American Prosperity In The 1950's

Improved Essays
In the time of the 1950s, there were many factors that contributed to the prosperity that many Americans enjoyed. The 1950s were a time where there were highs and lows, but through it all, it made America what it is today. The past wars were hard on people, and they had to work to make sure they had a life for them and their families. Parents did all they could to support their families. This paper will reflect on how Americans grew to enjoy the prosperity they created by the GI Bill of RIghts, Suburbs and Highways, and Consumerism. One of the factors that contributed to America's prosperity was the GI Bill of Rights. This was because after WWII, many veterans were suffering from housing shortages(section 2). The GI Bill of RIghts, also known as the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act, not only encouraged veterans to get an education but also gave them financial benefits. In the textbook, it states that many young families used this Bill of Rights to buy either homes, farms, or businesses(section 1). We also see, that not only did they get educational and financial benefits, but it also provided low-interest, federally guaranteed loans(Section 1). This lessened the stress of many families who were struggling to survive and make a living after the war, especially with the housing crisis that was happening at the time(section 2). Many unfortunately lived in tight, cramped apartments. This was a housing crisis that hit America, and had them in a rough patch. Thankfully, developers such as William Levitt and Henry Kaiser, made it more efficient to buy houses due to their “assembly line methods to mass-produce houses.” In the textbook, Levitt claims that he and his team could build a house in under sixteen minutes(section2). His housings would be located in the suburbs for under $7,000. Suburbs being a small residential town or community near a city(textbook vocab). A signature look started to take over the suburbs that Levitt created; all housings were to be the same/alike due to zoning laws. The reason americans enjoyed the idea of suburbs, despite the conformity, was because of the openness and home-like feel to it all. Now, majority of the people who used to live in the city, now lived in the suburbs, and took transportation to their jobs everyday. Thanks to the new highway system, gasoline, and automobiles, it was possible to get from point A, to point B. The satisfaction it gave to Americans to live in a suburb where it was affordable, had a good school system, and have a safe healthy environment, made up for the work that had to be done to give their families what they called the,” so-called good things in life.” As a result …show more content…
People were now confident with the way they were living. They were comfortable with their lifestyles, and they didn’t need to worry about how they were going to live till the next day. As readers,the textbook shows us what theses people had to go through to get where they were. They as people, and civilians, deserve to be where they are, and have a comfortable lifestyle. They GI BIll of Rights, Suburbs and Highways, and consumerism all were attributes to helping Americans live the life they wanted, and in the end, many could say it was worth

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Countless Americans sacrificed a lot during the war, but America was doing great economically, which carried it over. After the terrible war the Americans lived life more freely and the economy was good. Many more household appliances were made and new cars and inventions. But the wages of the Americans couldnt catch up with everyones spending so they bought things on credit. America was doing great up until 1929 through the 1930’s.…

    • 551 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    1950 Dbq Analysis

    • 1128 Words
    • 5 Pages

    World War II ended in 1945, sending veterans home to a postwar economy to have children and begin their new lives. Despite some social disagreements, everything was looking up for Americans. However by the time the baby boomers were becoming teenagers in the 60s, things were not looking so bright. While the 50s were full of prosperity, conformity, and consensus, there were still disagreements leading to the very different turbulence, protests, and disillusionment of the 60s.…

    • 1128 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    War efforts of the citizens such as bonds and factory work were crucial in the American process of fighting and winning the war. For example,…

    • 507 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    During the 1950s and 60’s American was in the great society and in a thriving economic time. The Unites states economy was powerful and the tax revenue was so abundant and employment was very high because the federal government had money due to WWII and United States being the country that was not destroyed. Although in the 1950s and 60’s it was a great time for economy and a period of consense where most people agreedon on the American values like indivgualizm, repect of property and equal rights even thought it was not provided, America was faced with the Cold War against Russia and China and during the 1960s the main warfare was the Vitaniame war. And before that was WWII so, every ten years the United States had been faced with major…

    • 1236 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    World War 1 had several positive and several negative effects on society as well as the American economy and way of life for average citizens. First, there was a great economic boom during the years of the war, followed by a severe postwar recession. Manufacturers of weapons and farmers especially prospered as they were directly involved with supplying the soldiers off at war. Also, as manufacturers were needed in greater numbers, unemployment rates fell drastically, subsequently improving the quality of life for many Americans. At the same time, the United States acted as a bank, lending cash and goods to its allies at war, further boosting the economy.…

