The 1920s were a time of change for the American people, and they began with a boom. This boom was initially brought about by the combination of America's inherent rich natural resources and World War I, and was later propelled by the lack of business regulation as promoted by the Republican government and by new methods different and improved ways of functioning in business and industry. Although the boom would never have occurred without its initial causes, it would never have had as profound an impact on all aspects of the economy and society as it did without the industrial revolution and its effects on the state of mind. of the American population. The main reason for the boom of the 1920s was the confidence and new attitudes of the population, which both caused and were caused by the boom, and which thus sustained the boom. The boom began thanks to America's immense industrial power. This was caused in large part by World War I and the unique nature of American involvement in that war. For most of the war, America did not actively participate and instead lent money and exported weapons, ammunition, and supplies to the Allies (Walsh 187). They also took the opportunity to expand their markets in the colonies of warring countries and reaped economic benefits. Moreover, the war conveniently destroyed their industrial competitors; after the war, the industries of many countries became poorer. Their steel, coal, oil, and textile industries remained strong after the war, and their chemical and film industries grew; America was the industrial leader of the world (Walsh 186). Furthermore, the growth and actions of these companies have not been regulated by the predominantly Republican government...... middle of paper ...... the economy and the future of the heir industries, which resulted in continued investment and consumption to continue fueling the boom. began due to circumstances largely alien to the general American population, but once set in motion, the machine was driven by the people. People had the time and money to buy goods and invest in the booming economy; unemployment therefore decreased and wages increased. More and more people had jobs and had money, which they used to buy consumer products, which then continued to fuel the booming economy. Therefore, the main reason for the boom of the 1920s was the increased accessibility of consumer products and the resulting consumer empowerment. The boom of the 1920s marked the birth of the mass market and the consumer-driven economy. Works Cited Walsh, Ben. GCSE Modern World History. 2nd ed. 1996. London: John Murray, 2001.Print.