Throughout the 1920s, the economy went through many changes. There were new products introduced and new ways to pay for them also. The stock market was also a huge part of the 1920s. During this time period after the wars end, many people looked at this as a new start. Standards changed, and new things were introduced. Not only were people buying the normal necessities, but with that they also would purchase some of the new appliances. For example, the vacuum was introduced costing $28.95. The radio was also a big thing around this time costing around $350-$450. The car was a new advancement also and with it came gas stations and repair shops. There was also new forms of entertainment during this decade including all new musical styles such as Jazz, The Blues, Dance Bands, and Broadway. Along with music came films to watch, these included Nosferatu, The Kid, The Gold Rush, The Phantom of The Opera, etc. Sports were a part of the 1920s also with Baseball, Football, Boxing, Swimming, and Tennis becoming new forms of entertainment and activities. Basically, this caused a lot of spending. Spending that people were not used. With trial comes error, all this glory ended in one gigantic crash in October of 1929.
Entertainment and government role of the 1930s
After the crash of the stock market, the economy took a turn for the worst. The banks people so dearly relied on to keep there savings and money had failed, losing everyone's money and savings. Job losses followed as no one had the money to afford the products that were for sell, many businesses went under because of this. This whole economic was known as The Great Depression. How and who would help us fix this? It seemed these questions were answered as Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected president in the mix of all this. During his first few months of presidency he gave off a sense of solution. He was quoted as saying "The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself!" He gave people a sense of hope, pledging to make lives and things better. He proposed the famous New Deal where he mentioned the steps needed to be taken to get America back on its feet. Millions of people would be huddled around their radios listening to FDR's famous Fireside Chats. The New Deal basically stated that the government would use all of its power to help the downward descending of the economy. Through all this, the people didn't have the money to spend. Most people turned to card games and radio for an escape from all the surrounding crisis; for these things were free to do and offered them a simple getaway so to speak. Fun activities during The Depression included Football, Movies, Radio, Jazz, and Dancing. Sadly, FDR's New Deal did not fulfill what it was supposed to; while it gave everyone the confidence there would be an end to all the bad it did not do so. This brought us to 1935 when FDR fired out what people may refer to as the second New Deal; it was a more powerful set of federal programs the FDR had came up. This included the Wagner Act & also The Social Security act. Still as we fought back, The Depression seemed to get stronger and stronger. By the end of the 1930s as if it were irony, The Depression ended. How you may ask? It began with the Japanese bombing Pearl Harbor and our entrance into World War 2. The war made things boom again, bringing The Depression to a halt.
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Sources listed ;
- http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe30s/life_14.html
- http://www.history.com/topics/1930s
- http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/20smusic.html
- http://www.filmcrave.com/list_top_movie.php?yr=1920s
- http://www.thepeoplehistory.comhttp://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1564.html/20selectrical.html
- http://www.1920s-fashion-and-music.com/1920s-sports.html