    • 1548 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    This forced people lost their jobs instantly and couldn’t hold the financial. Some family cannot pay for their house rent money so they have to live on a street. The number of homeless and unemployed people increased years by years in the United States. This led to the Great Depression ten years after the war…

    • 1070 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Disease and Medicine in 1840’s America America -- a young nation, still in its infancy; after declaring victory over Britain two times, and escaping the global Napoleonic War, there was an abrupt but shaky peace. The United States were hit by a massive economic revolution in a time period known to many as “Jacksonian America.” But when asked of what 1840’s America was like, most people would say familiar phrases heard in a history class, “The Gold Rush,” “Mexican-American War,” and “Manifest Destiny.”…

    • 979 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    This left a fragile, thin class structure in the U.S. and in a way, brought people closer together. American consumers were spell-bound by new technology that rapidly came about in the 50’s.…

    • 427 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Prosperity of the 1950 's The 1950 's was a very flourishing decade and the economy was prospering because Americans were spending more on items that were once scarce during the war. The growing rate of the nations supplies and services actually doubled and rose from approximately $300 billion in 1950 to $500 billion in 1960.The increase in spending, fueled by the cold war and military spending during the Korean conflict, was an very important boost to the economy. The fundamentals of the prosperous 1950 's were new cars, suburban lifestyle, advances in technology and medicine, and pop culture. Since Americans were receiving a larger income it lead to more spending on extra items. Americans were buying cars because they were converting to…

    • 1471 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    1950s Vs Today Essay

    • 1098 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Life in the 1950s vs. Today In comparison with recent times, throughout the 1950s, there was equal unemployment, more births, less women employed, a movement from large cities to the suburbs, housing shortages, changes in health, changes in transit, and multiple corporations maximized. Although some of these can be deemed negative, it always shapes history and leads us to where we are today. The 1950s decade became known as the “Baby Boom”.…

    • 1098 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    As the nation continues its incessant progression, one must not forget the foundational framework of history that influenced the structure of present-day America. Dismissing the 19th century and welcoming the 20th, the Progressive Era and the Gilded Age saw a rise in economical growth and brought an emergence of social advances that offered America the opportunity to flourish into the nation of achievable dreams. The “american dream” was desired by all, even by those across sea. It’s true, the nation was blooming vastly thanks to the Industrial Revolution. However, it was soon forced to confront social and economical issues that were brought about by those seeking better opportunity and reformation.…

    • 1495 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The decade of the 1960s and 1970 were not easy for America. America had faced some serious challenges during this period. Kennedy was the youngest person to be sworn as the President of the United States. He had very high expectation from the young Americans. He decided to introduce his New Frontier plan to fix the unemployment and inflation, and keeping the wage of the workers high.…

    • 1450 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Age Of Conformity Analysis

    • 1128 Words
    • 5 Pages

    After World War II, American lives will change due to the middle class unexpectedly expanding due to suburbanization, unemployment rates were decreasing, and the United States will become the most powerful country in the world due to the technological creation of the nuclear bomb which won’t last very long because the Soviet Union will test their nuclear weapon in 1949. The 1950’s deserves its reputation as an age of political, social, and cultural conformity to a great extent due to Eisenhower needing to enhance old policies, the eagerness of America wanting to get rid of communism and to prove that the American lifestyle was the best way to live. Politics was in the 1950’s was known as the “age of conformity” due to the rise of Eisenhower…

    • 1128 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    America Of The 1950's

    • 87 Words
    • 1 Pages

    America of the 1950s was a beaming nation, full of optimism following the triumph of World War II. Business activity and economic growth generated a doubling in advertising expenditure by the end of the decade. My impression of America during the fifties was that it appeared to be a magical time when people lived honourably, and hard-work and dedication were valued and praised. The theory many people possessed was of a ‘sparkling America’, ‘pleasant America’ or ‘rich America’, and in general people were willing to believe this.…

    • 87 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Lesson Objective To understand the concept of nostalgia and how it is a theme in ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’. A warning: This will stray a little into ‘Whose Reality?’ territory, but remember that this is a text response and whenever you mention nostalgia in a text response essay, it must be when directly discussing the text. NO general discussion of the concept is allowed! Definition The term nostalgia describes a yearning for the past, often in idealised form.…

    • 647 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays