pages 41-42 of USA A5 booklet (Consumerism and the causes of prosperity).

Question 1

During the 1950s, how much of the world’s goods did the USA produce?

Answer 1

Nearly 50%

Question 2

During the 1950s, how much did the USA’s GNP increase by?

Answer 2

It doubled

Question 3

What did many white Americans rely on when moving out of city centres to suburban areas?

Answer 3

They relied on their cars for transport.

Question 4

What consumer goods were widely available?

Answer 4

Many consumer goods were widely available such as washing machines, fridges and televisions.

Question 5

What happened as people’s wealth increased?

Answer 5

As people’s wealth increased, they bought more luxury goods and economic growth continued.

Question 6

In 1960, what was the average standard of living for an American compared to the average British person?

Answer 6

By 1960, the living standard of the average American was 3 times higher than the average British person.

Question 7

What became a popular activity for many people?

Answer 7

Shopping became a popular activity and advertising in newspapers, magazines, on the radio and on TV were very important.

Question 8

What became a normal thing to do?

Answer 8

Buying items on hire purchase became the norm and people got used to buying immediately and living on credit rather than saving up for something.

Question 9

how long was it expected that goods would last?

Answer 9

It was expected that goods would last for a few years before they needed replacing. It became more difficult to buy parts for older models and so people gave in to the temptation of the latest advertisements.

Question 10

Compared to the 1920’s, how was the spread of wealth distributed?

Answer 10

Compared to the 1920’s, wealth was better spread across society but there were still many groups who didn’t benefit.

Question 11

Most did most Americans aspire to be part of?

Answer 11

Most Americans aspired to be part of this American dream.

Question 12

What was a teenager?

Answer 12

This term was used to describe young people from the 1940s onwards because they had more free time and money than the youth in previous generations.

Question 13

By the 1950s, what were teenagers associated as?

Answer 13

By the 1950s, teenagers were associated with rebellion and were seen to act against their parents and society.

Question 14

Name 2 teenage rebels that were shown in films, and what was the effect of this?

Answer 14

Teenage rebels were shown in films such as Marlon Brando and James Dean who were thought to be unsuitable role models by parents across the country.

Question 15

What % of the US population owned a TV in 1948, 1954 and 1958?

Answer 15

In 1948, 0.4% of households owned a TV, by 1954 it was 55.7% and by 1958, it was 83.2%.

Question 16

What was TV dominated by?

Answer 16

Tv was dominated by commercial sponsors trying to encourage people to buy their product.

Question 17

What were most TV programmes?

Answer 17

Most programmes were games shows and soap operas but TV news became increasingly important.

Question 18

What type of TV show was there a dramatic increase in after the war?

Answer 18

There were lots of new shows for children due to the post-war baby boom.

Question 19

What was household buying often determined by?

Answer 19

Household buying was often determined by adverts on TV and what the neighbours had bought.

Question 20

What did beat music of the 1940s turn into?

Answer 20

Beat music of the 1940s transformed into rock and role of the 1950s.

Question 21

Which famous singer emerged in the 1950s, and what was the problem of this?

Answer 21

Popular singers such as Elvis Presley took to the stage. His gyrating hips and sexy persona shocked parents and wowed fans.

Question 22

How many hit singles did Elvis have and how many top-selling albums?

Answer 22

Elvis had 170 hit singles and over 80 top-selling albums.

Question 23

By 1945, how much had the government spent per day on the war effort?

Answer 23

The government spent $250 million per day on the war effort by 1945 and much of this was given to US factories to produce resources for war. Factory workers’ wages were therefore high throughout the war.

Question 24

Why was there an American boom during the war?

Answer 24

Other than the attack on Pearl Harbour, the USA wasn’t invaded so the people of America spent money on everyday items which helped the economy to boom (similar to the 1920s boom).

Question 25

Why did the USA have a steady stream of money coming every year?

Answer 25

The USA loaned billions of dollars to the allies during the war, so they got paid some back/ interest every year.

Question 26

What did Truman suggest them to do with the New Deal?

Answer 26

Truman suggested enlarging the New Deal including increasing unemployment insurance, increasing the minimum wage, clearing slums and more public works programmes.

Question 27

What meant that after the war troops could return home quickly?

Answer 27

Truman followed the war with rapid demobilisation so US troops could return home quickly.

Question 28

How many US troops were there during the war compared to 1947 and 1950?

Answer 28

During the war there were 12 million US troops.
1947 = 3 million
1950 = 600,000 soldiers

Question 29

What was The Serviceman’s Readjustment Act (1944)?

Answer 29

The Serviceman’s Readjustment Act of 1944 known as the GI bill of rights set aside $13 billion to spend on veteran soldiers including education, medical expenses, loans for building houses and buying new consumer goods.

Question 30

At the end of WW2, how much did Europe owe the USA?

Answer 30

At the end of WW2, Europe owed the USA a total of $11.5 billion.

Question 31

What was the Marshall Plan of 1947?

Answer 31

Although the USA wanted their $11.5 billion back, they needed to kick start European cocuntries’ economies. They did this through the Marshall Plan (1947) which promised $17 billion to European countries so they could rebuild their economies.

Question 32

By 1951, how much had the USA spent on rebuilding European economies?

Answer 32

$13 billion

Question 33

How much money did the USA give Britain, France and West Germany after the war?

Answer 33

The USA gave $2.7 billion to Britain, $2.4 billion to France and $1.3 billion to West Germany.

Question 34

After the war what did the USA spend $2 billion on?

Answer 34

After the war the USA also spent $2 billion arming the Capitalist Chiang Kai Shek against the communist Mao Zedong in China.