Electricity played a major role in the 1920s. Many new appliances and products were developed during this time. Wash machines, irons, vacuum cleaners, electric ovens, dishwashers, and the electric razor were used. Many of these devices helped cut down on the amount of time it took to do household chores. This gave people more time to enjoy life and to get out of the house.
Electricity impacted the entertainment industry. Many people listened to the radio to get the news and to be entertained. People listened to music on the radio, and soap operas became a common form of radio entertainment as we moved into the 1930s. People also went to movie theaters to watch films and went to clubs to listen to music.
Electricity also impacted businesses. Factories depended on electricity to run their machines and assembly lines. This allowed industries to manufacture more products. Electricity has a significant impact on our lives in the 1920s.
The period between 1920 and 1930 is renowned for great change with regards to consumer behavior. Also known as the “Roaring Twenties” this period was marked by significant development and change in both culture and lifestyle. Electricity played an integral role in the development that took place.
First and foremost, the production of domestic electric appliances such as washing machines, vacuum cleaners, fans, iron boxes and dish washers among others eased work load and enabled tasks be completed faster and more efficiently. Through the “Electrify Your Home Campaign”, majority of households were convinced to modernize their homes by fully fitting them with electronics.
Secondly, electricity had a significant impact on the entertainment scene. Televisions and radios that broadcasted various programs were manufactured. Due to the eased workload by household appliances, people found time to engage in entertainment. In fact, Hollywood is said to have blossomed during this period with people flocking to movie theatres to watch their favorite actors.
Thirdly, through the construction of an electric car assembly line pioneered by Henry Ford, mass production of automobiles was realized. With this, the cost of production substantially reduced causing the final cost of the automobiles themselves to drop. As a result, more people bought cars and this ultimately impacted other automobile industries such as the petroleum and infrastructure industries.
In conclusion, electricity had a significant impact on the economy as a whole by transforming both domestic and commercial spheres of the society.
Further Reading
During the 1920s the increasing availability of electricity (especially in cities) changed the ways in which people lived their everyday lives. In general, it gave them more time to have fun and more ways in which to spend that time.
Electricity gave people more time to have fun because it cut down on the amount of work they had to do. This was especially true for women as household appliances came to make their work easier. Electric lights meant that people could stay up longer in the evenings as well.
Electricity gave people more things to do because there were new forms of entertainment that were powered by electricity. The best known of these were radios and movies.
The 1920s were a time when people were doing more things for fun than they ever had before. This was made possible in part by electricity.
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