Section 3: Business of America Chapter 12 Section 3: Business of America

American Industries Flourish President Calvin Coolidge said, “the chief business of American people is business”. Governments goal: to keep government interference in business to a minimum and to allow private enterprises to flourish. Coolidge’s administration continued to place high tariffs on foreign imports which helped American manufactures For most of the 1920s this approach seemed to work. People had more money in their pockets

Impact of the Automobile The automobile literally changed American landscape The legendary route 66 provided a route for people traveling west from Chicago to California. Allowed both women and young people to become more independent In the late 1920s about 80% of all registered motor vehicles in the world were in the U.S.

Electrical Conveniences These appliances made lives of house wives more simple and opened up their lives to the community Gasoline powered much of the economic boom in 1920 Electricity transformed the nation.

The Dawn of Modern Advertisement There were new goods flooding markets Companies hired psychologists to study how to appeal to people’s desires for youthfulness, beauty, health and wealth Business people applied to power for advertising to other areas of American life

Buying goods on credit Easy credit provided a way for avg. income citizens to afford new consumer goods Banks provided the money at low interest The 1920s brought technological and economical changes, life seemed easier The installment plan enabled people to buy goods over an extended period w/out having to put down much money of the time of purchase.