1950's Purchasing Habits

Purchasing habits of the 1950s portrayed a national pattern: "personal extravagance was rare, but consumption for family enrichment was a high priority. They exhibited a desire for consumer goods combined with a concern for future financial security” (May 345). The Cold War consumer consensus made investing in commodities, such as televisions, an enhancement for family life and promoted the national economy. Luxury goods solidified Americans’ feelings of superiority in their quality of life compared to people in the Soviet Union. Families discovered security during this frightening and uncertain period within the home and bought consumer goods like televisions to make them feel in control. This solidified the home as an escape from rising
international tensions and legitimized that the family was the source of comfort during fearful times. By purchasing televisions, families were not only satisfying personal desires but also promoting their country making the United States a stronger force against communism. The largest and most imposing fear surrounding the Cold War was by far the threat of nuclear war.
In 1935 Aldo Leopold began to move the focus of his work away from game management towards “a renewed interest in nongame wildlife; emphasis on the biotic values of wilderness […] a concern for the stability of land “as an organism”; a recognition of the absolute necessity of coordination in conservation activities” (Meine 351).