1A Urbanisation and affluence Flashcards
How did Americans feel about America 1955-1963
They lived in a land of opportunity where hard work was rewarded
What did the 1955-1963 period see in terms of consumerism
Larger homes
More labour saving devices
More cars
High salaries
What did the 1955-1963 period see in terms of issues
Nuclear threat
Confirmity
Consumerism
Adverts
Youth
Race relations
Economic inequality
What did the 1955-1963 period see in terms of social changes
Growth of suburbia
Decline of cities
Mass production of consyumer goods
Increased role of advertisements and communication
What was one of the most obvious signs of growing US affluence 1955
Increasing number of cars
How many cars sold altogether 1955
8.3 million
Who were the big 3 car companies 1955-1963
Ford
General motors
Chryslers
Why was a Highway construction programme introduced
Eisenhower loved cars
Car ownsership went from 39.5 million 1955 to 73.8 million in 1960
How many miles of highways were introduced during Eisenhowers highway construction
41000 miles
Who had more freedom because of cars
Youth and women
What culture did cars create
An on the road culture
What types of cars would wealthy white men have
Lincolns and cadillacs
The most expensive and spacious models
What types of cars would MC and WC favour
Ford and Chevrolets
What did the growing amount of MC car ownership reflect
Increasing level of disposable income
What types of cars did Hispanics favour
Second hand chevys
What type of cars did AAs favour
White cadillacs
What did cars do for women
Gave them a greater sense of freedom
Greater access for them and their families
What did cars for women reflect
Traditional family values
What car types did women favour and what did the cars come with
the 1955 Dodge le femme
Came with a matching lipstick and shoulder bag
What did cars reflect in the desire of young people
There desire to gain independence
What did the 1953 Kinvey sex survey show
Young people had just as much sex in there cars than at home
What were hot rods
Customised cars by young men in order to express their individuality
What was the on the road culture
Idea that cars made life easier and more varied as Americans could get to places fast
What could Americans do from the comfort of their car
Obtain fast food
Watch movies
Attend church
When was the first motel built
1952
How many maccies were in the US 1960
288
How did cars enable suburbinisation
Enabled people to move from cities to spacious homes
How much of the US lived in suburban areas 1960
33%
Who were the main occupants of suburbs
Middle Class whites
Who were the Levitt brothers and what did they make
Most famous builders
Made Levittowns
Where was the first Levittown
Hempstead long island 1947
Who was the first Levittown for
young veterans
How many homes were present in the first Levittown
17,000 homes
80,000 residents
What rules were residents expected to conform to in Levittowns
Weekly lawn mowing
No fences
No washing lines on the weekend
What was an issue with Levittowns
Racially exclusive
Rocks thrown at AAs who moved in
What were some reasons for the creation of ghettos
White flight
Gov policies
AA great migration northwest
What were some WA contribution to ghettos
Restrictive covenants to exclude them
Made it hard t buy decent homes
Started housing riots to drive out AAs
WA who could afford to fled the ghettos
How did highways contribute to ghettos
Allowed suburbians to commit to city jobs
What dud economic prosperity generate
Economic prosperity
More purchasing power
In 1960 on average how much more purchasing power did people have
30%
What was the new american dream
Ability to purchase anything needed
What was the teenage consumer suddenly a factor in
The nations economy
How many records sold 1958
10 million
How many cameras sold 1958
13 million
How many TVs sold 1958
1 million
How much was spent on entertainment systems in 1958
1.5 billion
How much was spent on deodrants in 1958
25 million
How much was spent on lipsticks in 1958
20 million
How much was spent on home perming in 1958
9 million
