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Homestead and Pacific Railway Acts Enacted
The Homestead Act, which encourages settlers to travel west towards California, provided a land incentive by offering 160 acres of land in the western frontier to any settler in exchange for a small sum of money and a promise to maintain residency. The Pacific Railway Act also promoted westward expansion by building railroads expanding all the way to the California. This meant that most American households were very small and cheaply built with very defined roles within the house. -
Invention of the Light Bulb and Increased Use of Electricity
Thomas Edison's light bulb, perhaps his most famous invention, caused a shift in American production. Prior to the mass harnessing of electricity, the majority of producers were rural farmers. However, following the increased ability to utilize electricity, factories began to produce materials more efficiently and for longer hours. This change caused an influx of working class individuals to factories in eastern America. Most notably in the New York area, also known as the Garment District. -
Invention of the Electric Trolley
Frank Sprague's invention of the electric Trolley made it much more convenient for the newly formed "Middle Class" to travel to and from their factory jobs every day. This caused a shift in where many people lived - the poor stayed in horrible living conditions in the inner city while middle class Americans began to move outward in what soon became known as the "suburbs". -
Theodore Roosevelt Rises to Presidency
When President McKinley was assassinated in 1901, Theodore Roosevelt assumed the role as President. This change in leadership brought along a wave of Progressivism and social reform. For example, one of Roosevelt's main focuses was busting "trusts" or big businesses with little regulation. This action meant higher wages and better working conditions for factory workers which, in turn, meant more money per household. However, wives were still expected to stay at home. -
The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906
The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, passed by President Roosevelt, increased the overall health of the American public dramatically. This act required food and drug manufacturers to display clearly the ingredients of each product. It also created investigations into a number of food industries such as the meat packing industry. With these adjustments, household food and medicine became much safer to consume. -
U.S. Declares War on Germany
Although World War I initially began in 1914 in Brittian, the U.S. did not enter combat until 1917. War time in America meant a number of different things. For example, factories began producing military materials rather than consumer products. This increase in production at such a fast rate meant job opportunities for more Americans. For households, this meant that wives and even children had to go out and take up jobs to support their families. -
WWI Comes to a Close
Shortly after the Treaty of Versailles, WWI was effectively over. With the end of the war came a rapid influx of war veterans looking to reclaim their jobs. This meant that the majority of women who took up jobs during wartime were forced back into their "housewife" roles from pre-war times and minorities were left unemployed. For factories, the end of the war meant going back to production of consumer goods. This severely decreased production and increased inflation, causing a consumer panic. -
Ford Model T and the Assembly Line
With the introduction of Henry Ford's Model T automobile and his extremely efficient assembly line, cars became much more accessible for working class Americans. Selling for around $300, the Model T allowed more households to own their own cars. This forced the government to pour funding into things such as roads and highways. Although it was nearly impossible to meet the growing needs for better roadways, one positive outcome was an increase in jobs for road production. -
Sports and Movie Popularity Skyrocket
A rise in household income to compensate for post-war inflation - paired with a new concept of being able to purchase goods with credit - caused the 1920's to became an era of moderate prosperity. Citizens, using their new larger amounts of disposable income, began flocking to movie theaters and professional sporting events. This era of prosperity is important because it paved a road for the majority of entertainment we still enjoy today.
