DOCUMENT RESUME ED 086 597 SO 006 783 4 TITLE Consumption Economy. Grade Ten. Resource Unit VI. Project Social Studies. INSTITUTION Minnesota Univ., Minneapolis. Project Social Studies Curriculum Center. SPONS AGENCY Office of Education (DHEV), Washington, D.C. Cooperative Research Program. BUREAU NO CRP-HS-045 PUB DATE 68 NOTE 231p. EDRS PRICE MF-$0.65 HC-$9.87 . DESCRIPTORS *Business Cycles; *Consumer Economics; Course Objectives; *Cultural Background; Curriculum Guides; Grade 10; Inquiry Training; Instructional Materials; Resource Units; Secondary Grades; Social Change; Social Studies; *Social Studies Units; Social Values; Teaching Techniques; *United States History IDENTIFIERS *Project Social Studies ABSTRACT The tenth grade unit, developed by the University of Minnesota's Project Social Studies, is the sixth and last unit on continuity and change in American civilization. The development of the consumption economy and its social implications are studied. Major attention is given to the depression of the 1930's and to an analytical study of the causes of business fluctuations. American values and society of today are analyzed and compared to the colonial era. The course is designed to teach attitudes and inquiry skills as well as generalizations and concepts. The inquiry approach to teaching is stressed. Preceding the main body.of the unit are three sections on the following: 1) major historical points to be developed in the unit; 2) a list of unit objectives; and, 3) content outline showing how different topics in American history can be used to teach the unit's major generalizations. The objectives; content, teaching procedures, and instructional materials to be used 'are specifically explained in the main body of the unit, and the relationship among these is made clear. Specific questions to facilitate classroom discussion are listed. A bibliography of student and teacher materials to be used inithe course is listed, however, many other materials can be used in lieu of those suggested. Related documents are SO 006 777-783. (Author/RM) FILMED FROM BEST AVAILABLECOPY U S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION &WELFARE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION THIS DOCUMENT PAS BEEN REPRO DUCED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED FROM THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIGIN ATING IT POINTS OF VIEW DR OPINIONS STATED DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRE Trade Ten SENT OFFICIAL NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF Unit VI: COTTSUUTIOI.T ECO:i0MY EDUCATION POSITION OR POLICY ok, RESOURCE UNIT These materials were developed by the Project Social Studies Center of the University of Minnesota under a special grant from the U. S. Office of Education. (Project ES- 0 45) 1968 - i - UNIT VI - THE CONSUMPTION ECONOMY AND MODERN AMERICA, 1920's TO THE PRESENT Robert F. Berkhofer, Jr. After World War I, a new phase began. in drive over the countryside on Sunday rather American industrial history. By the time of that church. (The automobile also meant suburban war, the United States was a mature industrial nation, a new status symbol.)The new motion pictur for the available technology was applied to the bulk tabloid industry portrayed life in shocking of its resources. The industrial machine no longer terms. In diagnosing the evils of the era, had to expand capital resources but could switch to Anglo-Saxon, Protestant Americans placed the producing consumer goods., This transition was seen. upon Catholiciimmigrants, cities, and alco most vividly in the 1920's by the rise of new in- result they urged immigration reriction, v dustries devoted to the production of automobiles, prohibition, and joined the Ku Klux Klan.T radios, and home electric appliances, or to the con- idential candidacy of Al Smith and the oppos struction of roads and suburban housing. During that him seemed to symbolize these forces in the decade, millions of Americans got new ideas about the over the nature of future American society. normal amount of income and how it should reach beyond the necessities of shelteryfood and clothing. With Politics in the twenties served the nee this increased income among so many, ''where MAC e rev- business.Harding and Coolidge frankly dedi' erence for the businessman and businessman's civili- federal government to the interests of busin zation. All other aspects of life seemed subordinated and a business civilization. The Supreme Co to the pursuit of wealth and the emulation of the rendered decisions favorable to the corporat successful. In line with the trend, Christ became a Both businessmen and politicians encouraged great salesman in one of the best - sellers of the mid- to believe that prosperity would continue ini 20's, and the churches were referred to as "plants." if business.bad its way without any governme ference.Unfortunately for the proponents o Accompanying this new economic era, and probably view, the crash and the depression