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Captialism - The American Experience - 1907- 1941: Introduction

Focus

* Rise of capitalism in the USA - railways, post Civil War reconstruction, immigrant labour, oil, mass production

* Role and impact of significant individuals

* Impact of WW1, the 1920s, growth of consumerism, shaping of American values: film, fashion, prohibition and the Jazz Age

* Causes of the Great Depression, consequences for groups and effectiveness of political response: New Deal and impact upon capitalism

* Impact of capitalism upon African Americans, urban workers, rural workers, immigrants, industrialists, Native Americans, reasons for division

Terminology

Historic Terms

Industrialist: An industrialist is a powerful businessperson who owns or controls large industrial companies or factories.

Robber Barron: A person who has become rich through ruthless and unscrupulous business practices (originally with reference to prominent US businessmen in the late 19th century).

Captain of Industry: A person who holds an important role in the industry and has the ability to influence the decisions of a compant or the government. They are often wealthy or successful businesspeople who own or manage large companies or factories.

Capitalism: An economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit.

Historical Concepts

Continuity and change: Aspects of the past that have remained the same over a period of time are referred to as continuous.  Continuity and change are evident at any given period of time and concepts such as progress and decline may be used to evaluate continuity and change.

Significance: The importance that is assigned to particular aspects of the past.  Consider consequences of events, duration of events, relevance to the contemporary world, how did people from the time view the event/person, idea?

Contestability: Occurs when particular interpretations of the past are open to debate (for example, as a result of a lack of evidence or differing perspectives).

Perspective: Point of view from which historical events, problems and issues can be constructed or analysed.

Videos

20th Century History 'Boom and Bust'

Focus on 1920's America, a time of prosperity until the Wall Street Crash.

People mentioned Woodrow Wilson (President of USA), Warren G. Harding (President of USA)), Albert Bacon Fall (American Politician), Calvin Coolidge (President of USA), Henry Ford 9American Business Magnate), Herbert Hoover (President of USA).