The textbook “American Dream” is encapsulated within the first few sentences of Brands’ American Dreams. Brands describes that “We dreamed of liberty, equality, and happiness. We dreamed of prosperity for ourselves and our children. We dreamed we would save our souls and save the world (p. x).” As American society and foreign policy evolved, these dreams would evolve as well. Following WWII, the rise of liberalism contributed to a major shift in American sense of responsibility, and the blind nationalism that had sent young Americans to war for their country was corroded as the focus turned towards glaring social problems. Shifting gender roles, the civil rights movement, and the Cold War all had enormous influence on the American psyche. As a result, the common American trusted their traditionalist society less. As powerful leaders like Martin Luther King (and later, Malcolm X) rose to prominence, Americans were forced to see where their government had failed them in terms of social equality. The older American dream, which sub-textually promoted an unquestioning faith to the country, was picked apart. Black, Latinx and female Americans became increasingly motivated to create a new America, where men and women of all races worked as equals. Thusly the Civil Rights Movement (including Suffrage) itself became a footnote of the “American dream,” denoting socioeconomic equality across the board.
I agree with many of the points that Rin has made. I feel that many Americans idea of the "American Dream" in the 20s was perceived as something completely different compared to what was happening to America financially and economically. When the Great Depression occurred I believe that it was the beginning of the end of peoples oblivion to what was actually happening around them. As Rin said, the emerging of many leaders made Americans realize how flawed the country was in terms of social equality. This idea also applies to what happened when Franklin D Roosevelt came into office. The New Deal woke up the population and they were motivated by the goals Roosevelt set for the nation. This occurrence continued throughout WWII when America was inspired by international leader Winston Churchill and the horrors of the war gave them new perspectives and allowed the general public to open up and voice their opinions, considering that it was arguably the top topic during that era. For the post-war era, Rin words it perfectly; Americans were forced to come to the realization that their dominantly white culture had been closed off to having an open perspective and leaders such as Marthin Luther King Jr. helped them understand their flaws and motivated change.
The end of WWII was the beginning of a new era for the United States, in both the domestic and international spheres. Unlike the period after WWI, characterized by a surge in patriotism, following WWII many Americans took a more realistic approach to the future, recognizing that there were limits to how much the U.S. could reasonably accomplish for itself and humanity. However, the success of the perpetrators of the war seemed to many Americans a result of America’s failure to respond quickly to the initial threats, which in turn led many to oppose the previous policy of appeasement. Instead, Americans claimed for themselves the responsibility of maintaining world order, especially after the attack on Pearl Harbor made it clear to many Americans that involvement in the war was unavoidable. This shift in attitude ultimately prompted the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (Japan) during the summer of 1945. In the 20 years following the war, America took increasingly harsh measures against communism and disorder in the world, all of which demonstrated the people’s desire to solve the world’s problems themselves. In addition, the technological competition of the Cold War roused the competitive side of many Americans, who wanted to be foremost in the world in science and technology in order to help mankind and dreamed enough to put a man on the moon. On the home front, the post-war economic success had a lasting social impact also. Increasing incomes, a “Baby Boom”, and a lingering desire to compensate for the scarcity of the Great Depression all contributed to the rise of a middle class, which aided the image of “social egalitarianism” that the U.S. hoped to give itself. The introduction of a middle class allowed for innovation and mass culture, and also proved a staging ground for emerging ideas about racial and gender equality. Ultimately, the years after World War II were a time of great change in American society and global interaction, leaving Americans dreaming of a future in which their nation kept the world peaceful and safe, while they themselves enjoyed prosperity and the change to improve their own lot in life.
As the WWII was ending, the concept of American Dream was evolving. Before the war, American Dream that consisted of success, prosperity, and a chance to make the world better for the future generations of the Americans. It was a common ideal for the majority of people. But since 1945, this ideal transformed and evolved. It started to alter because everything started to change. With the victory in the WWII, Americans were coming home to begin a new episode in their country’s history. The world was changing as well. Some countries were stepping onto the democratic path towards freedom. Other countries went along with communism hoping for stability and success under a strong totalitarian government. In the US, African-Americans started to fight and protest for more freedom and civil rights. Also, with the possession of a nuclear weapon and putting itself as a world military leader, the US started to evolve technologically in any sphere of life in the Earth and in space.Competing with the USSR, the USA tried to spread its influence to other countries of the world.Consequently, the American Dream became more connected to the world. No longer Americans worked for just the local or individual prosperity and freedom. They started to spread it around the world. That created a lot of room toward patriotism and national pride. When the American government supported pro-Western government in South Korea, American society supported the government. They felt like they could help people of Korea live in the way like the one they lived in. Also, Americans wanted those regions to be at peace and not be influenced by the communist way of life. Communism was a big threat for the United States at the time. In retrospect, American Dream evolved from more secluded ideas to more global ideas like peace in the world, freedom from totalitarian governments, and same rights for everyone.
Before WWII, Americans were faced with the impossible task of trying to reconstruct after the stock market crashed in the late 1920s, and the national issue of poverty and unemployment. During WWII, Americans continued to support the policy of appeasement, the idea to remain away from conflict, but the bombings at Pearl Harbor was an eye-opening event for the U.S to end their policy of appeasement and get involved in world issues sooner and quicker. As a result of WWII, the United States became one of the most wealthy and strong nations in the world, and because of their wealth and strength, European countries sought their aid with the reconstruction after the war left many countries destroyed. After taking the lead in reconstructing after WWII, America soon took the role as a world leader and soon used this power to begin harsh measures to end communism and other problems in an attempt to prevent a war similar to World War II. Internally, things had changed economically as a result of World War II that had caused a drastic change in American lives. For example, increased incomes caused the “Baby Boom,” and caused the expansion of the middle class. The creation and growth of the middle class caused new inventions, new cultural aspects, and new ideas to emerge. For instance, the idea of liberalism, the belief of freedom and equality, caused influential leaders, such as Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, to push for equality among all Americans despite different races. Ideas of gender equality for women emerged, after women were introduced into the workforce and wanted the same rights as men have in society and government. In conclusion, the period after World War II was a time for the United States to progress internally and grow to become a top world leader.
The Great depression largely impacted the existing perception of the American dream. Americans had formerly believed “that men (mostly) and women who worked hard and saved for rainy days could expect a measure of material comfort and security in their golden years, without resort to government”(16). Post depression, they understood how too much exposure to the unaccountable changes of capitalism left their incomes damaged, suffering from “massive layoffs and ubiquitous bank failures”(16). Before WWII, Women were told in traditional voices “they could desire no greater destiny than to glory in their own femininity”(176). Oftentimes, women were told motherhood mattered more than careers--women were looking at a dull future ahead with limited opportunity. Minorities also suffered from discrimination and now long desired change. After WWII, women’s rights were expanding because of their wartime activity in factories or businesses, taking the place of their husbands at war. Advocates for women’s rights began expanding their roles in society through strikes, violent, or verbal protests. The National Organization for Women (NOW) caught the attention of the entire country, including Congress. Shortly after in 1971, the amendment declaring, “equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex”(178) was approved and referred to the states. However, the minorities still suffered. There were nearly 17 million African-Americans, in the United States, making up about 10 percent of the population. Negro movements based on the philosophy of Martin Luther King Jr. grew in numbers daily, expanding their power immensely. After reassessing the Fourteenth Amendment, promising equality to all freed men, Kennedy decided it was time to fulfill its promise as neither he nor the government could further ignore the pleas for equality. The United States also expanded their influence overseas and was a role model for other countries to follow, being one of the strongest nations to emerge out of WWII. They began worrying about Mao Zedong in China and Fidel Castro in Cuba, both of which posed threats to American power and influence on foreign countries. Internally, suburb growth and the expansion of the middle class resulted from the “ baby boom” and large-scale immigration. The GI Bill was also created to provide wartime veterans with education costs, low interest loans/low-cost mortgages for starting a business, and one year of unemployment compensation. The future began looking bright for Americans all across the nation.
A selfless and collective America is the America we choose to remember when characterizing our country. That was a fair assessment of the immediate post WW2 era. At that point in history, America was a super power, having defeated fascism. The courageous men and women who defended our “right to dream” actually embodied it and were welcomed home with great fan fair. In the following 20 years, the American Dream was centered around a strong and united America. Democracy was of the utmost importance and the primary goal of the U.S. was to stop the spread of communism. The twenty year period following WW2 in America was one of great prosperity including an economic turn around. The Great Depression ended largely because of the economic stimulus of the war and the government’s New Deal, which expanded its role of caring for its citizens. The common unity and nationalistic sentiment seemed everlasting as Truman argued to defend Americas vision, “one way of life which is based upon the will of the majority”. The ideal of democracy defeating communism defined America’s resolve and focus until the rise of the Baby Boomer’s in the late 50’s. At that point the shift in America's economy was invigorated by product demand instead of war supplies, and a middle class grew while U.S companies and capitalism flourished. Subtly a cultural shift occurred in the American Dream towards individual prosperity and away form Nationalism. More individual rights came to the forefront as was evidenced by the civil rights movement and Martin Luther Kings “I have a dream” speech. MLK argued to include African Americans in the American Dream. Racial and gender equality came to the center of social issues and the American Dream was re-imagined. Citizens began to focus on how they could make the best life for themselves and focus less on the betterment of the county. This focus on self sentiment was soon to become tragically obvious in the Vietnam era.
