The USA 1919-1929 Exam question

IGCSE – May/June 2010 12(a)What benefits did Americans gain from increasing prosperity in the ‘Roaring Twenties’?

Level 1 General answer

e.g. ‘Goods were readily available.’ ‘Prices were reduced.’

‘There was fun and entertainment.’

Level 2 Describes benefits

(One mark for each relevant point; additional mark for supporting detail.)

e.g. ‘Mass production made it easier and cheaper to manufacture goods.’

‘Industry was boosted giving stability and jobs with money to purchase commodities.’

‘Consumer goods such as washing machines and fridges became widely available and saved people

time.’

‘Wages went up so people had more to spend.’

‘Mail order catalogues made goods available across the country.’

‘New technology brought new, cheaper materials such as rayon and bakelite.’

‘New forms of entertainment, such as radio and cinema, allowed for relaxation.’

‘Sports, dancing and jazz became affordable and popular.

‘Transport improved and became more affordable, especially cars, giving more freedom to move

around.’

(b) Why did support for the Ku Klux Klan increase in the 1920s?

Level 3 Explains why

(Award one mark for an explanation, additional mark for full explanation.)

e.g. ‘A film, ‘The Birth of a Nation’, was released in 1915. This helped revive the Klan.’

‘To defend white superiority against black people and other ethnic minorities.’

‘To defend Protestant superiority against Catholics and Jews.’

‘To ‘clean-up’ American society by attacking anyone, such as drunks and gamblers, who threatened

moral standards.’

‘With continuing immigration, many considered the problems in the USA were increasing and

needed to be addressed rapidly.’

To what extent was Prohibition a success? Explain your answer.

Level 3 Explains agreement OR disagreement

e.g. ‘It is often said that Prohibition was a total failure. This is not entirely correct. Levels of alcohol

consumption fell by 30% in the early 1920s.’

‘Prohibition gained widespread approval in some states, particularly the rural areas in the mid-west.’

‘The government ran information campaigns and prohibition agents arrested offenders. Isadore

Einstein and Moe Smith made 4,392 arrests.’

Or

‘Prohibition had the undesired effect of making alcohol more attractive. Speakeasies opened up all

over and the consumption of alcohol rose.’

‘Many people tried to make their own alcohol. This moonshine could be lethal and some died.’

‘It proved impossible to prevent smuggling and many made huge amounts of money.’ ‘Gangsters

organised the manufacture and sale of alcohol. From the huge profits they could bribe policemen and

city officials. This led to incidents like the Valentine’s Day Massacre of 1929.’

Level 4 Explains agreement AND disagreement [5–7] Both sides of Level 3.

Level 5 Explains with evaluative judgement of ‘to what extent’ [7–8

IGCSE – October/November 2011 11(a) Describe intolerance in US society in the 1920s.

Level 2 Describes intolerance [2–5]

One mark for each relevant point; additional mark for supporting detail.

e.g. ‘The First World War created anti-foreigner feeling. Many Americans worried about the number of

immigrants. The Johnson-Reid Act of 1924 put a limit of 150,000 p.a. and stopped Asian immigration

entirely.’

‘The government feared socialist ideas and began to deport agitators. This led to anti-communist

hysteria known as the ‘Red Scare’.’

‘The Sacco and Vanzetti case resulted. They were immigrants and anarchists. They were found guilty

of murder and executed despite the evidence pointing to their innocence.’

‘In the South, black people suffered under the ‘Jim Crow’ laws which kept them segregated from white

people.’

‘The revival of the Ku Klux Klan brought hatred towards black people, Catholics, Jews and

homosexuals.’

(b) Why was Prohibition introduced?

Level 3 Explains reasons [4–7]

(One mark for an explanation, additional mark for full explanation.)

e.g. ‘There was a strong temperance movement, especially in the rural areas. Two organisations, the

Anti-Saloon League and the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, had tremendous influence.’

‘Many rural states had strong temperance influence and persuaded the state governments to bring in

prohibition. By 1916, 21 states had banned saloons.’

‘Some powerful supporters were many leading industrialists, who believed that workers would be

more reliable if they did not drink.’

‘The USA’s entry into the First World War in 1917 boosted the “dries”. Most of the big breweries were

run by German immigrants who were portrayed as the enemy.’

