1. Unit 5 - The Business of America

2. President Calvin Coolidge
Pro-business
“The chief business of the American people is business”
Republican policies
Favored low taxes
High profits for businesses
Gave businesses more credit to expand
Low govt. influence
Private enterprise should flourish
High tariffs
Reduced income taxes – more to spend

4. Impact of the Automobile
Henry Ford
Created automobile assembly line
Allowed for mass production of cars
Cheap cars were affordable
More people could buy them
Introduced $5 work day

9. Impact of the Automobile
Construction of paved roads
Houses with garage or carport and driveway
Growth of car-associated businesses
Gas station
Motels
Increased mobility
Liberated rural families
Vacations in far away places
Urban Sprawl
Spreading of cities
Cars can be used to commute to city center

10. 10

11. 11

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13. America’s standard of living increases
1920s – time of economic prosperity
Americans owned 40% of world’s wealth
Average income increased 35%
Industrial production rose tremendously
National income increased over 70%

14. Airplanes
Commercial airlines
Carried cargo and passengers

18. Electrical conveniences
Electricity can be transmitted long distances
Electrical appliances
Dishwasher, washing machine, vacuum cleaner
Freed housewives from household work

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22. Advertising Aimed at people’s desires for youth, beauty Brand names
Luxury goods viewed as necessities

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27. Superficial Prosperity
Increased production
Productivity increases – more goods produced
Chain stores sprouted selling goods
Incomes up

28. Superficial Prosperity
Problems
Growing income gap between workers and managers
Not all industries prospered
Iron and railroads
Farm production increased leading to lower prices
People needed to keep buying

29. Buying Goods on credit Installment plan
Goods purchased with little money up front
Allowed people to buy goods and pay over time
Banks provided low interest rates
Allowed Americans to keep buying