Post WWII era, the American Dream blossomed. American’s before WWII began questioning the availability of the American Dream. After WWII, American’s prospered from the baby boom, availability of jobs, and the growing middle class. The baby boom caused middle class family’s to move into suburbs. Many people among the middle class were now provided with luxuries such as owning a house and a car. President Roosevelt signed the GI Bill, in which, provides veterans with low-cost mortgages, low-interest to start a business, and help to pay for education. As veterans returned home, the economy was improving because of the increased incomes and the expansion of jobs. The middle class provided the United States with a cultural change such as individual growth. More individual rights for women and African Americans developed, by beginning to advocate for equal rights within society because of their work taken place during the war. For example, many women replaced men in factories during the war and wished to be granted the same rights as men within the government. Martin Luther King began preaching about spreading the American Dream to African American citizens and equality for all.
After WWII, America became one of the strongest and wealthiest nations in the world. Also, America became involved with other nations in the fight to stop communism to promote democracy and help prevent another world war. The United States technology evolved with space and nuclear weapons. Overall, the American Dream began to spread to all citizens within the United States and began touching lives of different nations. The American Dream had evolved into making a better life for oneself and for people around the world.
The concept of the “American Dream” evolved significantly following the events both before and during WWII. Before WWII, Americans were faced with the challenge of rebuilding their shattered economy following the Great Depression starting in 1929. As Olivia quoted, “the Great Depression had seriously challenged the received version of the American dream that men (mostly) and women who worked hard and saved for rainy days could expect a measure of material comfort and security in their golden years, without resort to government” (16). After the Great Depression, Americans lost faith in the security of their capital and the capability of their leaders to deal with financial crises like the Great Depression. However, after WWII “the country had vanquished the despair and poverty of the Great Depression” (ix) and started moving forward. In the 20 years following WWII, accomplishment became a focal point of the American dream. With the economy improving rapidly, America became a consumerist society and people became much more interested in indulging themselves in material goods. In addition, Congress passed the GI Bill, “which would provide funding for the soldiers’ return” (16). This funding helped provide housing and education to the returning soldiers. Over time, incomes increased, more jobs became available, the middle class expanded, and the “Baby Boom” took place. The Baby Boom meant that more and more people were moving to the suburbs, and were able to own houses and cars, a luxury that many could not appreciate before WWII. Eventually women and African Americans began to earn more rights as emerging figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and women’s rights activists began to voice their opinions on the issue of gender and race equality. Overall, in the 20 years following WWII, Americans proved that they could make their home country a more prosperous and powerful nation after experiencing hardships during the war.
The origination of The American Dream began as the aspiration for religious freedom and then evolved into the desire for home ownership. For a while this was all that the American Dream consisted of. In 1929 when the U.S. stock market crashed, launching America into the Great Depression the American Dream was threatened. Banks began to fail and stopped giving out loans to businesses, which layed off workers because they had no money to pay them. People without incomes could not afford to buy the products from the businesses, causing them to fail. One out of every four Americans was unemployed, meaning 25% of the population was deprived of that aspect of the American Dream. They lost hope in their country and their government and their dreams suffered because of it. Their dreams stopped focusing on themselves and As Paris mentioned their dreams now were focused on rebuilding their shambled economy. This taught "Americans of that generation resilience and fortitude." (ix) WWII brought the country together "in a common purpose"(ix) and this unity solidified the American Dream. The generation born after WWII, titled "Baby Boomers" grew up with parents whose dreams had been tested in the Depression and then fortified in the war. Their parents, with the hardships of the Depression still fresh in their minds wanted their children to have what they didn't. As a result of this the Baby Boomers grew up with a "sense of entitlement" and "a feeling that the world existed for their benefit"(70) In the 20 years after WWII the Baby Boomers went through school and into the workforce believing they could achieve anything. The American Dream evolved from
During the twenty years following World War II, the American Dream shifted to suit the American advancements in technology and industry and the growth of the middle class. Throughout the war, the previously low incomes of Americans were raised and opportunities for spending were limited due to the focus on production of war time materials. By the end of the war, the eagerness to spend money had built up so that the American dream became one of buying a house with one’s spouse and having a large family. This “Baby Boom” that lasted into the sixties led to a change of the role of children in American culture. At this point, caring for one’s children became a central aspect of the American Dream; for the first time since before WWII, only one parent needed to work and make money to support a family while the other stayed home and looked after for the children. Furthermore, much of the economic activity and industrial progress now revolved around the growing number of nuclear families. Due to the hike in production, it was now within the average American family’s reaches to buy a car and house and furnish it with various household appliances, including the television. Moreover, the rise in suburbs (led by the creation of Levittown) led to a sameness amongst American families that aided in the social shift to an equal, and large middle class. At this point the American dream was to live as part of the middle class and maintain an egalitarian United States. This uniformity was additionally aided by the growth of franchises, such as McDonald’s, and the vamp in highway construction, which additionally led to easy access of travel from the American suburban home to an office in a city. Finally, the post-war era led to an increase in popularity of racial integration. Attitudes toward the Jim Crow laws shifted and efforts were made toward racial equality in the United States. Overall, the strength of the economy was what led to development of a more uniform and progressive American Dream.
The “American Dream” began as the opportunity to achieve success and to have social mobility in a growing society. Before WWII, the Great Depression did not make this dream seem like it could be a reality any time soon. People had no money and they blamed the government for preventing their success. Americans had to focus on rebuilding their economy rather than achieving their own personal success. After World War II, this far away dream did not seem so distant anymore. Since almost everyone was involved in the war effort, the manufacturing industry became much more efficient and this boosted the American economy greatly. When more people are in factories, that means that more people have jobs which means there is a lower unemployment rate. A crucial part of the “American Dream” is working to get money and with new industries that emerged from the war, this became possible. In the 20 years after WWII, the American people became more interested in purchasing products and becoming better consumers. Now women also had the “American Dream” within reach and sometimes men even had to compete with women for jobs since the girls were the ones who held many of the jobs in America while the men were fighting overseas during the war. Ultimately, the times after the war proved that the American people were able to prosper even after the horrors experienced during the war.
As Americans faced an economic boom, baby boom, increase in liberal beliefs, desire for gender and race equality, the perception of the “American Dream” was changed drastically during this golden age of the middle class. As the wealth of the U.S. increased dramatically, Americans were now able to buy items unpurchasable during the depression and war. This momentum of continuous wealth allowed many types of needs to be satisfied for Americans. These desires were filled in the purchases of cars, home construction, electronics, and other items. The baby boom also contributed to this peace production wealth, as things were being produced specifically for that generation due to raised incomes and the ability to afford babies that they couldn’t previously (in the depression and war). Americans then learned that their prior conservative society could not be relied on, as their desire for more freedom could not be attained if they did. For example, when John F. Kennedy put aside civil rights as a non-priority (due to pleasing southerners for their vote for him), Americans such as members of the Congress of Racial Equality and Martin Luther King took a stand for African American’s racial equality in order to make long awaited progress towards equality among races. Gender roles also took a remarkable turn for the better, as women were welcomed into the workforce. Clearly, after World War II American’s idea of the “American Dream” changed into a major push for progress.
A major part of the American Dream is to be successful in life. Prior to WWII, the Great Depression did not allow much of the American population to be successful, in fact, most people were struggling to survive. After WWII, Americans started to believe that they could finally be successful. This is majorly due to the American industry. During the war, American industry was used to manufacture weapons and equipment for the war effort, boosting the American economy. After the war, the industry was used to make mass produced products, such as the car. Because good were being mass produced they became more available to the public and were at a price that most Americans could afford. Americans were being very good producers and consumers, boosting the economy. Another part of the American Dream is equality. In the years following the war, women started to gain more influence and respect from men. Also, because of Martin Luther King Jr., the civil rights movement began and the idea of non-segregation started to surface. Ultimately, the years following the war proved the point that America could succeed, even after a disastrous war.