‘Prohibition failed because of gangsterism.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain

your answer.

e.g. ‘The American people carried on going to illegal speakeasies.’ ‘Many of the law enforcers were

corrupt and ignored the law breakers.’ ‘The bootleggers continued supplying and selling alcohol.’

‘The gangsters controlled the trade through violence.’

Level 3 Explanation of the influence of gangsters OR other reasons [3–5]

e.g. ‘Gangs fought viciously with each other to control the liquor trade and also the prostitution,

gambling and protection rackets that were centred on the speakeasies.’

‘In Chicago alone, there were 130 gangland murders in 1926 and 1927, and not one arrest.’ ‘It is

estimated that organised gangs made about $2 billion out of the sale of illegal alcohol and they would

do anything to maintain the flow of alcohol and their funds.’

OR

e.g. ‘The biggest problem was that millions of Americans, especially in urban areas, were simply not

prepared to obey this law. By 1925 there were more speakeasies in American cities than there had

been saloons in 1919.’

‘The speakeasies were well supplied by bootleggers. About two-thirds of the illegal alcohol came from

Canada. The vast border between the USA and Canada was virtually impossible to patrol.’

‘Many of the law enforcement officers were involved in the liquor trade. Big breweries stayed in

business throughout prohibition by bribing government officials, agents and the police. Often, judges

were in the pay of the criminals and, therefore, getting a conviction was difficult.’

IGCSE – May/June 2009 01a) What problems did American farmers face in the 1920s?

e.g. ‘‘Farmers were over producing. The US could not eat all that was produced nor could it export

enough and because there was a surplus, prices fell.’

‘As prices tumbled farmers’ incomes fell and it was difficult to keep the farm and family together. In

more prosperous times many farmers had borrowed money from the banks but as times got worse

they could not repay these loans and so their farms were seized.’

Few farms had amenities such as electricity or mains water and because they did not have the money,

could not pay to have the services installed.’

‘The south was worse where there was over-reliance on one crop.’

(b) Why did the older industries not share in the economic success of the 1920s?

e.g. ‘In the long-established traditional industries consumer demand did not grow as fast. The markets

for these goods were long established and the products were not new and exciting.

‘Some traditional industries faced competition from the newer industries such as cotton vs man-made

fibres and oil as people switched to electricity.’

‘Coal lost ground to oil, gas and electricity and mines closed.’ ‘Shipbuilding suffered because of a

decline in world trade.’

‘New production methods made newer goods cheaper to produce.’

(c) ‘The introduction of mass production was the main reason for the economic prosperity of

the 1920s.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.

e.g. ‘Mass production methods, pioneered by Henry Ford, made it cheaper and much easier to

manufacture goods than by hand. This process required each worker to perform a specific task as a

vehicle passed by on an assembly line. The expansion of the motor industry boosted the whole

economy as more and more cars were built and sold. It stimulated other industries such as the oil

industry, the construction industry as well as steel, rubber and glass.’

OR

‘Presidents Harding and Coolidge believed in a policy of laissez-faire or not interfering with the

economy. Instead they encouraged the growth of industry by low taxes. These encouraged business

owners to invest and give consumers more money to spend.’

‘They also protected American industry by introducing tariffs as part of the US isolationist policy. Here

a tax was placed on foreign goods coming into the US, making them more expensive than those

produced at home and thus making them harder to sell.’

‘The widespread availability of electricity created a demand for consumer goods such as radios,

vacuum cleaners and refrigerators. This was aided by new products such as rayon, bakelite and

cellophane. Increased production of consumer goods increased employment. This meant people had

more money to spend on consumer goods and in turn this created demand and encouraged further

production.’

‘The introduction of credit purchases gave opportunities for people to own goods whilst paying for

them by instalments.’

‘The USA was rich in raw materials such as oil, iron ore and coal and did not have to purchase these

abroad, keeping down costs.’

IGCSE - OCT/NOV 2006 01(a) Describe the main developments in the motorcar industry during the 1920s.

e.g. ‘Mass production methods were pioneered by Henry Ford where each worker performed a specific

task as a vehicle passed by on an assembly line.’

‘The introduction of the assembly line reduced the cost of car production making it possible for more

people to afford cars.’

‘Ford designed the ‘Model T’, a car for the masses, not just for the privileged few. All were identical and

standardized.’

