The American Dream Flashcards
what were produced the same way as war goods?
rare peacetime goods that millions could afford and were keen to buy
what were considered luxury items?
refrigerators ovens vacuum cleaners cars televisions
what helped sell the goods?
- huge advertising industry
- buy now, pay later
what were built on the outskirts of large towns/cities?
massive malls so people had to go out of town to shop
why were vast car parks built?
for the growing number of vehicles
how many vehicles were there by 1956?
75 million
how many households had items?
- 9/10 had a TV
- 8/10 had a car and telephone
- 7/10 had a washing machine
what was happening by 1952?
- Europe keen to buy American goods
- America supplying the world with 65% of its manufactured goods
- growing populations consuming 1/3 of the worlds goods and services
what happened after the war?
experienced a baby boom that saw a 40% increase in population
how much better was the American living standard compared to the average British?
3 times
what was the GI Bill?
- passed to help veterans of the conflict
- established hospitals
- made cheap home loans available
- offered grants to pay for ex-soldiers college
what happened during 1944 to 1949 to help veterans?
9 million received $4 billion from government
what was the American dream?
the idea that anyone in America can succeed through had work
why did the American dream fail?
- areas where the majority were desperately poor with sub-standard, unsafe housing and schools
- no national health service
how many people were living in poverty?
25%, worst in the South
how did the elderly fail to benefit from the booming economy?
- by 1960, 68% of people over 65 had an income less than $1000
- average factory earnings were less than $4000
what was The Fair Deal?
- used the government to help people most in need and bring about a fairer society
- tackled poverty and the rights of African Americans
how much was the minimum hourly wage raised?
40 to 75 cents
how did they make affordable housing?
cleared large slums
who opposed to The Fair Deal?
- Republicans for the national health insurance scheme
- Southern politicians voted against an attempt to improve African Americans’ rights
who was President Eisenhower?
a Republican who Brough lots of business people into the government to keep the economy booming
how did Eisenhower succeed?
living standards of millions continued to improve as wages kept rising
what happened to woman after the war?
went back to traditional roles as housewives
what happened to womens wages?
- risen to 2/3 of those earned by men in factories
- fell back to 53% of that
what was the average marriage age by 1950?
20 years old, lowest since 1890
what ‘female jobs’ were woman employed in?
nursing
teaching
secretaries
what happened if they attempted to pursue a high-flying business or management career?
faced discrimination and viewed suspiciously
what was a widespread view of woman?
“a woman place was in the home” where they were “living the American Dream” with the latest gadgets
how did middle class women feel?
increasingly frustrated with heir limited lives
