The transformation of the US 1945-54:

Summary: Economic transformation: changing employment opportunities; government policies to encourage growth; the provision of mortgages for veterans; growing mobility, including cars and highway construction; the growth of the suburbs; Levittown projects; the new consumer society. 

•       The end of post-war euphoria: HUAC, McCarthyism and their impact; anti-communism and the Cold War context; the reality of the nuclear age, including Ethel and Julius Rosenberg. 

•       Cultural change: Hollywood and the Cold War; the growing power of television, including popular entertainment and sitcoms, the stereotyping of women and ethnic minorities; the origins of a teenage culture, including rock’n’roll. 

•       The changing status of minorities: Truman’s desegregation of the armed forces; extent of integration in professional sports and popular entertainment; the growth of the NAACP; the Brown case 1954; the extent of change by 1955.

Economic transformation:

-       Due to the war US prosperity increased, this continued through peace time. The veterans faced prosperity as well as the 1944 GI Bill of Rights (also known as Selective Servicemen’s Readjustment Act) gave grants to those veterans that fought during the war 

-       Roosevelt dies and Truman takes over 1945-53

-       8^th May 1945 – peace in Europe

-       15^th August 1945 – WW2 over after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

-       By 1945 US were the richest country in history 

-       Industries were increasing e.g. Car ownership increased as it became a status of wealth and comfort, this growth helped to move from urban centres to suburbs where there were new affordable homes e.g. Levitt homes were pre-fabricated and had a good value – the only downside of these suburbs was the ‘white-flag’ which was a movement of white American’s from inner city areas to the suburbs which meant again white supremacy made the most out of the prosperity 

-       Post war boom led to growth of employment opportunities and development of affordable housing this led to development of nuclear family and life was more comfortable and pleasing for people 

-       The growing prosperity gave American’s a sense of optimism 

Post-war prosperity:

-       Due to war the US noticed their mistakes being made so it wouldn’t be repeated 

-       War led to US economy growing significantly; GNP had risen by 35% and they owned 7% of the world population but only possessed 42% of its income, per capita income was at $1450 which was X2 higher than Britain, US were consuming 3,000 calories per day which was higher than those in western Europe 

-       Federal government spent $92 billion in 1945 but this decreased to $36 billion in 1948 

-       States were spending more on roads and schools

-       Economic expansion meant greater employment opportunities and industries growing e.g. aircraft production and electrical goods 

-       Consumer taxes changed, food production made huge gains, tobacco companies were making profits and employed many people, huge migration meant employment increasing 

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