‘By the end of the 1920s the motor industry was the USA’s biggest industry.’

(b) Why did American farmers face problems during the 1920s?

e.g. ‘After the War, Europe imported far less food from the USA partly because Europe was poor and

partly a response to US tariff which stopped Europe exporting to the USA.’

‘The Canadian wheat producers were highly efficient and brought stiff competition to the US farmers.’

‘An underlying problem was over-production. Up to 1920, when farming was doing well, more and

more land was used for farming. Improved machinery such as the combined harvester made US

agriculture extremely efficient. The result of this was that it was producing surpluses of wheat nobody

wanted.’

‘With reduced incomes many farmers could not afford to pay back the loans they had taken out to buy

the new machinery this resulted in eviction and unemployment.’

(c) ‘Republican policies were the most important factor in causing the boom in America during

the 1920s.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.

e.g. Republican Policies

‘Presidents Harding and Coolidge believed in a policy of laissez-faire or not interfering with the

economy. Instead they encouraged the growth of industry by low taxes. These encouraged business

owners to invest and give consumers more money to spend.’

‘They also protected American industry by introducing tariffs as part of the US isolationist policy. Here

a tax was placed on foreign goods coming into the US making them more expensive that those

produced at home and thus making them harder to sell.’

‘The Republican governments did not like trade unions. Employers were allowed to use violence to

break strikes and refuse to employ union members. This meant employers could hold down wages and

to keep working hours long.’

Other reasons

‘The widespread availability of electricity created a demand for consumer goods such as radios,

vacuum cleaners and refrigerators. This was aided by new products such as rayon, bakelite and

cellophane.’

‘The introduction of credit purchases gave opportunities for people to own goods whilst paying for

them by instalments.’

‘The expansion of the motor industry boosted the whole economy as more and more cars were

bought. It stimulated other industries such as the oil industry, the construction industry as well as

steel, rubber and glass.’

‘The USA was rich in raw materials such as oil, iron ore and coal and did not have to purchase these

abroad, keeping down costs.’

‘Increased production of consumer goods increased employment. This meant people had more money

to spend on consumer goods and in turn this created demand and encouraged further production.’

IGCSE – May/June 2011 13(a) How did the growth of the motor industry in the 1920s benefit other industries?

e.g. ‘The steel industry prospered as the chassis of the cars were steel.’ ‘About 75% of all glass

produced went to the motor industry.’‘Leather and rubber production boomed.’‘The oil industry

produced petrol needed to fuel the vehicles.’

‘Road building and their upkeep created huge employment.’

(b) Explain why the growth of hire purchase and advertising were important for the ‘economic

boom.’

E.g. ‘Mass nationwide advertising had been used for the first time in the USA during the war. Many of

the advertisers who had learned their skills in wartime propaganda now set up agencies to sell cars,

clothing and consumer items.’

‘Big industry had to persuade people to buy their goods if their industries were going to grow. They

had to encourage people to spend.’

‘Many did not have the money to buy an item outright and, therefore, industries encouraged the

borrowing of money at low rates so that the item could be purchased and paid for over a period of

time.’

‘Eight out of ten radios and six out of ten cars were bought on credit and this was important to

American industry if it was going to prosper.’

C). How far were the lives of all Americans improved by the ‘economic boom’? Explain your

answer.

e.g. ‘Workers in the newer industries benefited from consumer demand and continuous employment

as the real value of their incomes rose.’

‘Many benefited from the use of the motor car which made rural areas less isolated.’ ‘Availability of

consumer goods increased such as cars and radios. They were easier to buy using hire-purchase.’

‘More women went out to work. They were helped by the many labour saving devices in the home

such as the vacuum cleaner and washing machine.’

Or

‘The increase in wealth was not shared equally. The rich and the middle classes got richer whilst 60%

of families remained beneath the poverty line.’

‘Racial minorities were discriminated against. Many blacks were looking for work in the industrial

north but there was competition for jobs. This led to tension and race riots. Many black agricultural

workers did not receive a wage but received a proportion of the crops.’ ‘Native Americans were

confined to reservations where the land was so poor that it was impossible to make a living.’

IGCSE – October/November 2009 01(a)Describe the stock market boom of the 1920s in the USA.

e.g. ‘The American economy did well throughout the 1920s and, therefore, the value of

shares rose.’

