Transportation affected the lives of almost every American during the 1920s and 1990s similarly. During both decades there was major improvements in technology that advanced the United States significantly. In the 1920s when Ford began producing the Model T using the assembly line the automobile became popular and affordable for consumers. The rapid diffusion of the automobile called for an increase in oil products and other raw materials including rubber and steel. The 1920s saw an expansion of the regional and national air transport services in Europe and the United States with mass-produced propeller aircrafts such as the Douglas DC-3. These changes in transportation methods drastically changed lifestyles and the structure of cities. It …show more content…
also created suburbanization and expanded cities to areas larger than 100 km in diameter in some instances (Rodrigue). The increased growth in transportation continued into the 1990s. The aircraft that became commercialized in the 1920s took a great leap forward in the 1990s with the introduction of the Boeing 747-400 jumbo jets. These aircrafts could carry over 500 people and required only one fuel stop throughout the entire trip. Air travel became faster and cheaper and also called for prosperity. People began to use air travel over rails as a transportation method when traveling between capital cities and international trips also increased. Automobiles, which were brought about in the 1920s, also expanded into the 1990s becoming cheaper to purchase. There was also a wider range of vehicles to choose from at this point in time and cars became a vital part of life. The increase in car ownership could be attributed a variety of factors, including rising incomes, improved road networks and a change in public perception regarding the declining efficiency of public transport. Along with the positives of transportation there were also negatives to go with it. Environmental issues came into play and many Americans were unhappy with the pollution that came along with cars. Scientists warned that rising levels of greenhouse gasses were responsible for global warming and climate change. Transport, particularly the motorcar, was named as one of the prime contributors. High levels of air pollution were also starting to have a major impact on public health, increasing the prevalence of illnesses like asthma and respiratory disease (“transport”). So although transportation was a major factor to the strong economic growth of the United States it also had its drawbacks. Another similarity during these two decades was that the general public began to invest, and stock markets and speculation increased.
During the 1920s, it was a time of peace and prosperity and the Unites States stock market soared as new technologies such as the radio, automobile, and aircraft were commercialized. Many Americans speculated in the stock market with large amounts of borrowed money and they became very wealthy. However, by 1929 the stock market had peaked and then plunged which financially ruined most stock investors. Banks began to bail and unemployment skyrocketed ultimately leading to the Great Depression. Similarly, in the 1990s there was a speculative bubble when people began investing in early Internet companies called “Dot-coms.” This investing caused technology company stocks in the Nasdaq stock index to soar to incredible heights thus leading to technology company founders and investors becoming extremely wealthy. During this time Americans had started to believe that technology had led to the creation of the “new” economy and that recessions were a thing of the past, which led to excessive risk taking in business and investments as “Dot-com” companies went public. Eventually the technology stock bubble crashed and the United States economy was hurled into a recession (Colombo). The 1920s and 1990s both prove to be a time of prosperity and wealth, but as it has been said periods of strong economic growth are often followed by severe economic downturns, which was seen when both decades were followed by a crash in the stock
market. The many issues that came about in the 1920s and 1990s can be seen as similar. The many factors brought up in the 1920s either repeated in the 1990s or were expanded into the 1990s. Many of the issues led to great prosperity and economic growth during both decades but then led to an economic downturn. Following both decades was a time of unemployment and poverty. However, it is still possible to innovate and achieve after a stock market crash as it has illustrated in both of these decades. Although during these decades economic downturns were seen the United States has the ability to adapt, innovate, invent, and overcome during tough economic times. By looking at both the 1920s and 1990s, it can be proven that prosperity does not last forever but neither does a recession. It has been said that the 1990s were a mirror of the 1920s and that history truly repeated itself.
The stock market crash of 1929 is one of the main causes of the Great Depression. Before the stock market crash many people bought on margin, which caused the stock market to become very unbalanced, which led to the crash. Many people had invested heavily in the stock market during the 1920’s. All of these people who invested in the stock market lost all the money they had, since they relied on the stock market so much. The stock market crash also played a more physiological role in causing the Great depression. More businesses became aware of the difficulties, which caused businesses to not expand and start new projects. This caused job insecurity and uncertainty in incomes for employees. The crash was also used as a symbol of the changing times. The crash lead the American peop...
The stock market expanded rapidly during the period of 1921-1929. At this time investors were optimistic about the stock market, so they traded stocks, which caused the stock prices to rise. The stock market boom led to asset prices rising at a fast pace. Which in turn outweighed the true value of the assets. Eventually, since the stock market did not reflect the true value of the stock, this led to a huge bubble followed by a crash. This crash is also known as the Great Depression that led to a severe economic crisis in the United States.
The stock market crash of 1929 was the primary event that led to the collapse of stability in the nation and ultimately paved the road to the Great Depression. The crash was a wide range of causes that varied throughout the prosperous times of the 1920’s. There were consumers buying on margin, too much faith in businesses and government, and most felt there were large expansions in the stock market. Because of all these positive views that the people of the American society possessed, people hardly looked at the crises in front of them.... ...
Before the 1920's Americans use to walk and ride their horses for transportation. But when Henry Ford came along, he invented the first car that would drastically change American lives. This car was so popular that 4 out 5 of Americans owned a car. Many Americans also bought it because it was affordable to the rich and poor. It was named car of the century by critics. The Model T improved peoples lives because it united families, improved working conditions, improved social lives between couples, and it was used in many different ways.
Technology played an important role in the daily lives of Americans in the 1920s. Many inventions and new developments occurred during this time. A large number of items that are used today were invented by individuals and teams in research laboratories. This technology brought many conveniences such as electrical power and indoor plumbing into the home. Radios gave people access to the news and provided entertainment. Mass culture was also born and the automobile became the largest consumer product of the decade. By 1929, one in five Americans had an automobile on the road. America experienced a decade of economic growth due to the impact of technology in the 1920s.
