1920s - time of sustained economic progress - Essay Example

(school) 1920s The 1920s marks a time of sustained economic progress. It is also considered a time of social, cultural, and economic diversity and prosperity. After the First World War, a sense of normalcy in world politics and other concerns was more or less attained. Music, art, and the modern woman emerged from the rubble of the war and the large scale use of automobiles, telephones, electricity, and industrial growth was seen with greater demands among consumers experiencing major developments in their lifestyle and culture. Although this picture of America presented a favorable image of life for Americans, others believed that it also presented a picture of an America which was shallow, greedy, and empty, one where people were judged for their wealth and their properties. They also believed that America’s values were crumbling and that hedonism was fast becoming a norm in their society. This paper shall analyze these themes, and to what extent each group is right or wrong. This paper shall first provide an overview of the various developments seen during the 1920s, secondly, an analysis of these developments in terms of their implications shall also be presented. Lastly, concluding remarks shall end this discussion. This paper is being carried out in order to establish a clear understanding of the 1920s and how the developments during this time impacted on the American people in general. America in the 1920s marked a transition period, from a wartime economy to a peacetime economy. And its economy flourished during this time as it was able to engage in mass production and consumerism. Soldiers returning from war with their wages were reintroduced into the workforce and the post-World War recession soon saw an end. The 1920s also marked an era of increased consumer spending which was further supported by mass production of various consumer products. Changes in government policies, mostly in relation to the reduction of the national debt, of taxes, and of the protection of farming interests, and cutting back of immigration led to the economic boom (Filip). President Coolidge also imposed policies which sought to increase taxes on the rich and prevent government interference in private businesses (Filip). Soon enough, his approach was able to sustain economic growth for most of the 1920s. However, overconfidence in these economic policies also caused the stock market to crash, leading to the Great Depression. The sustained recovery during the early 1920s caused the Federal reserve to expand credit, as market rates were decreased; in effect, the value of the dollar increased by 60% during this time (Schultz, 349). This caused the Americans to over-extend their spending. As was mentioned above, such over-extension led to the stock market crash in the late 1920s, and the crash and the depression that followed was very much prolonged. Nevertheless, despite the fact that the favorable economic growth in the 1920s led to the Great Depression, the 1920s marked a bountiful time for the Americans (Schultz, p. 351). The automobile, movie, radio and chemical industries experienced much growth during this time. Cars were now mass-produced and they also assisted various businesses in the country, including hotels, service stations, and highway building (Schultz, p. 350). Radio advertising also soon became the primary means of advertising for many businesses. Hollywood also experienced a very rosy period as watching movies became an affordable activity. Commercial aviation also helped advance more economic progress and activities. New roads, railroads, and highways were opened and paved and electricity as well as telephone lines soon run through each state (Schultz, p. 349). Massive urbanization was taking place and it was slowly expanding into the rural towns. More people flocked into the urban areas looking for jobs and various opportunities. Beyond, economic progress, women’s right to vote soon became firmly entrenched into the state policies (Schultz, p. 349). Most Americans were very much enamored by the economic growth which was very much apparent in the 1920s. However, there were others who also noted the hypocrisy and greed in society. Sinclair Lewis is one of the more vocal critics of such greed (Sisson and Cayton, p. 1137). In his novel Main Street, he presented the dull and ignorant lives of an average Midwestern town, characterizing Babbit who is a businessman who fights against his seemingly perfect life with his family only to find out that the younger population is even more hypocritical (Sisson and Cayton, p. 1137). Lewis also criticized religion through the character of Elmer Gantry. Gantry follows a con man that later associates with an evangelist in order to promote religion to a rural town (Sisson and Cayton, p. 1137). There is some truth which can be seen in the arguments and observations raised by critics, especially considering the fact that the 1920s marked a period of consumerism and rampant advertising (Brown, p. 31). Competition for consumers became a primary goal for many rising businesses and corporations and soon enough, the average consumer was drawn in by advertisements. The expansion of the consumerist culture in America had a major impact on American women in society. Their domestic life was changed and their hours of housework were reduced with the new appliances and labor saving devices (Brown, p. 33). More and more consumer products were also available through canned and bottling processes which allowed women to spend less time on preparing food. They also joined the labor force, especially in newly opened department stores and advertising firms (Brown, p. 33). They became primary consumers of the products in the markets and this was apparent in their increased patronage of supermarkets, department stores, and mail order catalogs. In other words, women became less focused on domesticated tasks during this decade (Brown, p. 34). They had more time to participate and further enhance American consumerism, which to various critics further promoted greed, decadence, and hedonism. As was demonstrated above, most Americans were enjoying prosperity during the 1920s and not many people were aware of the issues relating to long-term economic stability as well as the environment. Their significant and careless consumerism also led to increases in their energy consumption as most of them now shifted from manual labor to labor-saving appliances (Filip). The exhaust emissions from cars and industrial plants also imposed a heavier toll on the environment. Pollution imposed its toll on the environment, moreover, the wildlife were steadily losing their habitat with expanding populations and rapid urbanization (Filip). These environmental threats were however distant realities for various Americans who were more concerned about how they could further increase their material possessions and expand their consumerist ideals (Filip). Values which related to environmental protection, social responsibility, and economic responsibility were largely ignored. Automobiles also became a significant part of the social and cultural American landscape during the 1920s. Automobiles increased the sense of independence of the Americans who now felt that they could go anywhere at any time they wanted (Filip). However, it also led to high accident rates and issues among urban planners in relation to parking, traffic jams, and road openings. The prevalent use of automobiles also impacted on family cohesiveness as the youth now had the access and means to participate in other activities away from their parents; moreover, they now had the freedom to participate in entertainment activities with their friends (Filip). Time with family was significantly reduced. The economic progress in the 1920s was supported by the mass media empire which was slowly finding its niche. Advertising fueled the activities of industries which marketed their appliances, automobiles, and illusions of grandeur and progress (Filip). Consumer confidence in other words was very high, and in retrospect, very much bloated and exaggerated. Such confidence did not have a strong foundation on long-term economic progress and stability. It also caused overspending and overproduction which then led to the severe economic depression in America. Based on the above considerations, it is apparent to note that the 1920s marked a period of rapid and engaging economic progress. In the years following the First World War, America leapt from a war time economy to a progressive peacetime economy. This experience also created a sense of eagerness among the people who wanted to experience as much economic progress as they could. Such economic eagerness however also caused the erosion of traditional American values. Eager Americans were led to greed and hedonistic activities fueled by consumerism. As a result, the Great Depression became an inevitable part of the American history. Works Cited Brown, Dorothy. Setting a Course: American Women in the 1920s. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1987. Print. Filip, Julia. Rise of Consumerism & Mass Culture in the 1920s. American History. 2009. Web. 02 July 2012. Schultz, Kevin. America Unbound: A U. S. History Primer. California: Cengage Learning, 2009. Print. Sisson, Richard and Cayton, Andrew. The American Midwest: An Interpretive Encyclopedia. Indiana: Indiana University Press, 2007. Print. Read More