Impact of WWII and the growth of a consumer society Flashcards
What did the economic problem shift to from WWII in general? (finding jobs?)
What happened to the million of people living on the margin in the 1930s?
Did poverty disappear post WWII?
What was the main problem for Americans economically?(lack of money?)
What was the 1942 General Maximum Price Regulation? What happened because of it?
What goods were rationed?
-The basic economic problem was no longer finding jobs but findng workers for the booming shipyards and aircraft factories.
-Millions of people who had lived on the margin in the 1930s were brought fully into the economic system.
-NO. Poverty did not disapper particularly among black families in the south, but fro most Americans the war saw increased prosperity.
-The main problem for Americans was not lack of money but lack of goods to spend their money on. Many consumer items- cars, washing machines, houses ceased to be built. Another issue was rationing.
-The 1942 General Maximum Price Regulation- froze prices. With prices frozen, some goods were allocated through rationing.
-Rationed goods included sugar, coffee, petrol, meat and car tyres.
What did the booming economy after 1945 lead to a sharp rise in?
What did made the typical US family envied across the world?
What did the purchasing of cars-long, multi-coloured and decorated with large qualities of chrome reflect about the standard of living during the 1950s?
How did car ownerhsip change lifestyles in the 1950s?
-The booming economy led to a sharp rise in consumerism.
-The typical US family bought consumer goods that made the US lifestyle envied.
-The range of cars reflected American affluence and self-confidence.
-Car ownerhsip in the 1950s made lives easier and more varied. Americans could go to places faster and more comfortably.
How did ‘white flight’ contribute to the growth of suburbs?
Who were the most famous Suburban builders? Who did they primarily build for (beginning in 1947?)
How many homes were there in Hempstead Long Island(Levittown)? Residents? Shopping centres? Swimming pools? Bowling alleys?
What rules were residents expected to conform to?
What were these homes priced at?
Describe Levitt houses?
-‘White flight’ white Americans sought to escape cities with high taxes, crowded accomodation, crime and growing ghettos.
-The most famous builders were the Levitt brothers.
-The primarily built for young veterans.
-17,000 homes, 80,000 residents, 7 shopping centres, 9 swimming pools, 2 bowling alleys.
-Residents were expected to conform to rules stipulating weekly lawn mowing, no fences and no washing hung out at weekends.
-Priced at $8,000 only two and half times the average family income.
-Well constructed with central heating, modern bathorroms and kitchens on building plots twice the normal size.
What labour saving devices were bought by Americans during the 1950s?
What other things did Americans buy for the entertainment in the home during this period?
-Washing machines, freezers and dish washers made housewives lives easier.
-Tv sets, record players.
What did Economist John Galbraith argue regarding the impact of a consumerist culture on society? What did others argue its impact was regarding Identity? Standardisation and conformity that characterised suburbia?
What did many blame the increasing consumerism and conformity on?
-John Galbraith’s The Affluent Society argued that Americans were grossly materialistic and cared little about the less fortunate.
-Others argued that consumerism and materialism were becoming central to the nation’s identity and undermning traditional American values such as hard work and careful money mangement.
-Some argued that the consumer society contributed to the standardisation and conformity that characterised suburbia, where everyone had to keep up with their neighbours and have all the latest gadgets and new cars.
-Many blamed increasing consumerism and conformity on television and advertisement.
