After the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, which officially ended the Great War, the attitude of the American people toward the rest of the world became one of indifference. The American people wanted to distance themselves from Europe and its problems. There was also an atmosphere of reform that was beginning to surround the country (Sullivan, 301). One such reform that had dramatic affects on the western world, was the addition of the 18th amendment to the Constitution. Also, know as the Prohibition Act, the 18th amendment took effect on January 16, 1920 and outlawed the sale or consumption of liquor in the United States. Another reform was the 1

The unequal distribution of wealth in the 1920's existed on many levels. It existed between the rich and middle-class, industry and agriculture in the US, and between the U.S. and Europe. This created many problems. The excessive speculation in the late 1920's kept the stock market artificially high, but eventually led to a larger stock market crash.

The unemployment rate was down, the economy was booming, and everyone was cashing in on his or her newly found wealth. The nation's total income rose from $74.3 billion in 1923 to $89 billion in 1929 (Magill, 98). The twenties were a glorious time in which everyone was out to have fun and get rich quick. The public was caught up in the stock market speculation and was risking their life savings to earn a living. The free spirited age of the "Roaring Twenties" was in full swing in America and people were enjoying it (Sullivan, 290).

Henry Ford, the automotive industry leader, is an essential factor causing the unequal distribution of wealth between the rich and the middle-class. Henry Ford's personal income in 1928 was an average of $14 million. In the same year the average persons income was a mere $750. This massive uneven distribution of wealth between the rich and the middle class grew throughout the "Roaring Twenties" into an even bigger problem. The main reason for this growing gap between the rich and the working-class people was that the manufacturing output increased from 1923 through 1929. During this period, the average output per worker increased by 32 percent, however, their wages only increased by 8 percent. Production costs fell quickly, wages rose slowly, and when the prices remained constant, the corporate business owners saw all of the profits. The federal government also contributed to the growing gap between the rich and middle-classes. Andrew Mellon, President Coolidge's Secretary of !

Finally, on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 1929, the big crash came. No one really knows why on this day the market finally bottomed out, but the results were catastrophic.

Soon lower class people began buying on margin, where the idea of "buy now and pay later" became highly popular. Installment plans created an artificial demand for products which people could not ordinarily afford, making stocks appear to rise when they really were not. Eventually when the loans had to be paid back people were out of money and unable pay back the money they owed It put off the day of reckoning, but it made the downfall worse when it came.

Through all of these wonderful events that occurred throughout the twenties, people were led to believe that the world had some how magically rebounded from the troubles of the war. The truth was it had not. Every other foreign nation had dug itself into a deep hole after World War I. The United States had lasted longer than other countries because we had not endured as much damage from the Great War as the others did. The false speculation of the stock market and an unequal distribution of wealth on several levels eventually led to the downfall of the United States. The "Roaring Twenties" set the stage for the stock market crash in 1929, which led further into the Great Depression.

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2138
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)