What was the impact of electricity on 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.

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.

Why was electricity important in the 1920s?

The thing that was most important about electricity in the 1920s was its ability to transform the lives of the people who were able to get it.  During this decade, electric power became very common in cities.  The link below says that about 85% of all homes in cities had electricity by 1930.

Electricity made life much easier.  For example, it allowed women who worked in the home to use vacuum cleaners instead of having to beat their rugs by hand.  It also made life more fun.  For example, it allowed people to listen to radio shows -- a major form of entertainment during this time.

So, overall, electricity was important because it improved the lives of Americans, especially in the cities.