Chapter 14 The Jazz AgeSection 1 Boom Times

Prosperity and Productivity US economy grew after

demobilization Pro business policies, tax cuts, growth of

Gross National Product, and confidence of businesses helped to encourage economic growth

Business growth led to wage increases Wage increases led to more purchasing

power Consumers began buying new electrical

appliances (mixers, food grinders, sewing machines, radios, etc.)

Electric mixer c. 1918 ‘Universal' electric food

mixer with double-rotary beaters, featuring an open electric motor, hinge to adjust position of mixer, and ability to fit attachments, all metal, by Landers Frary and Clark, USA, 1915-1920

www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/.../1964-339.aspx

1920s radio

http://www.vintageperiods.com/sites/Phenderson/_files/Image/5%20Radio(10).jpg

Prosperity continued… Businesses began experimenting to

increase productivity Scientific management: all work can

be broken down into smaller tasks; people then become efficient at these tasks

Growth of the Auto Cars became cheaper as a

result of scientific management

Henry Ford and the Model T First widely used automobile Used assembly line to

produce them faster and more cheaply

By 1920s, 1 in 5 had a car How might the automobile

industry have a ripple effect on the country’s economy?

http://www.solarnavigator.net/automotive_directory/ford.htm

Changes in work Assembly line led to high productivity Little chance for advancement

Upper level jobs (clerical workers, managers) required at least high school education

Many factory workers, immigrants, and African Americans didn’t have necessary qualifications

Ford’s assembly line

http://www.lovefords.org/workers/images/ford-model-a-assembly-line.jpg

http://www.onisushi.com/works/CCT370/A4/images/assembly_line.jpg

Ford’s employees As a result of high employee

turnovers: Shortened work day (8 hours) Raised wages ($5 a day-double of other

industries at the time)

Summary How did Ford change the nature of

work during the 1920s?

Ford’s employees Regulated morality and personal

behavior of workers Only get $5 if you meet company

standards at work and home Committee set up to check out workers’

home lives No alcohol or tobacco Had to move out of ethnic neighborhoods Immigrants had to learn English

YES-NO-WHY The benefits of working at Ford

outweighed the negative working conditions.

Land of Autos New roads had to be built to

accommodate the growth of cars Billboards, magazines, radio, hotels, caused

industries to grow Freedom to move around

Growth of suburbs Auto-touring: using cars to view the

countryside Teens have ability to travel more (instead of

staying with their families) Lost sense of community Problems

Pollution, traffic jams, parking problems, accidents

YES-NO-WHY The introduction of the automobile

had mostly positive effects.

Creating Consumers More expensive cars began to be created

People purchased on installment plans (credit) New goods

Streamlined, to reduce wind resistance Planned obsolescence-planned to go out of style Began buying new goods each year

Caused a lot of debt to keep up with new styles Advertising

Grew after 1920s Used fear and hope to increase purchases Jingles, slogans and celebrity testimonials were

commonplace Retail industry

Chain style grocery stores replace corner markets

1920s advertisements

http://bss.sfsu.edu/tygiel/Hist427/427ads/listerine.jpghttp://www.1920s-fashion-and-music.com/advertisements-of-the-1920s.html

Summary Use pages. 420-421 How did tactics such as planned

obsolescence and advertising help increase consumer demand?

Assignment What impact did Henry Ford and his

business practice have on life in the 1920s?

If you had been a factory worker during the 1920s, would you have taken a job with Ford? Why or why not?

How did the widespread use of the automobile affect family life, leisure activities, and working life for some Americans?