Affluence in 1950s America

Yes, it was affluent

17 million more jobs.
Wages more than doubled.
Rise in mechanisation; eliminated 1.5 million blue collar jobs.
1956, white collar jobs outnumbered blue collar jobs.
Redistribution of income; fell for top 5% but rose for the bottom 40%
1947-1960, real wages increased more in 13 years than they had in the previous 50.
60% of Americans were middle class.
Middle class earned 70% of income for the country.
75% owned a car, 75% owned a washer, 87% owned a TV.
Use of electricity tripled
1955, Disneyland opened
Interstate highways, fast food restaurants, shopping malls.
Highest aferage standard of living in the world
Search for security following war and depression using materialism.

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Middle class status was achieved through debt, loans and the birth of the credit card.
Not everyone was welcome in the affluent suburbs; ethnic minorities were left in the cities.
No money spent on rebuilding or improving cities; 13 million homes built, 11 million of which were in the suburbs.
Southern states were noticeably poorer than the industrial north.
1959, 40 million Americans were said to be living below the poverty line.
Older people didn't benefit; no old age pension or natoinal health service

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