America's involvement in WWII ushered in a new age of the American Dream. Prior to WWII Americans struggled to get by during the Great Depression in the years following the stock market crash in 1929. Before the war Americans struggled to find jobs in order to support themselves as well as their families. Unemployment rates in the U.S. rose to around 25% meaning one in every four Americans lived without a consistent income. As a result of the delicate state of the economy, the U.S. supported Isolationism and Appeasement. These foreign policies allowed America to elude the war along with the expense that came with it. The bombing of Pearl Harbor would drastically alter to future of America. As a result of the attack many Americans began to abandon the policies of Appeasement and Isolationism. This then led to the U.S. joining the war effort in December of 1941. The involvement in WWII brought the economy out of the Depression because as men went away to fight more jobs opened for unemployed citizens. Also, the huge need for goods such as guns and ammunition created more jobs and helped the U.S. rise from the Depression and become one of the worlds largest manufacturing countries. This sudden rise in job opportunities also sparked the beginning of gender equality. Women began to integrate into the work place to support their families when their husbands went to war. Later the rise in gender equality would make way for the civil rights movement. Leaders such as Martin Luther King fought for racial equality and civil rights. In addition to the rise in equality after WWII, there was a growing hatred towards communism as well as a reluctance to ignore the fight against communism. The Cold War showed the fight that every American had to be the best in the world as they competed with the USSR. The "American Dream" seemed to become attainable in the years following WWII thanks to the large amounts of manufacturing for the war effort and the morale boost of the defeat of Axis powers.
In the 20 years following World War II, the American Dream changed drastically. Since the birth of America, Americans always had the right to dream, even if they knew they did not have the capability to move up in society. Americans never “dreamed the same dream,... for the American dream included the right of the individual dreamers to design their own” (1). Before the war, Americans dreamed of being successful in their society, and usually marrying and having children. Although this is similar to an American dream after the war, Post War Americans’ dreams were more related to acquiring technology and spending. Americans would soon dream of living the middle class lifestyle, having more of a say in their government, and living in a peaceful society. During the Great Depression, Americans suffered because of the limited availability of jobs, and the difficulty of feeding their families. During this time, it was hard to imagine a better lifestyle ahead. After the Great Depression, the babies born during the “baby boom” from 1946-1964 would soon live one of the highest economic levels of life Americans had ever experienced. Post World War II, the United States government recognized the end of America’s isolationism (no country could have succeeded without the help of others during the war), and they must look to foreign markets for a successful economy. The economy changed from war to peace production, employing millions of homecoming troops, and eventually supporting the middle class who would truly live the “American Dream.” Most importantly, Americans learned they could accomplish almost anything, confront aggression earlier, and “deem themselves responsible for world order” (23). The next 20 years helped shape the American dream into having at least one person in the family work (usually the husband), owning a vehicle (first introduced by “Detroit’s Big Three”: General Motors, Chrysler, and Ford) , and profusely spending. These spending opportunities were expanded with the creation of companies such as McDonald’s, and the construction of interstate highways which allowed families to travel more efficiently. Houses were constructed quickly which attracted people who wanted to start a family as soon as possible. In addition, “General Electric lit the darkness and lightened the workloads of Americans at home, office and factory” (71). In future years, many Americans would lose confidence that they could fulfill their dreams due to other countries catching up to America in economic terms: “Americans in 2010 were collectively less confident than their grandparents in 1945 that reality would favor their dreams” (2). However, in the 20 years after World War II, Americans were confident and willing to trust their country’s economy by investing money and consuming goods. Without technological advancements and new companies, the “American Dream” would never have changed into an ideal that all Americans hoped to achieve or live one day.
In the twenty years following World War Two, the Americans’ perceptions of the American Dream evolved on a personal level and a collective level. Before World War Two, The Great Depression kept most people’s individual dreams modest. With unemployment and poverty levels at record highs, most Americans only dreamed of a stable life with a job, a house, and a family. The economy’s recovery during and after World War Two gave more people jobs, money, and the ability to improve their lives. This improvement allowed Americans to become more ambitious with their dreams. Rather than simply dreaming of stability and survival, people began dreaming of prosperity. Civil rights movements also allowed African Americans to dream more ambitiously. Promises of equality brought success and prosperity for African Americans into the realm of possibility. The recovery of the American economy and the civil rights movements promoting equal rights for African Americans caused Americans to dream bigger and allowed a wider range of Americans to realize the American Dream. Americans’ dreams for the country and the world also evolved significantly in the twenty years following World War Two. The U.S. came out of the war as an international superpower and Americans quickly realized that the old policy of isolation was no longer the best option. People began to dream of using America’s newfound wealth and power to not only improve the country but also to spread the American dream across the world. With the onset of the Cold War and, consequently, the Korean and Vietnam wars Americans began to dream of peace after such a long period of near constant war. On the home front, many Americans began to dream of greater equality in the country. Civil rights movements and cutbacks on segregation laws began to give African Americans more rights and allowed other segregated groups to dream of equality. The United States’ increasing influence over world affairs along with the growing promise of equality caused many Americans to dream of an equal, peaceful, and powerful country.
Over the twenty years following WWII, Americans’ perception of the American Dream evolved based on the intense pressure of international affairs and the continuous advancements in production and technology in their own country. The end of WWI led Americans to believe that it was “the war to end all wars and to make the world safe for democracy” (22), but by the end of WWII, Americans knew that this was not the case. They dealt with WWII in a more pragmatic fashion, finally realizing that although the war was over, “evil would continue to exist in the postwar world, and the forces of good needed to be prepared to confront it” (22), assigning themselves the role of a “good” force. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the idea of isolationism that was previously displayed no longer seemed ideal and America would have to involve themselves in world affairs if they expected to keep themselves and the world safe and in control. This idea of necessary participation in world affairs can be seen in the degree to which America struggled to prevent thoughts of communism in other countries, like Russia and Vietnam, from becoming a reality. Although the strong feelings of patriotism and nationalism following WWI were adapted from a more naive sense of the terms, it is clear that these dreams of success and prosperity among other nations were built around the feelings that America was indeed superior to other countries, seen in the Cold War through the race against Russia to succeed them in science and technology. After WWII, the economic success America experienced impacted citizens socially. With the increase in income and production of affordable goods, a middle class was able to grow, producing larger families in what is known as the “baby boom”. The rise of the middle class inspired a breakthrough in new ideas for consumerism like the residential construction projects of William Levitt, along with revolutionary cultural achievements like the films of Walt Disney and music from Elvis Presley. As this feeling of “social egalitarianism” (79) existed, growing thoughts of both racial and gender equality were inspired. In the twenty years following the second world war, a drastic change occurred in the way Americans viewed themselves and the outside world to create a dream of global order and success for their own future.
In the wake of WWII, Americans celebrated victory and witnessed fascism collapse but with victory in WWI having been met with a happy optimism of the eternal banishment of evil and of permanent democracy and peace, Americans coming out of the second round knew not to dream so foolishly. Instead of trying to create a world in which war was outdated as Wilson preached post-WWI, Roosevelt believed that, “evil would continue to exist in the postwar world, and the forces of good needed to be prepared to confront it” (22). As it happened, the next major establishment of authoritarianism was the Soviet Union and while it was considered an ally during WWII, postwar views on the Soviets turned quickly. Having heard their calling to be the world police, America jumped into action against the Soviets, not allowing appeasement a second chance after the havoc it wreaked just a few years before. America’s unwavering anti-appeasement standpoint led their country into the Cold War and subsequently dragged the whole world into a vicious yet strangely peaceful battle of democracy against communism. As much as another world-engulfing war seemed to be the wrong thing to jump into right after WWII, it turned out that the Cold War would shape American policy, economy, and even ideology. The Cold War gave Americans something to fight for and something to believe in for the coming years and it shaped and unified American dreams throughout its course.
“Americans have been dreaming since our national birth” (1). Ever since the beginning of America, individuals developed their dreams they “...didn’t all dream the same dream…” (1) as Mariah has stated, and the dreams certainly didn’t stay the same. During WWII everyone’s dreams were enticed around the war effort to triumph the adversary. All hands were devoted towards anyone and anything that needed assistance in the war. As WWII came to an end however, “...the dreams began to waver and lose focus almost at once. The unity of the war years diminished…” (1). In the years succeeding WWII is when the evolution of the American Dream clearly takes hold. The American Dream shifts from concentrating on unity, victory, and international affairs, to focusing on national competition, oneself, and one’s assets. With new corporations, competition establishes itself within the nation, as people begin to focus on bettering themselves or their own companies. Enterprises soared, for “The 1950s were the heyday of the modern corporation” (71), and success captured the minds of every individual.