‘There were more buyers than sellers and, therefore, the value of shares rose.’

‘By 1929 there were 20 million investors out of a population of 120 million.’

‘There were many speculators who borrowed money to buy some shares and then they sold them as

soon as the prices had risen.’

‘Investors could ‘buy on the margin’, which meant they only had to put down 10% of cash and they

could borrow the rest.’

IGCSE – October/November 2011 13(a) How did people spend their leisure time in the USA in the 1920s?

e.g. ‘The movie industry developed rapidly with the stars becoming household names e.g. Charlie

Chaplin and Mary Pickford.’‘There was a craze for new dances such as the Charleston and the Black

Bottom.’‘Jazz music provided excitement and danger to whites who, for the first time, were

exposed to black music. Famous nightclubs, like the Cotton Club in Harlem, provided opportunities

for some of the great performers e.g. Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong.’

‘The sales of radios increased and brought entertainment into the home.’‘The car took Americans

to an increasing range of sporting events, beach holidays, shopping trips and picnics in the

country.’‘Sport was another boom area. Baseball became a big money sport with legendary teams

like the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. There were many outstanding personalities e.g.

‘Babe’ Ruth for baseball, Jack Dempsey for boxing and Bobby Jones for golf.’

(b)Why were many Americans shocked by the ‘flappers’?

e.g. ‘Many women disapproved of young, fashionable women, known as flappers, because they

would drink, smoke, date and wear outrageous new fashions.’’They were financially independent

and flappers could make their own decisions on how they lived. Some thought their behavior was

immoral.’

‘Flappers looked different. They had their hair cut short in the new “bobbed” style. They wore

make-up, went out on their own without a chaperone and smoked in public. The new fashions

were much simpler and freer and skirts became shorter. Most were not flappers and disapproved

of these changes.’

‘In rural USA, there were particularly tight restrictions owing to the Churches’ traditional attitude

to the role of women and they strongly objected to the “immoral ways” of the flapper.’

(c) How far did the USA become a more tolerant country during the 1920s? Explain your

answer.

e.g. ‘Life for women changed. Contraception reduced the size of families and labor-saving devices

allowed more women to work, making them financially independent.’‘For some women the

traditional restrictive role changed. Women wore more daring clothes. They smoked in public and

went out with men without a chaperone.’

‘By the 1920s, the USA was mixture of nationalities, cultures and religions. Immigrants made up

half of the population of the large cities. It was a melting pot.’

OR

e.g. ‘The Ku Klux Klan showed how intolerant American society could be. It was an organization

mainly in the South that believed in white supremacy. It attacked Jews and Black Americans

because it regarded them as inferior.’‘Most foreigners could only find low-paid jobs. Immigrant

ghettos appeared and violence and crime was high. This increased the American distrust of

foreigners. Sacco and Vanzetti were victims of anti-immigrant feeling. They were accused of

murder and executed despite witnesses proving their innocence.’

IGCSE – October/November 2007 01(a) What was Prohibition?

‘Prevention of the production, sale and transport of alcohol.’ (2) ‘It was introduced by the 18th

Amendment.’‘The making of the USA ‘dry’ from January 1920.’‘Making all states the same as the 13

‘dry’ ones.’ ‘An attempt to improve family life.’‘An attempt to make workers more reliable.’

b). Why did Prohibition fail?

‘Alcohol was attractive with “speakeasies” opening up resulting in an increase in alcohol

consumption.’

‘Many people made “moonshine”. This was dangerous and some people died from its effects.’

‘Alcohol was smuggled into the USA with many smugglers making huge amounts of money illegally.

Huge profits were made by gangs. They became powerful and tried to control through bribery and

violence.’

‘With the depression it was felt that there was little point in spending money on enforcing something

they could not enforce. Money would be better spent on helping the poor.’

‘It was better to make alcohol legal and create jobs for the unemployed and tax revenues could

increase.”

Which was the more important feature of US society in the 1920s: freedom or hatred? Explain

your answers.

‘At this time America was a very intolerant society. The Ku Klux Klan shows this. It was an

organisation mainly in the South that believed in white supremacy. It attacked Jews and Black

Americans because it regarded them as inferior. Klan members often lynched Black Americans for no

reason at all. They hated anyone who was not White.’

