ContextPost WWI era of prosperity

New economic models to increase production

Decade of conservative politiciansSupported capitalism, big businesses

American dreamEquate prosperity with progress

Consumerism engrained in American culture

ConsumerismSocial and economic system causing desire to

purchase material goods in great amountsWith rise of consumerism came rise of

materialismEconomic boom lead to higher wages Higher wages lead to more goods being

bought1920s as the obsession of consumerism and

materialism flourish throughout the United States

Rise of CreditIncrease in consumerism leads to the rise of

creditInstead of paying in cash could put it on creditEasy to become stuck in debtCaused debt = factor of the Great Depression

Rise in AdvertisingMore consumer goods available than ever beforeConvincing people their life would be better with

the productThe rise in technology provided brand new ways

for advertisements to be spreadCelebritiesUsed common insecurities of people

Coca-ColaOne of the largest and

most visible companies in the world thanks to its successful advertisement campaigns

Holiday CampaignsSports Contour bottle

New Technology• 1920s was an important decade for new

technology• Many were common household items:

• Telephone• Automobiles• Toaster• Refrigerator• Washing machine• Vacuum cleaner• Rayon

Household InventionsRadio

Ernest AlexandersonCredited for modern day radioHigh frequency alternator

This helped lead to the invention of the television.

First broadcast in 1920 of the Harding-Cox presidential election.

Soon, 2 million homes had radios

Household InventionsEarle Dickson Band-Aid (1920)First version of Hair dryer invented

Before women had to use vacuums!Clarence Birdseye Frozen food

Meat + Veggies preserved in waxed-cardboard cartons, after exposure to high pressure

The Great DepressionOctober 29, 1929 – Black TuesdaySevere economic depressionCaused by decline in consumer demand, financial

panics, and misguided government policiesDecline in output, deflation, unemployment

SignificanceEconomic prosperity influenced rise of new

technologiesUrbanizationRise of credit

Rise of debtUncontrolled consumerism directly led to

Great DepressionCreated new American culture of

consumerismStill see effects today

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history.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_1920s_rise_of_consumerism_and_mass_culture>. Dictionary. Web. 22 Feb. 2010. <dictionary.com>. "Advertising in the 1920s." EyeWitness to History. 2000. 21 February 2010. <http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/snpmech4.htm> “Coke Lore.” The Coca Cola Company. 21 February 2010 <http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/heritage/cokelore_santa.html>  "Great Depression." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition.

Encyclopædia Britannica, 2010. Web. 22 Feb. 2010  http://school.eb.com/eb/article-234442.  Gusmorino, Paul A., III. "Main Causes of the Great Depression." Gusmorino World (May 13, 1996).

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