As well as, family began to take long vacations which didn't happen before the automobile. This led to Americans being able to see different areas of the country they lived in first hand. The automobile also helped the development of an educated population from an early age because student could access school multiple grade levels and went to school longer. To conclude, Shannon believed that manufacturing changed the 1920’s not social rebellion by
The 1920's were a time where North America became modernized. Whether it was the music, the culture or the growth in technology, this time era is known to most people as the point where America advanced itself to become a world renowned country. An advancement that will be focused on is the Ford Model T. During this time owning a car was a symbol of wealth. Henry Ford, the creator of the Model T, made a system that revolutionized the automobile industry as we know it today. Henry Ford made it possible for people with an average income to own a motor vehicle by creating the assembly line and the theory of mass production. "The horse, which had been the chief means of land transportation for 3,500 years, had given way to the automobile, and the country's largest industry had been born." (Gordon)
During 1928, the stock market continued to roar, as average price rose and trading grew; however as speculative fever grew more intense, the market began to fall apart around 1929. After the stock market crash, a period began that lasted for a full decade, from 1929 to 1939, where the nation plunged into the severest and the most prolonged economic depression in history - the Great Depression. During this inevitable period, the economy plummeted and the unemployment rate skyrocketed due to poor economic diversification, uneven distribution of wealth and poor international debt structure. The United States began a period of uninterrupted prosperity and economic expansion during the 1920s, coining the term, the roaring twenties. Automobiles and construction became the most important and excessively relied industries in the nation as a result of the assembly line and other innovations.
The United States was also in the process of industrialization. Industries were built and electricity was the new form of power. Electric lights became available and the first movies were made. "By 1916, 21,000 movie houses were testimony of a new industry" (Hacker and Zahler 99). Automobiles became prevalent and that caused the need for roads to be built: "The early growth of the automobile industry wakened a new and much stronger demand for surfaced roads" (Hacker and Zahler 101). Henry Ford was a major contributor in propelling the automobile industry. He improved the assembly line and mass production of parts. "By 1914, the automobile industry had developed such characteristic features as standardization of parts, minute subdivision and mechanization of labor, and even the assembly line in manufacturing" (Hacker and Zahler 100). The United States experienced great social and industrial change on a national scale as well as international scale.
A time in America’s history was made dark by an economic downfall. The Great Depression made life almost unbearable for most people living in the 1930’s. The stock market crash started on Tuesday October 29, 1929, it is also known as “Black Tuesday”. The stock market crash is known as the worst economic collapse in the history of the modern industrial world (“The Great Depression”). The Great Depression was a deep economic crisis that began in 1929 and lasted until the nation’s entry
The 1920s exploded with fast paced and lively creativity and culture that influence the world, yet no invention affected American everyday life in the 20th century more than the automobile. The rapidly growing automobile industry led by Henry Ford and the Ford Motor Increased wages and lower cost vehicles made possible through mass production meant that cars became increasingly affordable, although 3 out of 4 cars were bought on installment plans. Company produced new and better models every year to supply the insatiable public demand( http://www.1920-30.com). With, automobiles it made it easier for people to go place to place, it also was affordable for the people to buy. The automobiles were easy to make because of the assembly line in that
Post the era of World War I, of all the countries it was only USA which was in win win situation. Both during and post war times, US economy has seen a boom in their income with massive trade between Europe and Germany. As a result, the 1920’s turned out to be a prosperous decade for Americans and this led to birth of mass investments in stock markets. With increased income after the war, a lot of investors purchased stocks on margins and with US Stock Exchange going manifold from 1921 to 1929, investors earned hefty returns during this time epriod which created a stock market bubble in USA. However, in order to stop increasing prices of Stock, the Federal Reserve raised the interest rate sof loanabel funds which depressed the interest sensitive spending in many industries and as a result a record fall in stocks of these companies were seen and ultimately the stock bubble was finally burst. The fall was so dramatic that stock prices were even below the margins which investors had deposited with their brokers. As a reuslt, not only investor but even the brokerage firms went insolvent. Withing 2 days of 15-16 th October, Dow Jones fell by 33% and the event was referred to Great Crash of 1929. Thus with investors going insolvent, a major shock was seen in American aggregate demand. Consumer Purchase of durable goods and business investment fell sharply after the stock market crash. As a result, businesses experienced stock piling of their inventories and real output fell rapidly in 1929 and throughout 1930 in United States.
] This catastrophic event is caused by the accumulation of a large scale of speculation by not only investors but also banks and institutions in the stock market. Though the unemployment rate was climbing during the 1920s and economy was not looking good, people on Wall Street were not affected by the depressing news. The optimism spread from Wall Street to small investors and they were investing with the money they don’t have, which is investing on margin as high as 90%. When the speculative bubble burst, people lost everything including houses and pensions. The main reason ...
The developments in transportation changed the American economy and society from 1820 to 1860 in ways of an increased land value, faster traded goods, new cities, and a deeper sense of nationalism. Before these changes came about, the US economy and society was based on an agrarian setting. After this time frame, American Society turned into a capitalist marketplace. In the northern US, there were few changes in terms of industry because they were involved in an industrial revolution. However, the new Transportation Revolution blasted the West into an agricultural empire that provided consumable exports to the other parts of the country.
Transportation has improved significantly since 1800. Since 1800 we have seen the development of cars, trains and planes. Before cars, the primary method of transportation was covered wagons or horse-drawn carriages. The first car was invented in 1885, but the first car that would actually be considered a car by today’s standards was invented in 1900. It was a 35 horsepower Mercedes developed by Wilhelm Maybach, a...