Question

Create a frame/ structure of an introduction, thesis, support evidence, analysis, and proper content for the following question.

2. Discuss the post-WWII growth in the American middle class.

- What characterized the affluence of American society?

- What was the influence of the baby boomer generation?

- How did the civil rights movement reveal divisions in American society?

Answer 1

Before the world war-II started, The Great Depression has battered the American society, economically. With extremely hgh unemployment, only 1/3rd of the population could be said to be middle class.

However, post world-war II, 2/3rd of the Americans were prosperous enough to be called middle class.

During the war and after it, increased government spending on building new factories, affordable credit for buying cars, and building new homes, etc., helped increase employment opportunities for the Americans. Between 1940 and 1960, 20 million new cars were sold, all the cities saw development of sprawling suburbs, with 85% of new homes being built in the suburbs. The development of limited access highways across the country helped increase economic activities massively across the country.

College going Americans had more than doubled between 1940 and 1960.

All these were characteristics of an affluent American society post world-war II.

New families after the world war II created a baby boom in the country. The birth rate increased drastically after 1945 and continued till 1964. Overall 76 million Americans were part of baby boom generation that led to high consumer spending leading to high aggregate demand for goods and services.

Civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s showed the divisons in the society when African Americans protested against still presistent widespread discrimination against them in terms of employment, and other opportunities. The march on Washington by 250,000 blacks and the famous speech of Martin Luther still remembered as I have a dream, are some of the examples of the fight against discrimination prevalent back then.

All these movemnets and events made the country stronger and more prosperous.