Chapter 1

• What was the average number of cars on the road in the U.S. in 1919?

  1. 7 million
• How many cars were on the road in the U.S. by 1929?

  Twenty-three million
• What was the average earnings in 1912?

  $592
• What was the price of a Ford Model T in 1912?

  $600
• What was the average earnings in 1924?

  $1,303
• What was the price of a Ford Model T in 1924?

  $290
• What were the main factors driving economic expansion in the 1920s U.S.?

  • Technological advancements (automobiles, mass production, consumer appliances)
  • Urbanization
  • Booming stock market
• By how much did the GNP grow between 1922 and 1929?

  40%
• What was the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1929?

  381.17 points
• What does the quadrupling of the Dow Jones Industrial Average indicate?

  It reflects speculative investment contributing to the era's wealth
• How did consumer debt change between 1921 and 1929?

  It more than doubled, reaching over $7 billion
• What cultural phenomenon does Gatsby's lifestyle represent?

  It captures the culture of consumption and materialism
• What percentage of the country's savings did the top 0.1% of Americans own in 1929?

  34%
• What does the contrast between East Egg and West Egg represent?

  It reflects the disparity between old money and new money
• How did the American Dream evolve in the 1920s?

  • Originally about equality, democracy, and opportunity
  • Became associated with material wealth
  • Reflected in Calvin Coolidge's motto about factories and worship
• Who coined the phrase "The American Dream"?

  James Truslow Adams
• What did Adams describe as the American Dream?

  A land where life should be better, richer, and fuller for everyone
• What does the income distribution in the 1920s suggest about social mobility?

  The reality was far different from the ideal of social mobility
• What characterized the nouveau riche class in the 1920s?

  • Individuals gained wealth through industries like automobiles, oil, and finance
  • Gatsby represents this class, gaining wealth through suspected illicit means
• What percentage of millionaires in 1929 came from wealthy families?

  80%
• What were the trends in disposable income for the richest 5% from 1920 to 1929?

  • 1920: 24%
  • 1921: 29%
  • 1922: 29%
  • 1923: 27%
  • 1924: 28%
  • 1925: 30%
  • 1926: 31%
  • 1927: 32%
  • 1928: 34%
  • 1929: 34%
• How did the attitudes of the 'Lost Generation' reflect post-WW1 sentiments?

  • Coined by Gertrude Stein and popularized by Hemingway
  • Described disillusioned youth alienated by the war
  • Shattered ideals of heroism and national glory
• What percentage of American soldiers suffered from 'shell shock' by 1919?

  20%
• When did the U.S. enter WW1?

  1917
• How many Americans served in the armed forces during WW1?

  Approximately 4.7 million
• How many American soldiers died in WW1?

  More than 116,000
• How many American soldiers returned to civilian life by 1919?

  4 million
• What societal trend did Nick Carraway's decision to move to New York reflect?

  • Veterans seeking new opportunities in urban centers
  • Allure of economic opportunities and modernity
• What did the 18th Amendment establish in 1920?

  Prohibition of alcoholic beverages
• How did Prohibition affect organized crime?

  It fostered the growth of organized crime
• What was the illegal liquor trade worth by 1929?

  $3.6 billion
• What percentage of New York's revenue was derived from liquor taxes before Prohibition?

  Almost 75%
• How much tax revenue did Prohibition cost the federal government?

  $11 billion
• How many Americans died each year from tainted liquor during Prohibition?

  One thousand
• What social changes did women experience in the 1920s?

  • Gained more independence after WW1
  • 19th Amendment granted the right to vote
  • Emergence of the 'flapper' as a cultural symbol
• What did the 19th Amendment accomplish in 1920?

  Granted women the right to vote
• What characterized the 'flapper' culture in the 1920s?

  • Short hair and skirts
  • Smoking and carefree attitude
  • Influenced by cinema and stars like Clara Bow
• How much higher were women's skirts in 1919 compared to 1927?

  About six inches above ground level
• What was the average rate of divorce in 1920?

  12.0 per 1,000 population
• How did Tom Buchanan express his belief in white supremacy?

  • Referenced a book about the superiority of the 'Nordic race'
  • Reflected broader racial anxieties of the period