The American Dream of personal and work-related success wasn’t the only new evolution of the time, but also the aspiration to indulge in the new cultural developments. As a free American, citizens wanted to enjoy themselves in the food and entertainment departments. As a result, “Americans ate more meals in restaurants than ever…” (72). Not only with food did Americans hope to pamper themselves, but also with movies, music, and sports. The dreams of freedom to pursue oneself and their potential, led to the dreams of liberty and equality for others. In the 1960s the blacks and the women of the time had big ambitions. They strived for equality for themselves, a day where they would earn equal pay, and have the same voting rights as whites or males. As Martin Luther King praised, “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal’” (113). The dream for civil rights and complete elimination of discrimination matured. The twenty years after WWII greatly altered the previous American Dream of conquest over Germany and other opponents in the war. The American Dream grew and emerged with an entirely new impression, fixated on the conceivable prosperity within the nation.
As the World War II came to a definite end, the world, led by the least damaged United States, turned this page of the history book and plunged forward, trying to clean the mess that was left from the war. The victory over the fascist regime meant quite different things to America as a nation and to the people who made up its population. To some the American Dream stood for their personal success and glory; to some it was the achievements of the country and the democracy as a whole. This struggle between what the Americans wanted for themselves or for each other was the catalyst for a search for a new interpretation of the American Dream. The interpretation came from, as many people thought, an unlikely source. It's not a secret that the American Dream was more or less economy-based; for it to be something concerning society and the treatment of different people was a shock to the older generation who were used to the traditional system. As the presidents spoke for the containment of Communism and the expansion of democracy and human rights, the African Americans followed Martin Luther King, Jr, in the nonviolent actions against racism, segregation, and discrimination. They met a rather violent reaction, but the movement continued for longer than the opposition expected it to go. King's "I Have a Dream" speech became the point of hope and passion for change, but it wasn't the end of it. His "dream" integrated itself into the traditional definition of the American Dream, and from then on to dream was to hope for a change for the better. Fifteen years later, Andrew Young, the American ambassador to the United Nations and a former assistant to Martin Luther King, summarized the point in his speech to the General Assembly about the foreign policies: "We need not fear change if we build into it more equity and more participation. Indeed, of social change is the thing we need to fear the most. If we are afraid of it and try to preserve that which is eroding beneath our feet, we will fail." (Brands, p. 201) Other civil rights movements by various groups challenged the idea that the preservation of the old tradition is the better choice for all, and they will continue fighting until there is no dreams left to fight for.
The perception of the “American Dream” evolved after World War II as people adapted to the aftermath of war and modernized in the process. H.W. Brands describes how the modernization developed in his novel American Dreams. He explains how immediately following World War II, the United States appeared to be the only great power that gained more strength than it lost. This strength helped Americans learn that the United States “could accomplish almost anything” (22), which offered people invincibility, and Americans became “aware of their own power” (23), which presented the feeling of responsibility. With the mood of an entire country centered on feeling invincible and responsible, the determined individual American had the ability and energy to modernize. This occurred as “the economy shifted from war production to peace production without losing appreciable momentum” (70). The shift to peace production was successful ultimately due to the Baby Boom, a time that began at the conclusion of World War II when “the national birth rate jumped and stayed high for nearly two decades” (69). With more children, economic activity in the United States naturally improved in areas such as manufacturing and entertainment, and as a result, the “American Dream” adapted. Americans began revolving their lives around family and comfort. They developed suburbs where they could focus on domesticity and naturally, a middle class emerged. With less of a distinction between rich and poor, Americans found themselves “more equal than they had been in their recent history” (80), and therefore, a focus developed for egalitarianism. Around this time, racial segregation came to the attention of some Americans. Politicians like Lyndon Johnson took action to end segregation by fighting for rights such as the Voting Rights Act. Ultimately, natural modernization of the United States after World War II altered the perception of the “American Dream” as Americans’ culture advanced.
The perception of the American dream evolved from the beginning of people colonizing in America. The goal to achieve the American dream was to create a world that would succeed for many generations. Along with a world bound for great leaders and inventions that could improve daily life. Later in history the dream evolved to not only create a country that would succeed for generations to come, but give all people living in the country a happy lifestyle. This became the evolution of the American dream in the twenty years following World War II. The idealistic American dream was no longer focused on an individual society, but rather world peace and cooperation. Americans dreamed of religious, race, and gender equality. Martin Luther King was a strong advocate for equality among Americans and his American dream led to a huge change for the future of American society. He inspired others not only around him, but around those in the world. Creating a path for world peace along the lines of equality. After WWII, America had come out as one of the top leading countries in the world, giving Americans a hope that they too could be successful in their own lives. This created the dream to provide for their children, those born in the time of the Baby Boomers. Men and women alike were going out into the work force trying to provide a good home and life for the next generation of Americans. With such a large increase in the population, it created a huge increase in a desire for products. Creating a great consumer need and a stronger economy from new businesses and jobs created. This goes back to the previous American dream of creating a world that would succeed for many generations. By raising the Baby Boomers in a well developed country with many resources, it would provide them with knowledge to protect America in the future.
Once the United States came out a prosperous and powerful country from WWII, the American Dream adjusted to their newfound success. Prior to WWII, the people of the United States still dreamt, though their dreams felt restrained by the adversity they all faced in the Great Depression. For the first time in a long time, Americans had the chance to indulge in the new technologies made available by the war and to take advantage of benefits from serving in the war, such as the G.I. Bill, which provided aid and gains to veterans. The American Dream adjusted to this new middle-class lifestyle, with the picture of the dream being at least one employed adult in a nuclear family that lived in the suburbs in a white-picket-fence house filled with all the latest products that helped improve life at home. For the first time, parents could fill their plates and not let their children leave the dinner table until their plates were empty—a habit still carried on today in modern-day families. The flourishing of the middle-class directly resulted in a baby boom that lasted until the 1960s, which brought up an entire generation on the new post-WWII American Dream of big spending on new products and wanting to create the perfect, middle-class family that felt so unattainable for Americans for so many years prior. Along with this newfound consumerism came movements toward a nation more egalitarian than ever before. After women had successfully taken control of nearly all of the jobs formerly run by men during WWII, they appeared to prove themselves as more capable than previously regarded and gained a new respect that they deserved. As gender equality gained maturity and seriousness, as did the civil rights movement. Discrimination and racism existed, but it lost popularity, along with the arrival of civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. who made a big difference in the egalitarian society dreamt of by some Americans—“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal’” (113). The final change to the American Dream and the way America regarded the rest of the world was its change in foreign policy. Separating from isolationism and living in their glory from the results of WWII, America used its new strength in promoting its own policies against other countries’ opposing policies. In Russia, Korea, and Vietnam, America pushed capitalism down on the communist regimes and Americans feared communism with paranoia and irrationality, believing secret communists hid in every corner of the White House. These feelings born in the government rippled through the rest of the nation and planted the seeds of a fear of communism throughout the entire country.
After WWII the United States had learned that it “could accomplish almost anything it set its mind to, within the limits of human nature” (22). Prior to the war, many Americans faced disparity due to The Great Depression. A large gap separated the upper and lower classes. However, during the war this gap was drastically diminished when wartime taxes lowered the rich’s income and industries boosted the wage worker’s incomes. This created a sense of equality among American’s for their wages were much more equal than they had been in the past. This egalitarianism paved the way for a strong and united America. Women began to see more respect from men, and a strong middle class began to emerge. Now many middle class families owned their own houses, hired domestic help, took vacations, and had a car. The growing middle class led to a high demand for new consumer goods, like books, magazines, movies, and television shows. With thousands of millions of readers, and popular fashions and music spreading from coast to coast, the creation of a distinctive singular culture was on the rise. A society was growing in which everyone was more alike. Sparked by the end of WWII, the American Dream for unity and nationality was on the rise.
It is true, in the wake of WWII the gap between the rich and the poor diminished that led to a social egalitarianism. However, this did not just occur between classes; by forming an upper middle class and a lower middle class this sense of egalitarianism also spread. Despite the difference between blue and white-collar jobs, Americans found a way to refer to each other as equals. “Most Americans came to consider themselves middle class” (79) and as a result there was less resentment towards the wealthy. Another reason this resentment lessened was as you said before, middle class families began to partake in upper class activities. Going on a vacation, having a luxury experience on an airplane, or replacing a car contributed to this sense of egalitarianism within a class and between classes because everyone had the ability to do this. WWII sparked two decades of dreams of egalitarianism where nobody resented the rich but emulated them because they now had the ability to. This dream led to a growing social contentment for where they stood in the class system, and led to a system of strong workers as the backbone to America.
It is true, in the wake of WWII the gap between the rich and the poor diminished that led to a social egalitarianism. However, this did not just occur between classes; by forming an upper middle class and a lower middle class this sense of egalitarianism also spread. Despite the difference between blue and white-collar jobs, Americans found a way to refer to each other as equals. “Most Americans came to consider themselves middle class” (79) and as a result there was less resentment towards the wealthy. Another reason this resentment lessened was as you said before, middle class families began to partake in upper class activities. Going on a vacation, having a luxury experience on an airplane, or replacing a car contributed to this sense of egalitarianism within a class and between classes because everyone had the ability to do this. WWII sparked two decades of dreams of egalitarianism where nobody resented the rich but emulated them because they now had the ability to. This dream led to a growing social contentment for where they stood in the class system, and led to a system of strong workers as the backbone to America.
