The rise of cities in the 1920s was fueled by mass production, new technology, and the Great Migration. Mass production created a large demand for factory workers, attracting many people to cities for jobs in industries like automobiles. The Great Migration saw many African Americans move north to escape Jim Crow laws, increasing northern city populations. New technologies like automobiles also transformed the American landscape and further grew cities centered around mass production like Detroit.

1. The Rise of Mass
Production, New
Technology, and growth
of cities during the
1920s.

2. Video
As you are watching the video watch and answer the following question:
● Recall on your ideas about big cities and how you would describe them?

3. Rise of population within cities.
The Great Migration: With the passage and enforcement of the Jim Crow Laws, the continuation of the exploitation of
rights of African Americans continued. This exploitation of rights also had an effect of the economic stability of African
Americans that motivated them to seek a better life.
The pull factor of the rising industrial economy of the North attracted many African Americans to seek a better way of life
within many northern American cities such as Chicago, Detroit, New York, and Pittsburgh.
Overall, the migration of African American to many Northern cities had a big impact of the fast growth of Americans cities
during the 1920s.
Below are two charts that illustrate the rapid growth of northern cities because of the Great Migration.
Jim Crow Laws: Laws
that enforced racial
segregation in the
South
The Great Migration:
Rapid exodus of African
American from the
South to the North.

4. Demand for Workers because of Mass Production
Mass production consists of being able to manufacture mass amounts of products using mostly
assembly lines. This was the case during the 1920s and products like automobiles, radios, and beauty
products were mass produced.
The mass production of products led to a steady flow of products being pushed out of factories for the
American people to purchase. Therefore, this had an impact on cities by creating a big demand for factory
workers within cities. With that said, many people flocked to American cities for the availability of jobs on
assembly lines.
Mass Production: The
manufacture of mass
quantities of products.

5. Mass Production of automobiles
The mass production of automobiles gives a clear illustration of the impact that mass production had on
the growth of cities.
Because of the large demand of automobiles by the American public it led to cities like Detroit to have
rapid booms in population. With that said, mass production of automobiles was possible because of the
enginuity of Henry Ford.
Henry Ford was able to standardize machine parts for his automobile that later industries imitated.
Moreover, Ford was also able to use new techniques that allowed for more efficient ways to efficiently
build products.
Henry Ford: An American
industrialist, business
magnate, and founder of the
Ford Motor Company.

6. Growth of cities because of automobile
Video below visually displays the impact
of the mass production of automobiles
on the growth of cities.

7. Pause and Reflect
Critical thinking: How would you summarize
the contributing factors that allowed for the
rise of cities during the 1920s?

8. Quick activity
Using the critical thinking question seen in the previous slide write a five sentence
quick right that highlights the impact of mass production in the expansion of cities.
Below are useful vocab words to help build your quick write:
Jim Crow Laws, The Great Migration, Henry Ford.

9. New Technology of the 1920s
The video below highlights big technological advancements during the 1920s that
had a huge impact on the American landscape,

10. Pause and Reflect
After watching the video what examples can you find of technology helping
increase the population of cities and changing the landscape of the American
Landscape?

11. Final Thought
Using key vocab words and figures from the lecture presentation, how would
describe the contributing factors that allowed for the rise of population in cities and
the changing of the American Landscape? What aspects of Mass production can
you still see today?