‘A teacher who worked in Tennessee, where the teaching of evolution was illegal, decided to put the

law to the test. He taught his class the theory of evolution and was arrested. He was found guilty of

breaking the law. The prosecution lawyer was made to look a laughing stock when in court he tried to

defend the Bible’s version of the creation.’

‘Most foreigners who entered the USA could only find low-paid jobs. Immigrant ghettoes began to

appear where violence and crime were high. This increased American distrust of foreigners. Sacco and

Venzetti were victims of the anti-immigrant feeling at the time. They criticised openly the American

system of government and were arrested and charged with a murder. Despite witnesses, many of

whom were Italian immigrants, they were found guilty and executed.’

Life for women changed. Contraception reduced the size of families and labour saving devices allowed

more women to work making them financially independent.’‘For some women the traditional

restrictive role changed. Women wore more daring clothes. They smoked in public and went out with

men without a chaperone.’

‘The popularity of the cinema soared during the 1920s. Hollywood influenced the way people dressed,

the perfume women wore and the way in which men grew a moustache. The cinema offered escapism

from real life.’

IGCSE – October/November 2011 12

(a) Describe the lives of black Americans in the southern states of the USA in the 1920s.

‘There was segregation.’‘They had the worst jobs and houses.’‘They had to attend separate schools

from white people.’ ‘The Jim Crow Laws affected them.’‘They were persecuted by the Ku Klux Klan.’

‘Few black people could vote.’

(b) Why did the Ku Klux Klan become powerful?

‘Amongst the members of the Ku Klux Klan were policemen, politicians and judges. This meant that

Klansmen were often not punished for their violent activities as they were protected by those

policemen and judges who were also members.’

Level 2 (One mark for each point)

e.g. ‘It was due to the film, The Birth of a Nation.’

‘The Klan was seen as the defender of true American values.’ ‘White Americans believed WASPs were

superior.’

‘Some policemen, judges and politicians were members.’ ‘The Klan had a reputation for violence.’

(c) ‘Violence was the main feature of life in the USA in the 1920s.’ How far do you agree with

this statement? Explain your answer.

Level 2

e.g. ‘Violence was a feature of organised crime.’

The Ku Klux Klan used violence against black Americans.’ ‘There was intolerance towards

immigrants.’

‘The flappers enjoyed increased freedom.’

‘Many people had more money and more leisure time.’ ‘Farmers faced many problems.’

Level 3 Explains agreement OR disagreement [3–5]

e.g. ‘Organised crime fuelled violence in the 1920s. Prohibition meant that rival gangs in the cities

fought for control of each other’s territory as there were huge profits to be made from illegal alcohol.

Al Capone is believed to have ordered the murders of 227 rival gangsters in four years with the

violence reaching its peak with the St Valentine’s Day massacre in 1929.’

OR

e.g. ‘Violence was not the main feature of life for everyone. The young middle class women known as

flappers gained greater independence and freedom of choice. They chose to cut their hair short,

smoke, dress in the latest fashions and stay out late unaccompanied by chaperones. They chose to cast

aside the usual social restraints facing women.’

IGCSE – October/November 2010

a) Describe how the assembly line operated.

‘In traditional manufacture, a worker would carry out a whole range of tasks in making a product,

but with the assembly line it brought the work to the worker.’‘The worker would only carry out

one task before the line moved the work on to the next worker.’

‘The key was to keep, as Ford put it, ‘everything in motion’.’‘The assembly-line was popularised by

Henry Ford in Detroit, producing his ‘Model T’ car.’‘This system of a division of labour was adopted

by other manufacturers apart from those in the automobile industry.’

(b) Why did the USA have an economic boom in the 1920s?

‘By this time, the USA was the world’s leading industrial nation, rich in raw materials such as coal,

iron ore and oil.’‘New industries such as electrical, automobiles and chemicals increased

production to meet demand.’

‘The use of mass production made goods cheaper so more people could afford them.’ ‘To reach the

mass market, companies spent huge amounts on advertising.’‘Confidence among Americans was

high and this encouraged investment in companies.’ ‘The growth of credit allowed people to buy

goods even if they did not have the cash.’ ‘Taxes were lowered by the government, but tariffs were

raised. This made imports expensive.’

To what extent did Americans benefit from the boom in the economy in the 1920s? Explain

your answer.