Upon the victorious conclusion of World War II, Americans adopted a mentality that provoked dreaming beyond the bounds of serving for the benefit of the nation as a unit. As American citizens were alleviated of the responsibility to provide for a nation at war, the prospective young men and women of the country could now work towards achieving their own dreams, instead of the collective dream of Americans to win the war against the Axis powers. This newfound freedom of thought, as well as the competitive spirit of the Cold War, enabled the creation of advanced technology, which in turn granted Americans the ability to lead luxurious lives for themselves and their families. Such advancements included the construction of highways, as well as the rapid development of suburbs throughout the nation, which was commenced by the creation of Levittown. As availability to such luxuries increased, the population of young and eager American families soared. The psyche of the Baby Boomers, as compared to their predecessors, perfectly depicts the evolution of the American Dream from being modest to being extraordinarily ambitious. Brands states that this generation "grew up with a sense of entitlement, a feeling that the world existed for their benefit"(70). While selfish, the Boomers encapsulated the modern American Dream, which promoted individual prosperity. The surge in domesticity marked Levittown as being the focal point of the dreamers. Young citizens yearned to have a family, buy a house, and to ultimately live just like their neighbors. People who did not lead this lifestyle "strove to emulate"(79) those who did. Despite the "blandness"(81) of the middle class, many outsiders yearned to be "The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit"(81), as perceived by Sloan Wilson. During the twenty years following the war, Americans planted the seeds for the integration of minorities. Incompletely and imperfectly, the population began to counter the task at hand: to put other races on the same playing field as the caucasians. For these minorities, the dream was, as Martin Luther King Jr. put, "to see right exist"(88). Although the collective American Dream did not include achieving a bright future for African Americans, the minority was more able than it had ever been to dream the same dream as its white counterparts.
In the twenty years following WWII, America’s perception of the “American Dream” evolved significantly. Unemployment and poverty during the Great Depression caused many Americans to feel their life would always be a struggle. This made their dream of having a job, housing, and food to support their family difficult to achieve. “The Great Depression had seriously challenged the received version of the American Dream: that men (mostly) and women who worked hard and saved for rainy days could expect a measure of material comfort and security in their golden years without resort to the government” (16). During the depression, “massive layoffs and ubiquitous bank failures demonstrated how painfully exposed Americans could be to the caprice of capitalism” (16). Following the stock market crash, America’s banks failed, causing anyone who entrusted the bank with their savings to lose their money. The Great Depression forced Americans to lose faith in the success of their nation and their leaders due to their ongoing hardships to survive. Following America’s success in WWII, Americans began setting higher goals for themselves and dreamed of ways to make their life and nation better. As the economy improved, more jobs with higher incomes became available, allowing a growing middle class and the “Baby Boom” to take place. The Baby Boomers “grew up with a sense of entitlement, a feeling that the world existed for their benefit, that was more pronounced than the comparable sentiments of any generation before them” (70). As a whole, the generation post WWII had the ability to focus on issues such as equality instead of the struggles of survival during the war. During WWII, women were offered opportunities outside their home including working jobs men typically held. “Well-educated women chronically yearned for more than their domestic lives afforded them” (176). As a result of their dream for gender equality, women would often leave their homes and stay on the streets until “they achieved equal pay, equal respect, and equal rights” (177). Like the women of American, people of different color and race struggled for equality. Martin Luther King Jr. led millions striving for racial equality. During King’s “I Have a Dream” speech he explains: “We allow freedom to ring… when all God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing… ‘Free at last!’” (114). Through his passionate speech, King moved millions to seek the dream of racial equality. Even today as a nation, we strive to obtain the American Dream of gender and racial equality.
The “American Dream” prior to WWII was more solipsistic, in that Americans did not view themselves in context of a larger world and their dreams only extended as far as their country. After WWII, “Americans deemed themselves responsible for world order—not completely, but to a degree inconceivable less than a half-decade earlier” (Brands 23). A dream of heroism, of nationally banding together to protect the rest of the world, became a part of the American dream. Prior to the war, America wanted to protect its own people and had an isolationist stance toward the rest of the planet, but after the war, the American Dream expanded to include international horizons as Americans realized that cooperating and competing with the rest of the world was essential to the nation’s prosperity.
During World War II, the American lifestyle and economy were geared towards the war effort. The rations, war-time industries and the resulting jobs, and surge in patriotism left little time and money for Americans to realistically dream of a better life. With the surrender of Japan in September 1945, everything changed. War-time industries like weapons or tank manufacturing became manufacturers of market goods. This spread of industry led to more jobs, creating higher wages for more people across the country, who could then spend that money on the goods. This allowed for a great expansion and development of the American Dream. While before the war people dreamed of prosperity, after the war people wanted more. They dreamed of getting married, settling down, and having a big family. This dream was easier to accomplish as the age of large-scale manufacturing made its way into society. Middle-class houses were made more affordable with the introduction of Levittown-modeled neighborhoods. The government funded the expansion of highways so people could commute to work more easily. With so many people living the “dream” Americans started dreaming of more. In the 1960s, the Civil Rights movement kicked into high-gear, with Martin Luther King leading the battle. King introduced a new dream; one not just for the white man. With Blacks (technically) able to live the “American Dream” too, the dream began to change. The American Dream was no longer the same for everyone, but the dream became the idea that one could work to have and do whatever they wanted. The American Dream became a symbol for prosperity, happiness, and freedom.
Look no further than the cover of H. W. Brands' book for the stereotypical "American Dream": a young, healthy, All-American (meaning white) boy, waving an American flag; an image taken right out of a 1950s advertisement. This symbol of American idealism was born out the success of World War II, and the incredible economic boom that followed it. The baby boomers of this period experienced firsthand the classic American dream that had cultivated so long in the minds of the American people through decades of instability. And this dream, once realized, was crushed.
As the baby boomers grew up and entered their teenage years, they began questioning the system they had grown up in, as adolescents do. And the sought-after image of freedom and prosperity didn't hold up to scrutiny. Instead, it revealed years of oppression, of misogyny and systematic racism. This is how the seemingly picturesque 50's gave way to the experimental 60's, how leaders like Betty Friedan and Martin Luther King were able to gain notoriety and influence. How the American dream, like most dreams, proved to be ephemeral and limiting - and so the "dream" was broadened and the people's expectations increased.
In the twenty years following World War II, the perception of the “American Dream” changed significantly. After World War II, the United States stood alone as the world super-power. The war crippled Europe, while other places like Asia and Africa were suddenly free to choose their own path. Although the totalitarian society of the Soviet Union was still considered a super power, the democratic and industrial nation of the United States appeared to be on the top of the heap. The post war created an economic explosion evolving from major war time developments and productions to mass producing consumer goods. This enabled Americans to dream of a better life while the rest of the world took notice of our increased prosperity. Americans perception of themselves also changed dramatically. The advent of women in the workforce, and the massive increase of consumer goods caused the ever growing advertising industry to promote these products, leading to a more materialistic society. This resulted in more competition among companies and more brand awareness, causing Americans to be more consumer driven than ever before. This new focus on materialism created an economy run on credit. Prior to World War II, families went to banks to borrow money in order to buy their homes. Post war Americans became much more consumer oriented, using credit cards to purchase goods and services. The post war gave rise to big business and a return to prosperity, similar to the roaring twenties. Americas vision for the future was for a better life at home and for future generations. The “American Dream” was alive and well in this country after World War II which allowed us to escape the depression crisis. Moreover, the post war enabled Americans to dream on a grander scale which forever changed the course of this nation.
Throughout history, the Americans perception of the “American dream” has evolved countless times. During WWII all efforts and materials were geared towards the war. Therefore leaving little to no time to dream for oneself. During the Great Depression most of peoples dreams were shut down due to the fact they were downright unrealistic. Most of what people dreamed of was simply national stability and a steady job. As the war came to an end and Japan surrendered in 1945 things began to change. The United States had come out of the war on top, as a world super power. The economy boomed, there were a surplus of jobs and people finally had the time and resources to live out their lives the way they dreamed of; “Never were America’s dreams more potent and beguiling than at the end of World War II” (1). The economy gave people hope; the immense circulation of money gave people the opportunity to dream of prosperity. Middle class people began to buy houses and visualize having families. Optimism was the driving force in people’s choices. They saw a bright future of permanent democracy and peace. Women began to be noticed in the work force and fought for their individual rights. Martin Luther King Jr. was fighting so that “blacks” could be able to live the American dream as well. Americans hopes and dreams were at an all-time high. The success of America in WWII allowed Americans to dream on a larger scale that they never imagined possible.
