Consumerism+and+Advertising

This advertisement from the 1920's represents what some of the things men smoked and it tells people that these things are not harmful to you or other people around. Until newer advancements in medical technology Americans were often left in the dark on what all Tobacco and cigars etc. contained. Edgeworth tobacco was created so men could just put it in their pipes and light it and walk away. Smoking pipes were founded among most elderly and youthfulmen. If Americans would have known what was in these substances more Americans would probably be alive.

1920s Advertising By Jacob Ratzke



In the 1920’s, the economy was booming. Businesses had great market success and new products were being invented and sold at low prices. Consumerism grew throughout the 1920’s and with it came new inventions that changed the course of time. Culture also had a major effect on consumerism. Despite the advantages of consumerism in the 1920’s, there was one big downfall that occurred after, the Great Depression. The Great Depression would leave permanent effects on the economy and would change American’s way of life. More electricity was being generated in America by 1929 than the rest of the world. This made it possible for the mass production of electrical products in America. Automobiles were among one of the most popular products in 1920. In 1908, Ford Motor Company’s first model of a car was the Model T automobile. The price of the Model T automobile was originally $850, but Ford was able to standardize their manufacturing through a step-by-step analysis and by 1924 the car was selling for no more than $290. Because of the low price, over 30 million Americans owned automobiles by 1930. Over time the dependency for cars increased, Ford’s model had made huge success and because everyone had a car certain places like gas stations and factories that sold tires or glass had huge success in the future. Another invention that was made possible because of the mass production of electricity was The Jazz Singer in 1927, a device that made it possible for sound in films. This device helped make movies famous and film production became big business. Both of these devices had major significance in the 1920’s and made it possible for different businesses and jobs in the future. Culture had changed greatly throughout the 1920’s. African-Americans and women had more rights. After WWI, the black population nearly doubled in the northern states because of labor shortages after the war. Blacks found out that they had more rights than in the South and they were able to speak more freely and were able to spread their cultural influences. Most of the famous African-Americans in the 1920s either played or sung Jazz music. People often spent money to hear them play or sing Jazz music and radios that had Jazz music became very popular. Women also were experiencing a change in rights. Because of the ratification of the 19th amendment, women were able to vote. A drastic alteration in appearance and values in women also occurred in the 1920’s. High dresses, rolled down stockings, smoking, and excessive use of makeup made women stand out. Purchases on these products reached new highs in the 1920’s and the women of the 1920’s were symbolized as “flappers” or characterized as rebellious. The actions of women in the 1920’s could have saved women’s rights as individuals in America. Both groups brought significant products that not only represented their ethnicity but also represented how greatly America had changed over time. Despite the success of consumerism, the economy was too unstable. So when the stock market had crashed the economy took a major hit and America hit a depression. The Great Depression took a major toll on the American economy. The Great Depression ended consumerism in America and left major damage to even today’s economy. Consumerism had been somewhat responsible for the Great Depression, but a lot of good came from consumerism and that’s the important thing.

1920s Consumerism and Popular Purchases By Austin Smith