‘The increase in wealth was not shared equally. The rich and middle classes got richer while 60% of

families were below the poverty line.’

‘The wages of industrial workers increased slightly, especially in the industrial areas of the north and

west; these areas had prospered.’

‘On the agricultural areas of the south and the Great Plains, there was depression as there was less

demand for agricultural produce from these areas.’

‘Racial minorities were discriminated against. Many blacks were looking for work in the industrial

north but there was competition for jobs. This led to tension and race riots.’ ‘Many black agricultural

workers did not receive a wage but received a proportion of the crop.’

‘Native Americans were confined to reservations where the land was so poor that it was impossible to

make a living.’

Or

‘Workers in the newer industries benefited from consumer demand and continuous employment as

the real value of their incomes rose.’

‘Many benefited from the use of the motor car which made rural areas less isolated.’ ‘Availability of

consumer goods increased such as cars and radios. These were easier to buy using hire-purchase.’

‘Labour saving devices increased such as the vacuum cleaner. The availability of records and the

growth of the cinema changed the way of life for many.’

‘Shares in companies were bought and sold often on the margin. This gave income in the form of

dividends.’

‘Life for some women became freer and women were more independent. Young fashionable women,

known as flappers, drank, smoked, dated and wore outrageous fashions. More women went to work.’

IGCSE – October/November 2012 13

(a) What benefits did the USA gain from the growth of the motorcar industry in the 1920s?

‘The motor industry created much employment. By the end of the 1920s the motor industry employed

over half a million.’

‘The production of cars created employment in other industries and services, such as rubber and glass

production, road construction, components, oil production and hotel and restaurant services.’

‘The introduction of the assembly-line reduced the cost of car production making it possible for more

people to afford cars and, therefore, making them more mobile. Other US industries gained from the

assembly-line technique developed by Ford.’

‘People could get to work from places not served by other forms of transport. This affected town and

village development.’

‘Many ordinary people could go on holiday in their cars and also enjoy going out by car for their

entertainment.’

(b) Why was the First World War important for the ‘economic boom’ in the USA?

e.g. ‘During the War, the USA took over much of Europe’s trade around the world. American exports

increased to European colonies. After the War, these areas continued to trade with USA.’

‘The War created huge finances for the USA and these could be invested in industries after the War,

much of which produced consumer goods.’

‘During the War, strategic industries had developed well, including chemicals, iron and steel and

power. These could now be used for peacetime purposes. Before the War, Germany was the leading

chemical producing country. During the War, the USA overtook Germany and was then well placed

after the War to develop new materials such as rayon, plastics, resins and Bakelite.’

‘Mass nationwide advertising had been used for the first time in the USA during the War. Many of the

advertisers, who had learned their skills in wartime propaganda, now set up agencies to sell cars,

clothing and consumer goods.’

‘Competition from Canadian farmers was the main reason why US farmers faced serious

problems in the 1920s.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.

Level 2 --- ‘The problems were caused by overproduction.’ ‘Canadian farmers were more

efficient.’‘The US population was dropping.’‘Europe did not want US food after the War.’‘The tariff

system penalised US farmers.’ ‘Prices crashed and so did farmers’ incomes.’ ‘Southern farms were hit

by the boll-weevil.’

‘US farmers struggled against competition from the highly efficient Canadian wheat producers. The

Canadian farmers worked on huge units and were highly mechanised in their farming.’‘The US

imposed tariffs on imported goods. In retaliation, Europe imported very little US grain, but this did not

apply to Canadian grain.’

OR

e.g. ‘Overproduction was the biggest problem. From 1900-1920, farming was doing well and more and

more land was being farmed.’ Improved machinery, especially the combine harvester, and improved

fertilisers made the US agriculture very efficient. By 1920, it was producing surpluses of wheat which

nobody wanted.’

IGCSE – October/November 2008 01

(a) What problems did US farmers face in the 1920s?

‘Farmers were over producing. The US could not eat all that was produced nor could it export

enough and so prices fell.’‘As prices fell farmers incomes fell. Many farmers borrowed money but

as times got worse could not repay loans and so their farms were seized.’

‘Rural areas did not benefit from the boom. Few farms had amenities such as electricity or mains

water.’‘The south was worse where there was over-reliance on one crop.’‘The combined

harvester.’

