Post-WWII America
World War II was a time of great devastation. Everyone participated in the total-war homefront, whether by working in factories, enlisting, or donating and conserving at home. It ended the Great Depression, and after the war, the nation felt economic hope. Consumerism spending was on the rise, suburban migration increased, and new homes were built to supply a growing nation. However, America's job abroad was not over, and the nation still fought the fight against communism and knew it needed to aid devastation overseas. The Truman Doctrine was written to help against communist forces in the Middle East, and the Marshall Plan financed recovery to much of western Europe. Although these helped US influence, they weren't able to prevent the Korean and Vietnam Wars, wars that ravaged American troops helping the fight for containment.
After World War II, economic depression did not return. Adjusting from a total-war economy to a peacetime economy was difficult, but it recovered quickly, fueled by consumer spending. During the war, Americans increased their savings as they accepted regular paychecks but little to spend it on. After four years of saving almost everything, Americans were ready to buy the new cars and appliances appearing all over the country. US corporations also expanded their global dominance, because most other factories around the world were in ruins from the war. New machines in the agricultural sector revolutionized farming, while farm labor productivity tripled. Government programs were also helped by the post-war economic boom, and aid for the cause of education increased social mobility. With economic growth came a growth in families with the baby boom; due to the war many families put off childbearing. A housing crisis followed, and William Levitt was inspired to develop the "Model T of houses"- houses with identical floorplans, built with Henry Ford's assembly line techniques and increasing suburban growth. Such...