ENN > Why di did not? “While the 1920s saw economic expansion in many industries, some went into decline, Overall growth never affects every part of the economy in the same way. The increase in car ownership, for example, had a negative impact on the umber of people travelling by train. In general, the new industries flourished while the traditional industries decline ‘but this was not always the case. Steel, oil, and construction, for example, continued to expand during the 1920s even though they were all well-established industries, some industries prosper while others Building and construction ‘The 1920s were the golden age of building and construction in America as new businesses required factories, offices, shops, and showrooms connected by new roads. Many skyscraper projects were designed during this time including New York’s Chrysler Building and the 102-storey Empire State Building, both completed during the early 1930s, Less eye-catching was the increase in the number of homes, schools, hospitals, and other public buildings. Cotton and woollen textiles “The general increase in the standard of living coupled with the increase in the number of shops and department stores meant that there was increased demand for clothes, But since these were often manufactured from synthetic fibyes such as rayon and celanese (artifical silk) there was actually less demand for cotton and woollen textiles, The problem for the traditional textile industry was made worse by thee change in fashions—shorter hemlines for women’s Skitts and dresses meant that less material was used. Textile operatives in the fotion and woollen industries were among the lowest paid factory workers. ‘A. Fig. 11.2 Construction workers attaching steel beams tothe framework of the Manhattan Company Building, 1930ssteel ‘The steel industry did not share the fate of some other older industries, partly because of the demands of the tar industry which used 20 per cent of steel output. Other demand came from the building industry which required steel girders, while most new industries were equipped with machinery that made use of steel or used stee] components in its products Coal ‘As with textiles the coal industry suffered from overproduction. Oil, gas, and clectricity were increasingly used as alternatives both in domestic homes and in industrial premises. Existing users of coal could often burn the fuel more efficiently, so adding to the reduction in demand. The industry was plagued by wage culs, pit closures, and strike action. Motor cars ‘This was the undoubted success story of the 1920s. The industry was dominated by three firms: Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors. Henry Ford led the field, reducing the cost of his Model T from $850 in 1908 to $290 in the 1920s. This was made possible through the achievement of high volume sales—15 million Model T Fords had been manufactured by 1927. Workers at Ford's Detroit factory were paid high wages but they had to sign agreements to say that they would not join unions. Henry Ford writing about the Model T Ford car, 1922. | will build a car for the great multitude... It will be ‘constructed of the best materials, by the best men to be hired, after the simplest designs that modern engineering can devise. But it wll be so low in price that no man making agood salary will be unable to own ‘one-and enjoy with his family the blessing of hours of pleasure in God's great open spaces. SOURCE 1 Alistair Cooke writing about the Model T Ford car, 1973. Alistair Cooke was a British/American journalist, television personality, and broadcaster. He spent much of his life reporting on aspects of American life for the BBC. Itis staggering to consider what the Model T was to lead toin both industry and folkways.Itcertainly wove the first network of paved highways... Beginning in the early 1920s, people who had never taken a holiday .. could now explore the South, New England, even the West, ‘and in time the whole horizon of the United States. Most of all, the Model T gave to the farmer and rancher, miles from anywhere, a new pair of legs. SOURCE 2 ‘A. Fig. 11.3 The 15 millionth Model Ford car coming off the production line a the Dearborn factory, May 1927 Trusted and Trustworthy ‘A. Fig. 11.4 Advertisement fora Buick car, 1928 1. How useful is Source 1 as evidence of the qual the Model T Ford car? 2. What impact did the Model T Ford car ga have onthe lives of the American people according to the writer in Source 2? Chapter 11 259