Theme 4: Living Standards Questions
To what extent did the living standards of the American people see progress in the
years 1917–41?
YES-Improvements made in healthcare
TMT: there was progress in the living standards of American people because increases in
spending and research in health care led to an increase in prosperity for the American
nation.
- In 1917, the spending of the government on health care was $3.1 million. This grew
exponentially in 1930 to $11 million and in 1940 to $32.7 million.
- As a result of this spending in the time period, the death rates for small pox, whooping
cough and polio dropped throughout the period.
- In order to further improve the situation of the nation, the government invested more
into providing free healthcare for those who were unable to afford it.
YES-Education
TMT: There was progress in living standards because a higher proportion of children were
being properly educated and were going to school as the years progressed. This would
make the next future of adults more aware of their nation and would continue this cycle of
education.
- 1917, 27.1% of children aged 14-17 were going to school
- 1929, this increased to 51.5% and in 1940, it was 73%
- This highlighted that the living standards were improving because more children were
being sent to school, rather than to work. This meant that the effects of the Great
Depression were dwindling
- The government also enforced Labour Legislation in 1938 to ban under 15s from working
in most non-agricultural jobs to further push the need for children to focus on education.
YES: Household appliances
TMT: there was progress in living standards because throughout the progression of years,
an increased proportion of people were able to afford more appliances that would make
housework more efficient. This can be seen as coming from an increase in people’s
incomes due to more consumerism and spending.
In 1935, FDR set up the REA to provide power lines for rural areas, to increase the amount
of electrification
1939, the REA had set up 100,000 miles of new power lines
In 1940,
- 69 % had running water.
- 59% had an indoor flushing toilet
- 78% of homes had electric lighting
, - 42% had central heating
- 80% of homes had an iron and radio
- 50% had a washing machine, fridge and toaster
NO- Minorities
TMT: there was not progress in living standards because there was still the minority who
were suffering.
- Those living in rural areas and those who were part of the minority had incredibly low
wages and basics.
- An average wage for a farm worker was at $298.32 per year, providing only basic food and
board. This was still less than the average wage for a non-white person and a ¼ less than
the wage for a white man.
- There was still inequality of wage difference between a white man and a non-white man
- In 1939, the wage for a white man was $1,234 whereas for a non-white man, it was $537
How accurate is it to say that the most significant feature improving the quality of life
in the USA, in the years 1917-80, was the development of a car-owning culture?
- Could also use the points of sports separate
YES-National Travel
This was the most significant feature in improving quality of life because it provided more
mobility to the nation’s population and enabled them to access more benefits from life in
work opportunities and opportunities in tourism.
- Access to more
- Associated supplies -> filling stations increased from 121k in 1929 to 216,000 in 1967,
making $22.7million
- Industrial effects as factories expanded and employed more workers, spare parts
produced, industries producing raw materials e.g. tyres, steel rubber beneffiteed
- Increase in amount of roads 1917 2,925,000 miles of public road -> 1980, were 3,860,000
miles of road
, - Increase in mobility as people able to travel further, faster and cheaper.
- 1958, 56,000 motels making $850 million a year
- Increase in amount of salesmen and door-to-door deliveries
- Led to development in shopping malls (Southdale in 1956, which was the world’s first air
conditioned mall)
- 1954, 3,800 drive ins
NO- AIRPLANE TRAVEL
TMT it was the most significant feature of improving quality of life because it enabled for
the economy to be further pushed into new areas such as international tourism and it
improved the technology and inventions of America, to ones that could be used more.
- From 1917-1945, airplanes were unpressurised so were only able to fly at low altitudes.
They were also not educated about the risks with smoking in the cabins, leading to many
malfunctions and crashes in planes. The airplanes were only able to carry around 20
passengers due to lack of development in technology
- The Kelly/Air Mail Act in 1925 put in national routes for mail delivery and companies put
seats in to take passengers.
- 1926 Commerce Air Act set air traffic rules and appointed officials to inspect airplanes for
safety.
- 1938: Civil aeronautics act set up the Civil Aeronautics Board to regulate air prices, routes
and relations.
- These actions begun the popularity of air travel.
- After WW2, invention of jet engines and radar meant planes could fly in poor weather.
There was an increase in ability to take more passengers through the development of
Boeing 707
- Grand Canyon collision in 1956 killed 1800 -> Federal Aviation Administration set up in
1958 to improve safety.
Once the 1970s hit
- Increase in air traffic and falling prices meant middle class could fly too
- It enabled americans to take jobs further away
- International travel increased from In 1970: 5,260,000 Americans went abroad and the US
had 2,288,000 visitors.
- In 1980: 8,163,000 went abroad and there were 8,200,000 foreign visitors.
- 1978, Airline Deregulation Act ran down the Civil Aeronautics Board which ended
government control over airlines. This enabled airline companies to lower their prices and
cut down services so that they were flying more passengers in the planes.
