How Did The Great Depression And WWII Affect The Lifestyle Of The United States?

The Webster Dictionary defines the golden age as “A period of great happiness, prosperity, and achievement” (Merriam-Webster, 2018). The events of the Great Depression and WWII brought many severe changes to the lifestyle of Americans. The Great Depression brought families of the United States a large decline in the economy and jobs, creating a severe increase in poverty and homelessness for American families. After the Great Depression when WWII began taking action, many new changes began altering families’ viewpoints and attitudes. A new prosperity was forming but leaving families to pay the price. Although WWII did create jobs for citizens, jobs weren’t always where citizens lived, leaving families to split apart to earn their income.
This postwar period strived for change and improvement throughout the United States. Family life at home experienced the boom of suburban housing often known as cookie cutter houses, where families were raised, many believed this was the American dream. Factory workers became skilled factory workers, the economies income began to increase throughout America and for most families. Architecture took off, making cities larger and building freeways in the busy large cities of America. Cities began to form downtown areas providing residents and visitors with the warming experience of shopping, eateries, and various businesses. Women during this period were remaining and increasing their impact throughout the United
In the article, Introduction to The American Family 1945-1965 mentions,
“African-Americans ended the war with a greater determination that this peace would be different, that they would gain equality, despite the odds. Native Americans were enduring yet another attempt by the government to destroy tribal institutions. Mexican Americans in the Southwest faced a pervasive discrimination with its own terrible characteristics. Japanese Americans were a long time recovering from internment during WWII” (Chamberlain, 2018, p.1).
With race equality conflicts still ongoing, many Americans didn’t view this time as a time of happiness and achievement. Along with equality dilemmas, the population was concerned about the atomic bomb threats, the red scare, the cold war, and the Korean war from around 1945 to 1950. The article, More information on Children and the Bombs mentions, “Duck and cover exercises were practiced in schools, shelters were located throughout the country, and many supply storages existed throughout the United States” (Chamberlain, 2018). Along with duck and cover exercises, the article Children and the Cold War mentions, “In schools, children seriously practiced defending themselves against nuclear attack and in 1961, a boy wrote to President Kennedy that “I am 9 years old. I don’t like the plans that you are planning. I am too young to die” (Alvah, 2010, p.27). With the anxiety spreading