True or False? The destruction and loss of life in Europe, during World War I, played no part in American prosperity during the Twenties.

This is false, the destruction and loss of life in Europe during World War I did play an important part in American prosperity during the roaring Twenties. The truth is that the armed conflict devastated Europe's major players, the wealthiest and most powerful countries in the world in that day, came out of the conflict in shatters, leaving a lot of room for the U. S. A. to floursih.

If we consider that war is a social and political event that by nature brings about distruction and loss of life, then of course World War I, waged mostly in Europe, did play a part in American prosperity in the 1920s.

The main way that it did so was because Germany was forced to pay reparations for the damage caused by Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire to other European Countries like France and England, as well as to the United States. When Germany became unable to pay these reparations, US bankers began to lend Germany money, with which Germany paid reparations to European countries, which in turn used the money to repay their debt with the US. This brought a great affluence of cash into the United States, until this circular system collapsed, a fact that brought about the Great Depression of 1929.

Also, many women who had worked art factories and in other workplaces when American men were drafted and sent to fight in Europe, continued to work after the return of the surviving men. Therefore, the work force in the United States grew significantly. Also, since women were now part of the US work force, they gained the right to vote in many states of this country.

Furthermore, many factories which had been devoted to the production of weapons and ammunition for WW I began prdocucing consumer products for peace. Mass production techniques were now applied to goods like automobiles.

The radio and the film industries, which first arose from the need to report all tht was going on during WW I, were later used in ordinary households, who through these media received publicity of consumer goods.

Finally, since Germany had been an enemy of the United States, a ban on German beer, and therefore, of other alcoholic beverages, was implemented in the United States. This brought about the creation of organized crime groups that sought to produce and sell beer, wine, and hard liquours. This mafia brought enormous sums of money into circulation, which also created this illusion of inexhaustible abundance that reigned in the 1920s.