1. Consumerism And Culture
1920s Pt 2
Consumerism And Culture

2. Consumerism Consumerism – a preoccupation with and desire to buy goods
Major growth in markets for nonessential goods in the 20s, esp. appliances
Led by expansion of advertising- convincing you that you need things

3. Explain how the installment plan worked.
Consumerism
People couldn’t afford everything they wanted
Companies allowed people to buy on credit or through payment plans/ installment plans
Put some money down, then pay monthly
Eventually led to Great Depression because people couldn’t pay for all of them
Explain how the installment plan worked.

6. Harlem Renaissance
Artistic and cultural movement in Harlem (NYC) that celebrated African American culture
Art, literature, and music
Represented the historical experiences of African Americans
New identity of African Americans northern cities
Critiqued American race-relations
Questioned the second class citizenship of African Americans
Duke Ellington, Langston Hughes, Paul Robeson, Aaron Douglas, and Louis Armstrong
Jazz became popular, so it drew white Americans into contact with African American culture

8. What were some of the cultural accomplishments by African Americans?

9. National Culture Radio- everyone could hear the same music
National culture developed for 1st time b/c of mass media
Radio- everyone could hear the same music
Jazz- most popular music
Originated in New Orleans, diffused to other regions like Chicago, Kansas City, and New York
Phonograph- people can listen to recorded music
Recordings of popular dances like the Charleston.
Movies- recorded sound added to film in 1927
The “Jazz Singer”- 1st American film with sound
In what ways did radio broadcasting transform American lifestyles?

10. Women Role of women changed Movement for greater freedom and equality
Some started rejecting “traditional” roles
Changed style of dress; more women in the work force
Shorter hair and skirts for the first time- called “Flappers,” (from dance Charleston)
Social and economic position unchanged
Traditional roles reinforced in advertising
Invention of new appliances like the washing machine
Most women voted as their husbands voted, and those that worked earned less pay than their male counterparts
How did WWI Change women's role in society?

12. Cars Henry Ford- made Model T, most popular car of the 20s
Increased mobility of Americans 
People lived further from work
lead to suburbs
increased pollution from driving more
Building and maintenance of highways became gov responsibilities  more taxes
How did the automobile change the United States in the 1920s?

14. petroleum, rubber, steel, motels, drivie-ins, gas stations
Henry Ford
Led to new industries
petroleum, rubber, steel, motels, drivie-ins, gas stations
He paid black & white works equally
Mass production led to lower prices
average people could afford cards
unskilled workers used on the assembly line
Model T
Perfected the assembly line

15. New Technology New aviation (airplane) technology
Charles Lindbergh- first solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean
Flew The Spirit of St. Louis from St. Louis to Paris on May 20-21, 1927.
Glen Curtiss developed aircraft for transportation and military purposes

17. Wealth Wealthy Americans had time for leisure activities
Americans made more money
Wealthy Americans had time for leisure activities
Baseball, football, and other sports became popular
National heroes emerged- Babe Ruth (baseball) and Red Grange (football)
What factors allowed sports to flourish in the 1920s?

18. Literature and Art
Literature showed how people rejected idealism after World War I
Also questioning of materialism
Georgia O’Keeffe - American female artists
Established a uniquely American art form
Featured flowers, rock formations, landscapes, animal bones- distinctly American
Tin Pan Alley- Part of NYC where 20s music developed; published sheet music for people to play at home

21. How did economic growth change Americans’ attitudes towards borrowing and spending money?