Post-War America Flashcards
What happened to war factories after the war?
They switched to making consumer goods
By the end of the 1950s, how many American households had a television?
9 out of 10
By the end of the 1950s, how many American households had a car?
8 out of 10
How did the economy grow stronger after the war?
There was a resurgence in consumerism - war prosperity and “buy now, pay later” schemes meant people had more money
By 1952, how much of the world was America supplying manufactured goods for?
65%
What was the “baby boom”?
A growth in population caused by post-war optimism
By 1964, how much of the US population was born after 1946?
40%
How did the baby boom affect the economy?
It increased due to increased consumerism
What was the “American Dream”?
The American ideal - the idea that anyone could achieve success in America from hard work alone. In the 1950s, millions of Americans claimed they were “living the American dream” in the richest country in the world.
In 1959, how many white Americans were living in poverty compared to African-Americans?
White: 18% below poverty line
Black: 56% below poverty line
How was there little support for many Americans in the 50s?
There was no national health service, welfare payments for the sick and unemployed
In 1960, what was the average annual income of 68% of people aged over 65? How did this compare to the average factory worker?
65+: less than $1000
Average factory worker: $4000
During WW2 what did women’s wages rise to?
2/3 of male wages
During the 1950s what happened to female wages?
After an increase, they fell back to just 50% of male wages.
For women working in the 1950s, how were work opportunities limited?
Women were often limited to “feminine” jobs like nursing or secretarial work.
Before WW2, what was expected of most teenage boys?
To leave school at 14-15 to be employed.
By the 1950s, how did the culture around education change?
Many families became persistent their children finish their high school education, often paid for college afterwards
How did a “generation gap” develop in the 1950s?
Teenagers had more leisure time and had more spending power than previous generations.
In the early 1940s, how much did the average American teenager spend a week?
$1-2
By 1957, how much did the average American teenager spend a week?
$10-15
What was one of the biggest points of the generation gap?
Music - particularly Rock and Roll
How was Rock and Roll seen to be rebellious?
Had a strong rhythm, often contained sexual references and was unpopular with older generations.
In 1956, a TV performance by Elvis Presley was watched by how many Americans?
82% of the population
What was the HUAC?
The House of Representatives [for] Un-American Activities Committee