The American Dream evolved from sacrificing everything for peace during WWII, to sacrificing peace for liberty in the years that followed. When WWII ended in Germany, it continued on against Japan in the Pacific. It was predicted that the “invasion of Japan...would require many months and claim many thousands of...lives before the Japanese emperor and his generals surrendered” (Brands 8). The creation of the atomic bomb offered America a way to end the war quickly, but at a great cost. Ultimately, America decided peace needed to be reached sooner than predicted, and dropped the atomic bombs on Japan to end the war. America sacrificed thousands of lives for the cost of peace. As the Cold War struck fear into many Americans hearts, the fear of losing their freedom as a nation became a bigger priority to most Americans than keeping world peace. America involved itself in two wars, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, as well as backing countless foreign governments in order to defend the world against the evils of Communism. To one of America’s communist-fighting intelligence agencies “at one time or another almost every important antiwar leader was considered a legitimate target for investigation and harassment” (Brands 190). America had done a complete turnaround to the point where someone who opposed war would be investigated as a communist and a threat to the country’s safety and freedom.
The end of World War II signified a time of both social and economic prosperity. American morale was very high, due to the economic rebound and America’s new position as a leading World power. The end of the second world war confirmed America as an undisputed world leader, as it “emerged from the war stronger than it entered” (10). The shift from wartime production to consumer goods had the American economy thriving and left Americans with a sense of prosperity. Victory in World War II changed Americans’ mindset, making them believe they “could accomplish almost anything [they] set [their] mind to” (22). Americans had more money and now that the war was over, “they were more than eager to get together and start those families” (69). The “Baby Boom” dramatically changed the life of all Americans. Parents were focused, more than ever, in creating a stable environment for their children to grow up in. The Great Depression was still fresh and people’s minds, and parents “wanted their children to have what they had been compelled to do without” (70). This mindset drastically increased both housing and consumerism because of more abundant resources, needs and wants of new families. The American middle class surged and as “the disparity between the wealthy and the rest of America diminished drastically” (79), people became more aware of social inequalities. As many American lives were improving, the focus on equality emerged as a political force. During the war, many women took over jobs men previously held. For some women, their new jobs “signaled an advance towards gender equality” (13). When the war ended, many women stayed at their new jobs, despite the precedent of women staying at home. Women’s rights groups, like NOW, began influencing politicians and “rekindled interest in an equal rights amendment for women” (177), starting the path towards gender equality. Racial equality started gaining more momentum following the war. During WWII, “some million black men and women moved out of the south” (14), to take jobs in the north, and they stayed there after the war. “The Jim Crow system of racial segression” (84) was still enforced in the south, restricting the freedom of African Americans and limiting the education of their children. Public disputes and protesting began as people gained more courage to fight against social inequality. New public figures, like Martin Luther King Jr., influenced the public to take bigger steps towards equality for everyone in America. Progression to equality moved slowly, but it became a bigger part of people’s lives. The prosperity occurring directly after the war caused people to realize the inequality minorities faced and focus on achieving equality for everyone.
The end of WWII ushered in a new era for the United States, and with that came a new perception of the "American Dream". Before the war, the US was more focused on national issues, exercising appeasement. After Pearl Harbor, the US had no other option than to enter WWII, which they dominated and eventually won the war. Because of the impact that the US had on the war, along with the destruction of Europe as a whole, the United States emerged as a global superpower. This title changed the culture of the country. Worldwide, it was known that "the United States could accomplish almost anything it set its mind to, within the limits of human nature" (22).
To add on to Courtney's argument, the boom in economic success and economic equality brought about the most defining attribute to the American way of life: the middle class. The post-war era brought rapid change and the American middle class grew profoundly. As the new largest economic class in the country, Americans all enjoyed equal opportunities as one another, while still competing for top-quality brands of their favorite luxury goods. For example, while "Men tipped their hats to women... regardless of the disparity in wealth", "Chevy owners could aspire to move up the ladder: to Pontiacs, Oldsmobiles, Buicks, and finally to Cadillacs." (81). This example represents the new American Dream, where American citizens could celebrate equal opportunity and new standards of living while still aspiring to achieve more and more economically.
In the twenty years following World War II, Americans became more confident in their government and in their individual lives and careers. In July, 1945 the atomic bomb was tested “and the knowledge that it had exceeded expectations added to [Truman’s] impression of American power” (7). Along with these increases in strength, the pressure of the Cold War led to Americans feeling a strong sense of pride in and loyalty to their government. Despite the horrors of the war, it had taught Americans “that the United States could accomplish almost anything it set its mind to, within the limits of human nature” (22). This overarching sense of power and entitlement affected the way that individual Americans lived their lives. One large group affected by the war was women, for whom “new opportunities signaled an important advance toward gender equality” (13). The war created many jobs that men serving in the army overseas could not fill, so women finally had the opportunity to get their collective foot in the door of industrial work. Aside from the jobs in manufacturing that had existed since the turn of the century, “a growing segment of the workforce provided services” (72) such as food delivery, advertising, and teaching the Baby Boomers. These changes to the work force and the available jobs significantly expanded the parameters of what Americans could realistically dream in the twenty years following World War II.
The American dream has always molded to the times it's dreamers are in. Prior to WWII during the great depression the primary goal of Americans was to support themselves and survive. With unemployment skyrocketing and the constant fear of where their next meal would come from the average American didn't have too much to dream about. The U.S government wasnt very successful in supporting its people either, as Sam said the government was so preoccupied with avoiding war that its practices of Isolation created one at home. The only solution was to engage in the fight. This allowed America to become “a force of good” protecting themselves and the rest of the world during the postwar. By being an active participant in World affairs after the bombing of Pearl Harbor America's economy started to grow again. Due to the taxes placed during the war the gap between the rich and poor had significantly shrunk. With the economy rapidly recovering jobs became readily available and the Americans had developed a new dream. The majority of the population being in the middle class created a sense of equality and many people found themselves socially the same. With the rapid creation of new affordable products Americans were rushing to spend money that they could afford too. Due to cheap prices and a steady economy families also started to rapidly grow. During the “baby boom” the sizes of the American families increased and the middle class only continued to grow. All this growth created plenty of consumerism that the average American could enjoy. Places like Walt Disney World and Mcdonald's are only so successful because of the times that they were created and the needs of the average American to attend them. With all the speculation of the American peoples to see what would come next for them to enjoy a sense of “social egalitarianism” was brought to light and the idea that all people regardless of race or gender were the same. The idea of equality was brought up quickly but is still one of the biggest dreams to achieve today.
The American dream has always molded to the times it's dreamers are in. Prior to WWII during the great depression the primary goal of Americans was to support themselves and survive. With unemployment skyrocketing and the constant fear of where their next meal would come from the average American didn't have too much to dream about. The U.S government wasnt very successful in supporting its people either, as Sam said the government was so preoccupied with avoiding war that its practices of Isolation created one at home. The only solution was to engage in the fight. This allowed America to become “a force of good” protecting themselves and the rest of the world during the postwar. By being an active participant in World affairs after the bombing of Pearl Harbor America's economy started to grow again. Due to the taxes placed during the war the gap between the rich and poor had significantly shrunk. With the economy rapidly recovering jobs became readily available and the Americans had developed a new dream. The majority of the population being in the middle class created a sense of equality and many people found themselves socially the same. With the rapid creation of new affordable products Americans were rushing to spend money that they could afford too. Due to cheap prices and a steady economy families also started to rapidly grow. During the “baby boom” the sizes of the American families increased and the middle class only continued to grow. All this growth created plenty of consumerism that the average American could enjoy. Places like Walt Disney World and Mcdonald's are only so successful because of the times that they were created and the needs of the average American to attend them. With all the speculation of the American peoples to see what would come next for them to enjoy a sense of “social egalitarianism” was brought to light and the idea that all people regardless of race or gender were the same. The idea of equality was brought up quickly but is still one of the biggest dreams to achieve today.
The quintessential “American dream” is an ever-changing idea of success depending on the circumstances of the current society. American’s dreams “modified themselves to suit the circumstances of the individuals who did the dreaming…” (384). The meaning of the “American Dream” changed drastically in the twenty years following WWII. Before the war, as explained in H.W. Brands American Dreams, Americans were suffering from the Great Depression. During the Great Depression the “American dream” meant holding on to a job and surviving. Americans had no other choice but to join WWII after Pearl Harbor; during this time Americans put all their resources and energy into the war. In the end all that work paid off because The United States came out of the war victorious and the most powerful country in the world. As a result of this win Americans grew more confident and in turn recovered from the Great Depression. The recovery from such a dark time led to an increased meaning of the success that filled the “American dream”. With the war job opportunities increased and as a result the unemployment rate lowered and women began to integrate into the job circuit. The end of the war also brought a growing middle class and the baby boom. Americans began to make progress in every which way and to most the “American dream” began to seem attainable. In the twenty wears following WWII America recovered from what was the worst of times and the quintessential “American dream” returned to its true meaning of prosperity, power, and equality.
