Was the Second World War the main reason for changes in social welfare provision between 1918 and 1979?
All for this textbook (4)
Written for
A/AS Level
PEARSON (PEARSON)
History 2015
1H: Britain transformed, 1918–97
All documents for this subject (1)
Seller
Follow
100rosie100
Reviews received
Content preview
Why did America go through an economic boom?
Reason Explanaton
- Andrew Mellon controlled the economy throughout the 1920s. He believed
in laissez faire and wanted to give big businesses just what they wanted.
- Taxes on the rich were reduced from 50% in 1921 to 20% in 1926. This
encouraged the rich to invest in new and developing industries.
- Tax advantages for large corporatons encouraged the growth of industry,
Government Policies so that the US Treasury actually received more in tax due to increased
profits.
- The Government introduced tarifs on foreign goods coming into America.
The ‘Fordney-McCumber Tarif Act’ of 1922 raised tarifs to protect industry.
They felt that if foreign goods were very expensive, then people would prefer
to buy cheaper, American goods, thus protectng their own industry.
- America became the world’s largest industrial power by 1918, due to the
demand for supplies and arms during the war.
- While the European countries were busy fightng, the USA took over many
of their colonial markets.
Impact of WW1 - Many of America’s industrial rivals had become bankrupt as a result of the
war, which benefiied America and made it able to develop its economy
more efectvely.
- According to the First World War Foreign Debts Commission, Britain, France
and Italy owed America $22 billion plus interest.
- The trade unions became weaker. No strike agreements, called ‘Yellow Dog
Contracts’ were upheld by the courts so employers had greater control over
their workforces.
Weak Trade Unions
- Unions were excluded altogether from the car industry.
- Employers were able to keep wages low and working hours long, at a tme
when profits were increasing rapidly.
- The total producton of American industry increased by 50% during the
1920s. This boom was fuelled by a demand for ‘new’ consumer goods, such
as radios and washing machines.
Inventons & - The largest growth could be seen in the motor industry. Car ownership
Consumer Goods increased from 9 million to 26 million between 1919 and 1929, which is an
increase of 289%. This period was called the ‘Second Industrial Revoluton.’
- Mail-order companies meant people in the countryside had access to the
wide range of goods on ofer.
- In order to increase demand for goods, hire purchase was introduced. This
allowed consumers to buy goods for a small deposit and then pay of the rest
of the price in a series of small instalments for a small rate of interest.
Credit - By 1929, 75% of cars and 50% of major household appliances were bought
on credit.
- Between 1919 and 1929 the amount of consumer credit, excluding
agriculture, grew from $32 billion to $60 billion.
Corporatons & Big - Big businesses really benefiied from Republican policies, enabling them to
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller 100rosie100. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $3.87. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.