their hair, wore make up, went to petting parties, were giddy and took great risks which shocked Americans. The younger generation of men were also taking part in some of these activities. This was the new youth of America .They were less tied down by etiquette and were freer to do as they pleased.
Entertainment for Americans had progressed rapidly. The circulation of newspapers and magazines expanded enormously in the 1920s which mainly included sports, fashion and movie stars. Sport was also much more widely viewed and became a very profitable business and millions of dollars were made. However most impressively 40 million cinema tickets were sold in 1920 which went up to 100 million in 1930. Hollywood became the film capital of America and film-making became a mass production industry. Huge movie stars emerged which were written and read enthusiastically in magazines and newspapers.
All of these changes in America had made the population much more confident. Their financial confidence had increased greatly and at any chance they could, they invested their money into stocks. This had been a safe bet during the boom as the share prices were increasing rapidly and people were much more willing to lend money out as people would usually just invest it and pay it back whilst making a profit. Everyone wanted to play the Stock market.
However even though the 1920s was a huge success for America, there was also the darker side. Amongst the ‘Roaring Success’ was ‘Roaring intolerance.’ Immigration, social and economic problems arose. Race, wealth and political view became very important issues in America. There was fear of radicalism and race riots. Unemployment rose due to 4 million soldiers returning to America and having difficultly finding work. Also high production levels and techniques caused workers to be laid off. Prices had doubled between 1914 and 1919 but wages had hardly risen at all causing strikes in 1919. Workers had demanded more money but as unemployment was so high the bosses did not agree which caused those waves of violent strikes.
In conclusion the 1920s saw great change for the better due to America modernising and booming economically. This caused the 1920s to be know as the ‘Roaring Twenties’ full of ‘Roaring Success,’ but also ‘Roaring Intolerance.’