AMH2020 Final Exam Revkew pt. 2 Flashcards
what happened to american culture in the 1945-1961 period?
it was all about proving they were better than the soviet union
________ became increasingly important, causing culture to become more situated around them
suburbs
suburbs
middle class residential communities outside of a major city
why did suburbs increase in popularity in the post WWII period?
it was a result of widespread post war prosperity
middle class expansion caused an increase in _______ ________
home ownership
what was the result of a new commuting society?
sharper distinction between work life and home life
how did new home building methods affect home prices?
it made them more affordable
the baby boom ______ family size
increased
what was the GI bill?
resources for returning WWII veterans
- encouraged higher education (widened the middle class and increased home ownership)
- low interest rate home loans
push factor
something that pushes people out of where they currently reside
white flight
name for the phenomenon that occurred when diversification in cities became a push factor for white residents
suburb culture heavily focused on _______.
consumerism
the consumer republic
⭐️ consumer culture was highlighted for the exam
why did consumerism become a political issue during the cold war?
it was a way for the US to prove its superiority and show the nation’s prosperity through capitalism
what did consumerism do for the nation’s democratic values?
reaffirmed them with the idea of freedom, choice, and civic responsibility
american conformity
based on consumerism (this is how it was justified and why it was considered better)
consumption was viewed as a _______ process.
democratic
soviet conformity
based on work
why was soviet conformity seen as undemocratic?
everyone was a worker so they were all the same (no classes)
how did william levitt transform how communities were built?
by mass producing homes through minimal variation (reduced time and price)
what was the result of levitt’s production method
cheaper homes = offered the american dream to a wider variety of people
why did TVs take off in the 1950s?
they became more affordable
by 1960, ____ of households had at least one TV set
0.87
what were the 2 distinct ways that the TV participated in consumerism?
- it was a product to be purchased
- its advertisements and character lifestyles (from shows) encouraged further purchases