‘Competition from Canadian farmers’.

b) Why did some industries in the US fail to benefit from the economic boom of the 1920s?

level 2 -- ‘The traditional industries lost markets.’ ‘People spent their money on cheaper products.’

‘Cleaner fuels were used.’‘World trade declined.’

e.g. ‘In the long-established traditional industries consumer demand did not grow as fast. The markets

for these goods were long established and the products were not new and exciting.’ ‘Some traditional

industries faced competition from the newer industries such as cotton vs man-made fibres and oil as

people switched to electricity.’

‘Coal lost ground to oil, gas and electricity and mines closed.’ ‘Shipbuilding suffered because of a

decline in world trade.’

‘New production methods made newer goods cheaper to be produced.’

(b)Why did the cinema grow in popularity in the 1920s?

‘There was increased leisure time as the average working hours per week decreased. Average wages

rose, giving more disposable income. A lot of this spare time and money was channelled into

entertainment such as the cinema.’People flocked to see the stars of the screen, many of whom had

become household names. This influenced the way people dressed and groomed themselves.’

‘The film industry provided cheap entertainment for millions and for many offered escapism from real

life.’‘The Hollywood stars showed the public the style and manners of high life. Many aspired to this

lifestyle in the Roaring Twenties.’

‘Government policy was the main reason for the boom in the economy in the 1920s.’ How far

do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.

e.g. ‘Presidents Harding and Coolidge believed in a policy of laissez-faire or not interfering with the

economy. Instead they encouraged the growth of industry by low taxes. These encouraged business

owners to invest and give consumers more money to spend.’

‘They also protected American industry by introducing tariffs as part of the US isolationist policy. Here

a tax was placed on foreign goods coming into the US, making them more expensive than those

produced at home and thus making them harder to sell.’

‘The Republican governments did not like trade unions. Employers were allowed to use violence to

break strikes and refuse to employ union members. This meant employers could hold down wages

and keep working hours long.’

OR

‘The widespread availability of electricity created a demand for consumer goods such as radios,

vacuum cleaners and refrigerators. This was aided by new products such as rayon, bakelite and

cellophane.’

‘The introduction of credit purchases gave opportunities for people to own goods whilst paying for

them by instalments.’

‘The expansion of the motor industry boosted the whole economy as more and more cars were

bought. It stimulated other industries such as the oil industry, the construction industry as well as

steel, rubber and glass.’

‘The USA was rich in raw materials such as oil, iron ore and coal and did not have to purchase these

abroad, keeping down costs.’

‘Increased production of consumer goods increased employment. This meant people had more money

to spend on consumer goods and in turn this created demand and encouraged further production.’

(c)‘Prohibition failed because of corruption.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain

your answer.

‘Prohibition led to massive corruption. Most of the law enforcement officers were themselves involved

in the liquor trade. It was difficult to get convictions because senior officers and judges were in the

pay of criminals. One in twelve prohibition agents were dismissed for corruption.’

‘Big breweries stayed in business throughout the period by bribing local officials, prohibition agents

and the police.’

OR

‘Drinking illegal alcohol was too popular and too profitable. The vast majority of Americans did not

agree with the law and were prepared to break it.’

‘The Depression made an important difference. With millions out of work, it seemed nonsense that the

government was spending large amounts of money enforcing an unpopular and ineffective law. The

money could more wisely be used to help the poor.’ ‘Opponents of Prohibition were able to argue that

by legalising alcohol an enormous number of jobs would be created and tax revenue would increase.’

‘Many Americans were concerned about the amount of organised crime which Prohibition

encouraged. Rival gangs fought for control and gangland murders increased. The gangs made vast

profits, allowing them to expand into other areas of criminal activity such as prostitution.’

‘Agents were employed to prevent illegal imports of alcohol, illegal production and the growth of

speakeasies but there were not enough and they were ineffective.’

IGCSE – May/June 2011 12

Describe the impact of the motorcar on life in the USA in the 1920s.

‘The motor industry created much employment. By the end of the 1920s the motor

industry was the USA’s biggest industry.’

‘The production of cars created employment in other industries and services, such as rubber

and glass production and road making.’

‘The introduction of the assembly line reduced the cost of car production, making it possible

for more people to afford cars and, therefore, make them more mobile.’

‘It meant people could get to work from places not served by other forms of transport. This

affected town and village development.’