In response to Bridget’s conclusion, I too believe that the needs and desires of Americans depend on the current circumstances and status of society. The end of WWII signaled a new understanding and embracing of the “American Dream.” These dreams have encouraged and propelled the citizens of America to move “consistently forward, enticing us toward the horizon of the future” (ix). With so many innovative and enticing advancements in society, Americans strive for bigger and better things, never ceasing the opportunity to improve. With all of this drive and determination, the American Dream is constantly evolving in tune to the progression and advancements being made, “We didn’t all dream the same dream, or at the same time, for the American dream included the right of the individual dreamers to design their own” (ix). Before the war began, the main focus of Americans was to find a steady employment so that there was enough of an income to support a family. As we entered into the war, and put all of our combined strength into the war effort, we came out victorious and a better, more successful nation. Not only did the unemployment rate lower and jobs become more readily available, but women had the ability to enter the workforce, something that seemed improbable before the war. Additionally, freedom movements for people of different races and gender became prevalent, making the American dream not only a symbol of ambition for monetary success, but also a symbol of equality. These past events have greatly shaped the perception of the American dream, for as time continues, the aspirations of Americans develop. Reflecting on the morphing interpretations of, and living of, the American dream gives one boundless hope for future changes and successes. Hope lives on that dreams will come true, with hard work and dogged determination - no matter the circumstances. The aftermath of surviving the horrors of WWII provided new determination to embrace all of the bounty that the newly re-energized country as a whole was experiencing. New avenues to follow the path to living the American Dream were beginning to be open to each and every citizen. The future looked bright, shiny, and prosperous to continue dreaming the dream. Philbrook illustrates this by stating, “Americans had dreamed since our national birth, and in the twenty-first century we were dreaming still” (385).
Following WWII, Americans’ perception of the “American Dream” evolved dramatically in society as well as in international relations. After suffering the consequences of isolationism, Roosevelt decided it was in the country’s best interest to begin a policy of internationalism. Convinced that “...internationalism held the key to American economic recovery,” (16) the American dream shifted to expand the county’s relations on a global scale. No longer did Americans believe the U.S. should keep to itself, but rather develop dependable relationships and trade agreements; such as the GATT (General Agreements on Tariffs and Trade). The Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan encouraged American foreign policy through the years following the war. Additionally, many Americans realized the policy of appeasement failed to prove effective. When facing the country’s new enemy, the Soviet Union, Truman opted to take a more aggressive approach for more efficient results. Instead of negotiating with the Soviet Union to cancel their blockade in Germany, the U.S. directly sent airlifts of supplies to take action which successfully resulted in the Soviet Union revoking the blockade. Losing the policy of appeasement, the American Dream took a more powerful perspective of control, as many citizens saw the country’s aggression as a symbol of American strength. Twenty years after WWII, equality rose as a strong principle in the American dream. As the middle class took shape in the decades after WWII, a mass desire for equality in gender, race, and the workforce grew. The American Dream evolved to fit Americans’ aspiration for equal opportunity for all, and expanded on the county’s global relations and involvement.
Americans’ perception of the American dream changed drastically following WWII. The United States emerged from the war as the strongest and wealthiest nation in the world, while the other nations were struggling to revive their economies and rebuild destroyed cities. The prosperous American society and economy surpassed the other nations coming out of the war by far, making the United States look like a stellar ambition. Coming from a dark place prior to WWII, the European nations were able to use America’s surfacing success as an inspiration for future unity and prosperity. During the Great Depression, the dream of many Americans was to live a healthy life and stay alive for as long as they could. Many Americans needed a perception better than the conditions they were living in to raise their confidence in gaining employment back and even more importantly, survival. Simply put, an imagination of a better life allowed Americans to be hopeful of flourishing times instead of giving up on themselves completely. In the twenty years following WWII, when America’s economy began to thrive, the ideal American Dream shifted from issues of unemployment and survival, to equality, civil rights and peace. In the civil rights movement, Martin Luther King Jr became a famous spokesperson against inequality and racism that affected numerous people for his powerful yet aspiring speeches. This is just one of the many examples of American citizens living the American Dream of a free nation in a state of mind to improve society for the better.
The advancement of the American Dream in the twenty years following WWII was two fold. The Dream advanced politically, as US citizens wished to use their country's newfound power to support growing nations around the world. Following the Allied victory in the war and the detonation of the two atomic bombs on Japan, the US gained unprecedented military and political power. Pre-war, the US policy of isolationism had always been carried out relatively successfully by most presidents, besides Woodrow Wilsons and his decision to get the U.S. involved in World War One. However, after the war, President Harry Truman decided with the Truman doctrine that it was the obligation of the United States to use its power to protect the free peoples of the world. This doctrine was mainly to protect third world nations from communist takeover by the Soviet Union, and this new policy was demonstrated in events like the Korean War and the Vietnam War, in an effort to protect developing nations from the advancement of Communism. This policy continues to be carried out today, as shown by U.S. involvement in Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq. The American Dream also advanced socially. Youth subcultures started to appear in major cities around the country, and their lifestyle revealed something about post-war American culture: since most US citizens were able to live comfortably, social issues came to the forefront, rather than economic issues. The hippies showed the world that they were trying to search for deeper meaning in life, and the old American Dream of working hard enough to ensure some form of financial security was replaced by one that promoted expressing ones self and exploring ones personal freedom to find meaning and purpose in life.Similar things can be said about people like Martin Luther King Jr. and the black rights movement that he spearheaded, as issues like equality and personal freedom were high up on his agenda. In conclusion, the American Dream that once emphasized domestic progress and working long and hard to ensure financial security was replaced by one that promoted the protection of developing nations around the world, equality betweens people, self expression, and the exploration of ones personal freedom in the twenty years following WWII.
The advancement of the American Dream in the twenty years following WWII was two fold. The Dream advanced politically, as US citizens wished to use their country's newfound power to support growing nations around the world. Following the Allied victory in the war and the detonation of the two atomic bombs on Japan, the US gained unprecedented military and political power. Pre-war, the US policy of isolationism had always been carried out relatively successfully by most presidents, besides Woodrow Wilsons and his decision to get the U.S. involved in World War One. However, after the war, President Harry Truman decided with the Truman doctrine that it was the obligation of the United States to use its power to protect the free peoples of the world. This doctrine was mainly to protect third world nations from communist takeover by the Soviet Union, and this new policy was demonstrated in events like the Korean War and the Vietnam War, in an effort to protect developing nations from the advancement of Communism. This policy continues to be carried out today, as shown by U.S. involvement in Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq. The American Dream also advanced socially. Youth subcultures started to appear in major cities around the country, and their lifestyle revealed something about post-war American culture: since most US citizens were able to live comfortably, social issues came to the forefront, rather than economic issues. The hippies showed the world that they were trying to search for deeper meaning in life, and the old American Dream of working hard enough to ensure some form of financial security was replaced by one that promoted expressing ones self and exploring ones personal freedom to find meaning and purpose in life.Similar things can be said about people like Martin Luther King Jr. and the black rights movement that he spearheaded, as issues like equality and personal freedom were high up on his agenda. In conclusion, the American Dream that once emphasized domestic progress and working long and hard to ensure financial security was replaced by one that promoted the protection of developing nations around the world, equality betweens people, self expression, and the exploration of ones personal freedom in the twenty years following WWII.
The American dream changed after WWII. People were no longer looking to Washington for answers as they did during the Great Depression and the Second World War. Once these “emergencies passed” (214) they looked back to private sectors. Americans began to focus on equality, no longer having to worry if they could buy dinner for their family. Their dreams involved striving to have equal rights for blacks, gays and all people. Martin Luther King shared his dreams with the American people hoping that his four children “will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character” (114). AIDS research was soon supplied with more money in order to find a cure because the American people now dreamed that gay people should also be supported and celebrated. Americans realized they could no longer avoid world affairs and issues when they were attacked December 7, 1941 by the Japanese. The Americans now believed they needed to fight for democracy to spread throughout the world instead of communism. They became involved in many other conflicts to inhibit the growth of communism in the world including the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Americans now dreamed about fighting against horrible acts of terrorism in their country and exemplifying their immense pride in their country to the world. The citizens of the United States no longer were in isolation from the rest of the world, they evolved, accepted equality of race, and contributed to the spread of democracy and a hope to end terrorism throughout the world.
