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CHAPTER 7
Energy and the Economy
F
ossil fuels made the Roaring Twenties a champagne time in American
history. Powered by hydrocarbon, our nation experienced a decade of
massive production and consumption of goods, which helped to stimu-
late a boom in the U.S. economy. The large-scale automaking plants in
Detroit, for example, churned out a seemingly endless stream of vehicles
for the millions of U.S. citizens hungry for the freedom of the road. Facto-
ries manufactured appliances such as washing machines, vacuum cleaners,
stoves, refrigerators, and other electric goods sold to legions of consum