NO-HEALTHCARE
To what extent did the living standards of the American people see progress in the
years 1917–41?
YES-Improvements made in healthcare
TMT: there was progress in the living standards of American people because increases in
spending and research in health care led to an increase in prosperity for the American
nation.
- In 1917, the spending of the government on health care was $3.1 million. This grew
exponentially in 1930 to $11 million and in 1940 to $32.7 million.
- As a result of this spending in the time period, the death rates for small pox, whooping
cough and polio dropped throughout the period.
- In order to further improve the situation of the nation, the government invested more
into providing free healthcare for those who were unable to afford it.
YES-Education
TMT: There was progress in living standards because a higher proportion of children were
being properly educated and were going to school as the years progressed. This would
make the next future of adults more aware of their nation and would continue this cycle of
education.
- 1917, 27.1% of children aged 14-17 were going to school
- 1929, this increased to 51.5% and in 1940, it was 73%
- This highlighted that the living standards were improving because more children were
being sent to school, rather than to work. This meant that the effects of the Great
Depression were dwindling
- The government also enforced Labour Legislation in 1938 to ban under 15s from working
in most non-agricultural jobs to further push the need for children to focus on education.
YES: Household appliances
TMT: there was progress in living standards because throughout the progression of years,
an increased proportion of people were able to afford more appliances that would make
housework more efficient. This can be seen as coming from an increase in people’s
incomes due to more consumerism and spending.
In 1935, FDR set up the REA to provide power lines for rural areas, to increase the amount
of electrification
1939, the REA had set up 100,000 miles of new power lines
In 1940,
- 69 % had running water.
- 59% had an indoor flushing toilet
- 78% of homes had electric lighting
, - 42% had central heating
- 80% of homes had an iron and radio
- 50% had a washing machine, fridge and toaster
NO- Minorities
TMT: there was not progress in living standards because there was still the minority who
were suffering.
- Those living in rural areas and those who were part of the minority had incredibly low
wages and basics.
- An average wage for a farm worker was at $298.32 per year, providing only basic food and
board. This was still less than the average wage for a non-white person and a ¼ less than
the wage for a white man.
- There was still inequality of wage difference between a white man and a non-white man
- In 1939, the wage for a white man was $1,234 whereas for a non-white man, it was $537
How accurate is it to say that the most significant feature improving the quality of life
in the USA, in the years 1917-80, was the development of a car-owning culture?
- Could also use the points of sports separate
YES-National Travel
This was the most significant feature in improving quality of life because it provided more
mobility to the nation’s population and enabled them to access more benefits from life in
work opportunities and opportunities in tourism.
- Access to more
- Associated supplies -> filling stations increased from 121k in 1929 to 216,000 in 1967,
making $22.7million
- Industrial effects as factories expanded and employed more workers, spare parts
produced, industries producing raw materials e.g. tyres, steel rubber beneffiteed
- Increase in amount of roads 1917 2,925,000 miles of public road -> 1980, were 3,860,000
miles of road
, - Increase in mobility as people able to travel further, faster and cheaper.
- 1958, 56,000 motels making $850 million a year
- Increase in amount of salesmen and door-to-door deliveries
- Led to development in shopping malls (Southdale in 1956, which was the world’s first air
conditioned mall)
- 1954, 3,800 drive ins
NO- AIRPLANE TRAVEL
TMT it was the most significant feature of improving quality of life because it enabled for
the economy to be further pushed into new areas such as international tourism and it
improved the technology and inventions of America, to ones that could be used more.
- From 1917-1945, airplanes were unpressurised so were only able to fly at low altitudes.
They were also not educated about the risks with smoking in the cabins, leading to many
malfunctions and crashes in planes. The airplanes were only able to carry around 20
passengers due to lack of development in technology
- The Kelly/Air Mail Act in 1925 put in national routes for mail delivery and companies put
seats in to take passengers.
- 1926 Commerce Air Act set air traffic rules and appointed officials to inspect airplanes for
safety.
- 1938: Civil aeronautics act set up the Civil Aeronautics Board to regulate air prices, routes
and relations.
- These actions begun the popularity of air travel.
- After WW2, invention of jet engines and radar meant planes could fly in poor weather.
There was an increase in ability to take more passengers through the development of
Boeing 707
- Grand Canyon collision in 1956 killed 1800 -> Federal Aviation Administration set up in
1958 to improve safety.
Once the 1970s hit
- Increase in air traffic and falling prices meant middle class could fly too
- It enabled americans to take jobs further away
- International travel increased from In 1970: 5,260,000 Americans went abroad and the US
had 2,288,000 visitors.
- In 1980: 8,163,000 went abroad and there were 8,200,000 foreign visitors.
- 1978, Airline Deregulation Act ran down the Civil Aeronautics Board which ended
government control over airlines. This enabled airline companies to lower their prices and
cut down services so that they were flying more passengers in the planes.
NO-HEALTHCARE