‘Many ordinary people could go on holidays in their cars and also enjoy going out by car for

their entertainment.’

Why was life difficult for many US farmers during the 1920s?

‘After the War, Europe imported less food from the USA partly because Europe was poor

and partly as a response to US tariffs which disadvantaged Europe when exporting to the

USA.’

‘The Canadian wheat producers were highly efficient and brought stiff competition to the US

farmers.’

‘An underlying problem was over-production. Up to 1920, when farming was doing well, more

and more land was used for farming. Improved machinery, such as the combined harvester,

made US agriculture extremely efficient. The result of this was that it was producing

surpluses of wheat nobody wanted.’

‘With reduced incomes, many farmers could not afford to pay back the loans they had taken

out to buy the new machinery. This resulted in eviction and unemployment.’

(c) ‘The impact of the First World War was the most important cause of the ‘economic boom’ in the

1920s.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.

‘Presidents Harding and Coolidge believed in a policy of laissez- faire or not interfering

with the economy. Instead, they encouraged the growth of industry by low taxes. This

encouraged business owners to invest and give consumers more money to spend.’

‘They also protected American industry by introducing tariffs as part of the US isolationist

policy. A tax was placed on foreign goods coming into the USA, making them more

expensive than those produced at home and, therefore, making them harder to sell.’

‘The Republican governments did not like trade unions. Employers were allowed to use

violence to break strikes and refuse to employ union members. This meant employers could

hold down wages and keep working hours long.’

‘The widespread availability of electricity created a demand for consumer goods.’

‘The introduction of credit purchases gave opportunities for people to own goods whilst

paying for them by instalments.’

‘The expansion of the car industry boosted the whole economy as more cars were bought. It

stimulated other industries such as oil, steel, rubber, iron and coal.’

‘Increased production of consumer goods increased employment. This meant people had

more money to spend on consumer goods and in turn create demand and encouraged

further production.’

OR

‘The First World War created a huge demand in Europe for food, which meant US farmers

could get reasonable prices, but this was to end soon after the War.’

‘The demand for ships and weapons was massive during the War years to keep Britain and

France supplied, but this stalled soon after the War finished and US companies had to turn to

other products.’

‘The War meant an economic boom during the War years, but after the War the US decided

to isolate itself from Europe and it had to convert its industry to satisfy the home market in

consumer goods.

What problems did many older, more established, industries face in America in the 1920s?

‘They were losing markets.’

‘Cleaner fuels were available.’

‘Selling established old style products.’

‘Competition from newer industries such as cotton v man-made fibres and electricity

instead of oil. (2)

‘A decline in world trade which affected ship building.’

‘Newer products were cheaper.’

Why did agriculture not share in the economic prosperity of the 1920s?

‘The availability of hire purchase to buy consumer goods was the main reason for America’s

economic success in the 1920s.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your

answer.

‘The consumer boom was encouraged by the easy availability of credit. Hire purchase

enabled consumers to buy goods they wanted with a small deposit and then pay the rest

off in small weekly or monthly instalments. Mail-order catalogues gave people in every

part of the country the chance to benefit from the consumer boom because the latest

fashions were available by post.’

OR

‘Presidents Harding and Coolidge believed in a policy of laissez-faire or not interfering

with the economy. Instead they encouraged the growth of industry by low taxes. These

encouraged business owners to invest and give consumers more money to spend.’

‘They also protected American industry by introducing tariffs as part of the US isolationist

policy. Here a tax was placed on foreign goods coming into the US, making them more

expensive that those produced at home and thus making them harder to sell.’

‘The Republican governments did not like trade unions. Employers were allowed to use

violence to break strikes and refuse to employ union members. This meant employers

could hold down wages and to keep working hours long.’

‘The widespread availability of electricity created a demand for consumer goods such as

radios, vacuum cleaners and refrigerators. This was aided by new products such as

rayon, bakelite and cellophane.’

‘The expansion of the motor industry boosted the whole economy as more and more

cars were bought. It stimulated other industries such as the oil industry, the construction

industry as well as steel, rubber and glass.’

‘The USA was rich in raw materials such as oil, iron ore and coal and did not have to

purchase these abroad, keeping down costs.’

‘Increased production of consumer goods increased employment. This meant people

had more money to spend on consumer goods and in turn this created demand and

encouraged further production.’