changed -WI because of it, social disorganization in morality and attitude of government's relationship to the l family life seemed rampant to the people of the time. Just the possession of a car meant new sexual freedom Never before had the nation felt a depr for the adolescent and a vehicle for the family to much, for never before had so many so much t - i - UNIT VI - THE CONSUMPTION ECONOMY AND MODERN AMERICA, 1920's TO THE PRESENT Robert F. Berkhofer, Jr. I, a new phase began. in drive over the countryside on Sunday rather than go to listory. By the time of that church. (The automobile also meant suburban homes and :s was a mature industrial natioa, a new status symbol.)The new motion picture and :hnology was applied to the bulk tabloid industry portrayed life in shocking sexual le industrial machine no longer terms. In diagnosing the evils of the era, some white L resources but could switch to Anglo-Saxon, Protestant Americans placed the blame )ods. This transition was seen upon Catholics; immigrants, cities, and alcohol.As a ..900's by the rise of new in- result they urged immigration restriction, voted for ;he production of automobiles, prohibition, and joined the Ku Klux Klan.The pres- dtric appliances, or to the con- idential candidacy of Al Smith and the opposition to suburban housing.During that him seemed to symbolize these forces in the struggle Lericans got new ideas about the over the nature of future American society. me and how it should reach beyond elter, food, and clothing.With Politics in the twenties served the needs of big among so many, %hare ca4c e. rev- business. Harding and Coolidge frankly dedicated the essman and businessman's civili- fe''ral government to the interests of businessmen pects of life seemed subordinated and business civilization. The Supreme Court lth and the emulation of the rendered decisions favorable to the corporate.powers. with the tread, Christ became a Both businessmen and politicians encouraged the people e of the best-sellers of the mid - to believe that prosperity would continue indefinitely . es were referred to as "plants." if business had its way without any government inter- ference.Unfortunately for the proponents of,this s new economic era, and probably view, the crash and the depression changed this disorganization in morality. and attitude of government's relationship to the economy. nt to the people of the time. of a car meant new sexual freedom Never before had the nation felt a depression so d a vehicle for the family to much, for never before had so many so much to lose after the affluence of the twenties. It is this loss that organized labor still continuc made possible the unprecedented step of the govern- non-agricultural work force. ment intervening in the economy to restore employment maintained that under the New and prosperity. With industrial production geared to vention in the economy was fo the production of consumer's goods, the prosperity In fact, the New Deal in this of the masses became more essential to the profits create a big agriculture, a b of the industrial system. Herbert Hoover did more ment to counteract big busine than any previous president to bolster the faltering competition within the nation economy, but his measures seem insignificant compared but among large organized gro to those of his sucessor. In spite of popular truth of this theory, the New opinion, the acts of Roosevelt for recovery and re- laissez-fairism in American e form were the most conservative possible to restore not of capitalistic free ente the economy to its normal state. The New Deal did approach continues until toda not attempt to change the traditional American econ- party captures Congress and ti omic structure of private enterprise but rather it sought to preserve it, although it may also have The presence of post-Wor supplemented it in areas where private enterprises continued the trend to consum refused to risk capital. began- in the 1920's. With th the social problems feared. by From the 1930's to-the present, the federal older America, and interestin. government has become a major factor in the economy, have reacted in ways reminisc and this is perhaps best seen in the Employment Act of the twenties. This new er of 1946, which is the lasting heritage of the New Deal from that of the earlier peri to government-economy relations.As a result of this government attempts to unde intervention in the economy, both in the regulation of than leaving it to the decisi the business cycle and in providing welfare for private individuals, the federal government is "closer" Becnuse of the importanc to the people than ever before --to the cheers of some citizen today, the period fro and despair of others.The farmers since Hoover's present with its depressions day, and workers sinee. FDR's era, have enjoyed special tunity for detailed analysis favor: parity and crop storage for agriculture and decision-making in the econom quasi-governmental status of collective bargaining business.