Chapter 14 The Jazz Age

Chapter 14 The Jazz Age Section 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 ofcars • 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://www.1920s-fashion-and-music.com/advertisements-of-the-1920s.html http://bss.sfsu.edu/tygiel/Hist427/427ads/listerine.jpg

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?

Chapter 14 The Jazz Age