History Chapter 24 Outline Flashcards

Questions and Answers

After the war, the American economy enjoyed?

remarkable growth

_________________ came into widespread use during these years, transforming Americans' daily lives.

Numerous innovations

The reduction in home inequality stemmed from federal tax policy that placed a ________________.

70 percent tax rate on the richest Americans

Tax loopholes ________________.

lower this rate considerably Signup and view all the answers

The Cold War fueled industrial production and promoted a redistribution of the nation's?

population and economic resources Signup and view all the answers

Since the 1950s, the American economy has shifted away from?

manufacturing Signup and view all the answers

The number of farms has since the 1950s, but farm production has .

declined, increased Signup and view all the answers

The center of gravity of American farming shifted decisively to?

Texas, Arizona, and especially California Signup and view all the answers

The main engines of economic growth during the 1950s were?

residential construction and spending on consumer goods Signup and view all the answers

The dream of ____________ came within reach of most Americans.

homeownership Signup and view all the answers

Levittown is described as?

New York suburb where postwar builders pioneered the techniques of mass home construction Signup and view all the answers

California became the most prominent symbol of?

the postwar suburban boom Signup and view all the answers

Western cities were decentralized clusters of?

single-family homes and businesses united by a web of highways Signup and view all the answers

In a consumer culture, the measure of freedom became the ability to?

gratify market desires Signup and view all the answers

Americans became comfortable living in never-ending debt, once seen as?

a loss of economic freedom Signup and view all the answers

Consumer culture demonstrated the superiority of?

the American way of life over communism Signup and view all the answers

Television replaced newspapers as the ________________________ about public events and provided

most common source of information Signup and view all the answers

TV avoided controversy and projected?

a bland image of middle-class life Signup and view all the answers

Television also became?

the most effective advertising medium ever invented Signup and view all the answers

A defining feature of American identity, mass consumption was?

promoted as a patriotic act to win the Cold War Signup and view all the answers

Along with a home and television set, the car became part of what sociologists called?

"the standard consumer package" of the 1950s Signup and view all the answers

Auto manufacturers and oil companies vaulted to?

the top ranks of corporate America Signup and view all the answers

The _____________________ transformed the nation's daily life.

automobile Signup and view all the answers

After __________, women lost most of the industrial jobs they had performed during the war.

1945 Signup and view all the answers

By the mid-1950s women were working again, but?

the nature and aims of women's work had changed Signup and view all the answers

Women were expected to?

get married, have kids, and stay at home Signup and view all the answers

Baby Boom refers to?

the larger than expected generation in the United States born shortly after World War II Signup and view all the answers

The ___________ also became a weapon in the Cold War.

family Signup and view all the answers

________________ seemed to have disappeared from American life.

Feminism Signup and view all the answers

The suburbs remained?

segregated communities Signup and view all the answers

During the postwar suburban boom, federal agencies continued to __________________________________, thereby financing housing segregation.

insure mortgages that barred resale of houses to nonwhites Signup and view all the answers

A housing act passed by Congress in 1949 authorized _____________________________ in order to provide a "decent home for every American family."

the construction of over 800,000 units of public housing Signup and view all the answers

Suburbanization hardened ___________________ in American life.

the racial lines of division Signup and view all the answers

____ whites left the cities for the suburbs while _ blacks moved into the cities.

Seven million, 3 million Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Post-War American Economy

After World War II, the American economy experienced remarkable growth.
Numerous innovations significantly transformed daily life in America.
Federal tax policy implemented a 70 percent tax rate on the wealthiest, which has since decreased to 43 percent due to loopholes.

Cold War Impact

The Cold War spurred industrial production and redistributed population and economic resources across the nation.
Since the 1950s, there has been a notable shift away from manufacturing toward other sectors.

Agriculture Changes

The number of farms decreased since the 1950s; however, farm production increased.
The center of American farming has shifted predominantly to Texas, Arizona, and California.

Economic Growth Engines

Key drivers of economic growth in the 1950s included residential construction and consumer goods spending.
The aspiration for homeownership became accessible to most Americans.

Suburban Expansion

Levittown, a New York suburb, pioneered mass home construction techniques post-war.
California emerged as a leading symbol of the suburban boom.

Lifestyle and Consumer Culture

Western cities developed as decentralized clusters of single-family homes and businesses linked by highways.
Consumer culture defined freedom as the ability to satisfy market desires, with increasing comfort in living in debt.
Mass consumption was promoted as a patriotic act during the Cold War, portraying the American way of life as superior to communism.

Television's Role

Television replaced newspapers as the primary source of public information, catering to a shared cultural experience across diverse regions.
It avoided controversy, presenting an idealized vision of middle-class life and became a powerful advertising platform.

Societal Changes and Expectations for Women

Following 1945, women lost many industrial jobs gained during the war; by the mid-1950s, their work dynamics had shifted.
The societal expectation for women centered around marriage, motherhood, and maintaining a home.
The Baby Boom generation, a larger than expected group born after WWII, influenced family dynamics.

Racial and Gender Dynamics

Feminism noticeably receded from American social visibility during this period.
Suburbs remained largely segregated, supported by federal policies that insured mortgages excluding nonwhite buyers.
In the postwar suburban boom, the federal government financed housing that reinforced segregation, with millions of whites moving to suburbs while many blacks relocated to cities.

Housing Initiatives

The Housing Act of 1949 authorized the construction of over 800,000 public housing units to ensure decent homes for families.
Suburbanization entrenched racial divisions, significantly impacting American society.

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