The American Dream

Question 1

what were produced the same way as war goods?

Answer 1

rare peacetime goods that millions could afford and were keen to buy

Question 2

what were considered luxury items?

Answer 2

refrigerators
ovens
vacuum cleaners
cars
televisions

Question 3

what helped sell the goods?

Answer 3

• huge advertising industry

- buy now, pay later

Question 4

what were built on the outskirts of large towns/cities?

Answer 4

massive malls so people had to go out of town to shop

Question 5

why were vast car parks built?

Answer 5

for the growing number of vehicles

Question 6

how many vehicles were there by 1956?

Answer 6

75 million

Question 7

how many households had items?

Answer 7

• 9/10 had a TV
• 8/10 had a car and telephone
• 7/10 had a washing machine

Question 8

what was happening by 1952?

Answer 8

• Europe keen to buy American goods
• America supplying the world with 65% of its manufactured goods
• growing populations consuming 1/3 of the worlds goods and services

Question 9

what happened after the war?

Answer 9

experienced a baby boom that saw a 40% increase in population

Question 10

how much better was the American living standard compared to the average British?

Answer 10

3 times

Question 11

what was the GI Bill?

Answer 11

• passed to help veterans of the conflict
• established hospitals
• made cheap home loans available
• offered grants to pay for ex-soldiers college

Question 12

what happened during 1944 to 1949 to help veterans?

Answer 12

9 million received $4 billion from government

Question 13

what was the American dream?

Answer 13

the idea that anyone in America can succeed through had work

Question 14

why did the American dream fail?

Answer 14

• areas where the majority were desperately poor with sub-standard, unsafe housing and schools
• no national health service

Question 15

how many people were living in poverty?

Answer 15

25%, worst in the South

Question 16

how did the elderly fail to benefit from the booming economy?

Answer 16

• by 1960, 68% of people over 65 had an income less than $1000
• average factory earnings were less than $4000

Question 17

what was The Fair Deal?

Answer 17

• used the government to help people most in need and bring about a fairer society
• tackled poverty and the rights of African Americans

Question 18

how much was the minimum hourly wage raised?

Answer 18

40 to 75 cents

Question 19

how did they make affordable housing?

Answer 19

cleared large slums

Question 20

who opposed to The Fair Deal?

Answer 20

• Republicans for the national health insurance scheme

- Southern politicians voted against an attempt to improve African Americans’ rights

Question 21

who was President Eisenhower?

Answer 21

a Republican who Brough lots of business people into the government to keep the economy booming

Question 22

how did Eisenhower succeed?

Answer 22

living standards of millions continued to improve as wages kept rising

Question 23

what happened to woman after the war?

Answer 23

went back to traditional roles as housewives

Question 24

what happened to womens wages?

Answer 24

• risen to 2/3 of those earned by men in factories

- fell back to 53% of that

Question 25

what was the average marriage age by 1950?

Answer 25

20 years old, lowest since 1890

Question 26

what ‘female jobs’ were woman employed in?

Answer 26

nursing
teaching
secretaries

Question 27

what happened if they attempted to pursue a high-flying business or management career?

Answer 27

faced discrimination and viewed suspiciously

Question 28

what was a widespread view of woman?

Answer 28

“a woman place was in the home” where they were “living the American Dream” with the latest gadgets

Question 29

how did middle class women feel?

Answer 29

increasingly frustrated with heir limited lives