Bellwork What were some of the social changes of the 1920s? Why did South Carolinians participate in the Southern Literary Renaissance?

Economy of the 1920s 8-6.3

I. Impact of WWI During the war, SC produces food for armies and cotton for uniforms After the war, decrease in demand led to lower prices Spring 1920: cotton is 40 cents per pound December 1920: cotton is 13 ½ cents per pound

I. Impact of WWI End of cotton Boll weevil destroyed the cotton crop In some years, it destroyed ½ the crop Drought and soil conditions made it worse Farmers turn to peaches and livestock

II. Bank Failure Farmers borrowed money to expand land and equipment and buy pesticides What happened when cotton prices dropped? Farmers did earn any money so they couldn’t make payments on their land

II. Bank Failure Banks foreclose, which means the banks take their land But, no one wants to buy the land from the banks b/c they are too poor. So, the banks are failing. Farmers become sharecroppers, move to the North or mill towns Before the stock market crash: the state is in a depression

III. Textile Industry High demand during war years, then it drops off Man made fibers like nylon replace cotton Shorter skirts used less material International competition increased as tariffs lowered

III. Textile Industry New England mills close up and move south Why? Cheap labor To increase profit: “speed-up” = machines run faster “stretch-out” = workers in charge of more machines

III. Textile Industry Wages are still low Mills are making more cloth than needed, so workers are fired By the end of the 1920s, textile industry was in trouble just like agriculture

Review Questions

What word means “spreading information to large audiences” What word means “spreading information to large audiences”? What new invention of the 1920s helped create it?

Which of the following best describes SC’s economy after WWI? Farmers made money due to increased supply Farmers lost money when foreign countries began to grow their own crops Cotton prices rose due to shortages from the boll weevil Textile mills began to close due to decreased demand

What happened after critics called SC a cultural wasteland?

What was a celebration of African American culture What was a celebration of African American culture? Name one important participant from SC.

True or False: SC did not have many flappers and our society stayed pretty much the same during the 1920s.

True or False: Cotton remained the primary cash crop in SC until the 1940s.

True or False: Cotton prices continued to rise after WWI and farmers stopped growing peaches to grow more cotton.

True of False: The Stock Market Crash had little impact on our economy since SC was already severely depressed.

Name on reason textile mills suffered during the 1920s Name on reason textile mills suffered during the 1920s. What was one of the ways textile mills tried to increase profits?