Consumer Boom in the 1920s Flashcards

What is meant by the consumer boom in 1920s America?

A big rise in people buying goods for the home and for leisure.

Name three consumer goods that many Americans bought in the 1920s.

Cars, radios, and vacuum cleaners.

How did mass production help cause the consumer boom?

It made goods faster and cheaper, so more people could afford them.

What is hire purchase?

Buying an item with a small deposit, then paying the rest in weekly or monthly instalments.

How did hire purchase support the consumer boom?

It let families get goods straight away and spread the cost over time, so sales grew.

How did advertising fuel the consumer boom?

Adverts on radio, in newspapers and cinemas made people want new brands and goods.

Why did the growth of electricity matter for the consumer boom?

More homes had power, so people could use fridges, cookers, irons and vacuum cleaners.

How did car ownership boost other parts of the economy?

Car buying created demand for steel, rubber, glass, petrol, roads and garages, so more jobs.

What does 'keeping up with the Joneses' mean in the 1920s?

Feeling pressure to buy the latest goods to match neighbours and friends.

Did everyone benefit from the consumer boom?

No. Many farmers and some workers in old industries stayed poor and could not buy much.

How did rising wages and shorter hours help the boom?

People had more spare money and time, so they spent more on goods and leisure.

How did chain stores and mail-order catalogues help the boom?

They sold goods cheaply across the country and made shopping easy, even in rural areas.

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