impact of the 'consumer society'

Question 1

By 1960 America, Americans owned nearly __ of the cars and telephones in the world.

Answer 1

1/2

Question 2

By 1960, What percentage of families in the US owned a television ?

Answer 2

90%

Question 3

On average, how many weeks of paid holiday did American workers receive in the 1950s ?

Answer 3

2

Question 4

Give the reason as to why there was better access to suburbs in the 1950s

Answer 4

This is because of the booming sales of cars

Question 5

Why was there a booming sale of cars in the 1950s ?

Answer 5

cheap gasoline from domestic production.

Question 6

In 1950, What percentage of families in the US owned a television ?

Answer 6

9%

Question 7

What was the sales of cars from general motors, chrysler and Ford combined in 1949 ?

Answer 7

5.1 million vehicles sold

Question 8

What was the sales of cars from general motors, chrysler and Ford combined in 1955 ?

Answer 8

7.9 million

Question 9

How much of the federal budget was allocated to Eisenhower’s interstate Highway act of 1956 ?

Answer 9

$26 bn

Question 10

How was Eisenhower’s interstate highway act of 1956 a positive impact on society ?

Answer 10

stimulated jobs as well as gave more road access to suburbs for the purchase of Levittowns

Question 11

What was the ‘tertiary sector’ ?

Answer 11

The services sector of the economy

Question 12

What were the ‘primary’ and ‘secondary’ sectors of the economy ?

Answer 12

primary = farming

secondary = manufacturing

Question 13

What sector grew in the 1950s due to the automation of manufacturing and farming due to advancements in technology to keep up with mass production ?

Answer 13

the tertiary sector

Question 14

Why was there a decline in cinema attendance in the 1950s up until the mid 1980s ?

Answer 14

Because of increased TV ownership

Question 15

_________ Company’s films remained enormously popular throughout the 1950s despite a decline in cinema attendance.

Answer 15

Disney

Question 16

In 1956, How many Americans tuned in on their television to watch Presley’s debut on the Ed Sullivan show ?

Answer 16

82% of the television viewing audience

Question 17

Where was the first theme park that Disney opened in 1955 ?

Answer 17

Anaheim, California

Question 18

How was the opening of Disney’s first theme park in Anaheim, California, revealed to Americans ?

Answer 18

via a special televised press event on the ABC television network in 1955

Question 19

How did Disney’s theme park opening in 1955 contribute to the tertiary sector of the economy ?

Answer 19

They released products such as souvenirs contributing to the growth of toys and games as consumer items

Question 20

Where was the first climate controlled indoor shopping mall opened in Oct 1956 ?

Answer 20

Edina, Minnesota

Question 21

How did malls and the opening of the first climate controlled indoor shopping mall in Edina, Minnesota in Oct 1956 contribute to consumerism ?

Answer 21

There was access to 72 stores and 5200 parking spaces - tertiary sector of the economy grew and people could buy the latest trending items.

Question 22

What is meant by ‘homogenising’ ?

Answer 22

making of everything the same

Question 23

How can the opening of Disney’s first theme park in Anaheim, California (1955) and the opening of the first climate controlled indoor shopping mall (Oct 1956) be examples of the homeginising of the American experience ?

Answer 23

As the entire nation began to experience the world in a similar way

Question 24

What did Eisenhower say about the amount of concrete that was involved in the construction of the Interstate highway system comprising of 41,000 miles of highway ?

Answer 24

he said it involved enough concrete to “Build 6 Lon distance sidewalks to the moon”

(stimulating economy)

Question 25

Which companies became famous in the 1950s for their drive through dining ?

Answer 25

Ray Kroc's McDonalds and Burger King

Question 26

Give an example of a show that people could watch on television in the 1950s

Answer 26

I love Lucy

Question 27

How did new entertainment in the 1950s influence new generations ?

Answer 27

They provided the backdrop to the youth rebellion of the 1960s where teens were filled with a sense of injustice and anger.

Question 28

How many Americans still lived in poverty under Eisenhower ?

Answer 28

25%

Question 29

How many recessions did America experience under Eisenhower ?

Answer 29

2

Question 30

When were the 2 recessions under Eisenhower's presidency ?

Answer 30

minor one in 1954 more serious one in 1958

Question 31

What was the consequences of the more serious recession in 1958 under President Eisenhower ? (2)

Answer 31

5 million Americans became unemployed & production fell by 14%

Question 32

What was the average rate of inflation under Eisenhower ?

Answer 32

2%

Question 33

What was average unemployment like under Eisenhower's administration ?

Answer 33

remained relatively low throughout

Question 34

In what years did Eisenhower manage to balance the budget ? (3)

Answer 34

1) 1956 2) 1957 3) 1960

Question 35

By what means did Eisenhower use to achieve financial success in parts of his presidency including the balanced budgets he achieved in 1956, 1957 & 1960 ?

Answer 35

from the scaling back of federal intervention

Question 36

How much was the Tennessee Valley Authority funding reduced by from 1952 - 1960 ?

Answer 36

1952 - $185 million 1960 - $12 million (scaling back of federal intervention)

Question 37

How much did government spending increase by during Eisenhower's presidency ?

Answer 37

11%

Question 38

Give a large reason/ factor as to why government spending increased by 11% during Eisenhower's presidency ?

Answer 38

largely due to the increase in military spending to compete with the Russians in the Space Race.

Question 39

Why did Eisenhower have to set up the soil bank in 1956 ?

Answer 39

This is because of increased productivity of agriculture meaning that the real prices of food dropped, requiring the government to lend money to farmers to stop farming to maintain food prices.

Question 40

How much did the government subsidise farmers through the soil bank in 1960 and compare this to 1951

Answer 40

1951 - $1 billion 1960 - $5.1 billion

Question 41

What was the experience of teenagers in consumer society ?

Answer 41

They gained huge freedoms and opportunities, with part time work, that allowed them to have disposable income to spend on music, movies and clothes.

Question 42

Give 3 examples of wealthiest families in the consumer society who grew richer as a result of the consumer boom

Answer 42

1) Gettys 2) Rockefellers 3) Mellons

Question 43

What was the estimated net worth of the Getty Family in the 1950s ?

Answer 43

between $700 million and $1 billion

Question 44

What was the experience of woman in the consumer society in the 1950s ?

Answer 44

Many women lost their jobs to accommodate men returning from war and were now trapped in a suffocating suburban world

Question 45

What was the experience of the elderly in the consumer society of the 1950s ?

Answer 45

Became increasingly isolated as families moved out of towns and into nuclear family units, such as Levittowns

Question 46

What was the experience of ethnic minorities in the consumer boom of the 1950s ?

Answer 46

Many lost their employment status due to industrialisation and employment practices were still often racist and would be the first fired and last hired.

Question 47

What was the 'Kitchen Debate' ?

Answer 47

A series of impromptu exchanges through interpreters between VP, Nixon, and Nikita Khrushchev at the opening of an American exhibition in Moscow discussing the merits of their respective societies.

Question 48

When was the Kitchen Debate between Nixon and Khrushchev ?

Answer 48

1959

Question 49

At the opening of the national American exhibition in Moscow in 1959 at the 'Kitchen Debate', How much did Nixon claim a house that "All Americans" could afford would cost ?

Answer 49

$14,000