Final answer:
The article mainly discusses the rise of consumerism and the acceptance of buying on credit in the 1920s in America, which greatly influenced the culture and economy of the time but also contributed to economic problems such as the Great Depression.
Step-by-step explanation:
The article discusses the culture of consumerism that emerged in America during the 1920s, and how the concept of buying on credit became widely accepted and promoted amidst the prosperity and technological advancements of the era.
The proliferation of installment plans and the embrace of credit for the purchase of consumer goods like automobiles and radios allowed even those with modest means to participate in the burgeoning consumer economy.
As advertisements and the notion of the American Dream evolved, so too did the attitude towards credit, moving away from a tool solely for acquiring productive property to a means of enjoying modern luxuries. Eventually, buying on credit became a symbol of trustworthiness and success, but this shift also laid the groundwork for future economic difficulties, including the Great Depression.