Prior to the United State's involvement in World War II, our country wanted to remain a neutralized nation. Coming out of the war we, “deemed [ourselves] responsible for world order” (23), and we, “dreamed we would save our souls and the world” (1). One large difference in the perception of the American dream after World War II is its export -- we were going to export the American dream to everyone worldwide. But the American dream was also changing at home. America, “[has] [not] all [dreamed] the same dream, or at the same time” (1). Another aspect of the American Dream was also that hard work was all you needed to get ahead. And, certainly, in the 20 years after WWII that was truer for more people than it had ever been in American history. We had a booming economy, we had the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. More people had access to the American dream than ever before.
The American dream will always be changing, no matter what world events might be taking place. After World War II the American dream changed drastically, politically and socially. Before World War II people were convinced they saved themselves from war because of the precautions they took setting up new rules after World War I. Due to the Great Depression and remembrance of high casualties of World War I, isolationism was a huge accepted political theme of our country. People wanted to focus on the issues at home before going overseas and gaining power. They did not want to go and fight another war. Before going into World War II they did everything they could using isolationism to stay out of it. After World War II power became the driving force of America. The government was not focused on at home issues they wanted to step in and help third world countries, which is where the Truman doctrine originated from. His policy was directed to make sure countries would not be taken over by Communism. It helped in wars like the Korean War and Vietnam. Socially Americans were starting to open their minds up to new possibilities. During World War II "women took jobs in shipyards and drydocks, on truck and airplane assembly lines, on road and bridge construction crews, among the girders and scaffolding of building sites" (13). Women started to work alongside men and proved that they were more than capable of doing the jobs that were considered masculine. Equality for race became a dream as well after World War II. People were no longer worried about the materialistic side of life, now they wanted equality. "The Jim Crow system of racial segregation” (84) was being ridiculed and people began speaking their minds regarding race and equality. The most influential person during the fight for race was Martin Luther Jr. He started to get a following and tings really took off from there. After World War II was a time of finding your inner self and expressing new ideas.
“We dream of liberty, equality, and happiness. We dreamed of prosperity for ourselves and our children. We dreamed we would save our souls and save the world.” (p. x) This has been the American Dream since our national birth and after WWII, this dream was more compelling to the american people than ever before. Together as a whole rather than individually, they rebuilt the american economy after the great depression and defeated the “organized evil of militant fascism.” Together, they looked forward at the the wealth and happiness they had in store for them. Never before had a large group had the potential for such success and prosperity than the american people after WWII. During WWII and before, people had questioned the American dream and had seen it as something that could never reach it’s full potential. The jobs created during the war provided hundreds of thousands of people with a steady income but they were limited to spending money on themselves to focus on providing for wartime materials. As soon as the war ended, people were eager to start their lives with their families and they were equally as ambitious to start spending their money. This resulted in the “baby boom” which was a period of time directly after the war where the birth rate shot up. These new families moved into suburbs where they owned cars and raised their children. The income for each parent shot up so only one parent needed to work while the other could stay home and provide for their children. They wanted to focus on themselves rather than everyone America as a whole. This gave birth to the new middle class. During WWII, america had fought as one and rebuild itself as one, but as soon as the war ended, people began to work and dream for themselves rather than as a united force. Therefore, some people got left behind. As these people were being left behind, they began to dream of equality and fraternity rather than wealth which eventually became a dream of the majority. For example, Martin Luther King Jr. dreamed of an equal world rather than a world of money which began the civil rights movement. He gained millions of followers and spread his dream to each and every one of them. The same goes for Betty Friedan and Lyndon B. Johnson, all of which had a new dream to introduce to the post war generation and all of which gained support and spread their dreams to their supporters. The new American Dream had laid down it’s groundworks in the years after WWII and set the pace for prosperity in years to come.
During the twenty years following World War II, America’s lifestyle, culture, and international affairs evolved, which in turn affected the US perception of the “American Dream.” As far as lifestyle, the outcome of WWII was very different than what the people of America had been dealing with during the prior years. The Great Depression and the Stock Market Crash deeply damaged the American economy and even spread throughout the rest of the world. But thankfully America emerged from WWII relatively wealthy and stable. The reason for this was the shift from weapons and war supplies to commonly needed goods in manufacturing. Jobs were created for everyone who needed income to survive. This allowed workers to then go and purchase goods from these companies with their new income. This cycle allowed Americans to remain prosperous and strengthened their idea that it was possible to become wealthy and live the “American Dream.” Culture evolved significantly after the war due to a rising middle class who sought self-expansion. The quality of American life improved and the new culture became one idolizing equality and the right to live freely and safely in their own skin. A key example of when the change in culture showed was when Earl Warren, the Supreme Court Chief of Justice, ruled in favor of Oliver Brown’s case declaring that “separate but equal has no place.” (Brands 86) Although that only referred to education systems, the true effect was much deeper when it came to daily life. The need for equality opened up the “American Dream” to a new crowd of people who had been treated as inferior. As far as international affairs, Americans began to feel obligated to stabilize the relationships between countries. This widened the “American Dream” to involved peace all over and equality everywhere. Overall, during the twenty years following WWII, the perception of the “American Dream” evolved to include ideas of prosperity, equality, and self-expansion.
Like many national ethos and ideals, the "American Dream" is susceptible to change, especially after major events such as World War II. The war did not only bring confidence to the Americans, but changed their collective dream both socially and politically. Americans entered the war after suffering in the Great Depression, their ultimate goal being the ability to support themselves and simply survive in the grim world. The nation then emerged as the greatest world power, not only boosting the economy but also the confidence of the people. The war showed the American's their ability to be powerful and successful, changing their mindset to one of entitlement. The economy boomed and the surplus of opportunities for a variety of people allowed them to have a plethora of new and grander dreams.
As Amanda said, the “American Dream” will never be constant. It will always be changing depending on the events that are occurring in the world. Prior to the war, the main goal was to succeed and prosper. However, when the Great Depression occurred in 1929, everything changed; the main goal was to survive. In this period, unemployment skyrocketed, as well as poverty. The people that were laid off would do their best to get by, there were no more talks of luxurious items. When Pearl Harbor occurred, the U.S. had no other option but to join the fight. This decision would soon lead to the rise of jobs, as well as new opportunities. “But the moral foundation of America’s dreams had always been the right to dream, and Americans weren’t about to surrender that.” (Preface). Through all the hardships, and adversity Americans had to face, they had never given up their dream. After the war, Americans rose to the top with a sudden feeling of hope, and power. With Europe destroyed, it gave them an advantage as well as a feeling of being the best. Their mindset did change, and their economic boom opened many doors for Americans. New dreams were being formed, opportunities were taken, and dreams were being expanded. After the war, Americans not only wanted to prosper, they wanted to strive for greatness and equality, with their newfound feeling of confidence, and power
The “American Dream” is the idea that every U.S. citizen should, through hard work, have the opportunity to achieve success. What defines “success” reflects the current economic and social status of the country; therefore, as the country endeavours change, the “American Dream” must evolve with it. One major example, as addressed by Brands’ in American Dreams, is WWII. Before the war, Americans were in the midst of the Great Depression, where the term “success”, for most, would have been merely holding a job. After the war, instead of being in economic ruin, the United States emerged to be the greatest world power with immense opportunities for success: “Never were America’s dreams more potent and beguiling than at the end of World War II…. Americans in 1945 stood united and confident at the apex of global power; before them lay more wealth and happiness than any large group had ever dared dream of in all human history.” (ix). During WWII, “incomes increased… but the opportunities for spending had decreased. Americans were flush with funds for buying houses and otherwise establishing families.” (69). With the war over, people were financially stable and broken families were brought back together, resulting in what is referred to today as the Baby Boom: where “seventy-six million babies were born between 1946 and 1964” (69). Before WWII, most people could barely afford food for themselves, let alone take care of a family. With the Baby Boom following World War II, having a family became a realistic “success” people could achieve through hard work. The Baby Boom led to the first major change in child labor, a generation of children with a new culture, and the middle class. The emergence of the middle class enabled social mobility, another opportunity to achieve success.
An Additional change to the “American Dream” as a result of WWII became a matter of who should have the opportunity to achieve success in the United States? Who should be able to achieve the “American Dream”? Racial and gender equality became a major focal point in the post war period, as the Jim Crow system began to be challenged, and middle-class women emerged in the work force. As discussed in American Dreams, progress was made in both civil rights movements through figureheads like Martin Luther King Jr., and Betty Friedan, along with organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the National Organization for Women. The 20 years following World War II not only raised the standards that define “success” within the “American Dream”, they also broke down the racial and gender barriers as to who the “American Dream” was limited to.
“We didn’t all dream the same dream, or at the same time, for the American dream included the right of the individual dreamer to design their own” (preface) In the years prior to WWII, Americans were a bit disjointed and lacked a common purpose. The war years provided Americans unity and a common cause - defeat the enemy. Once the war was over, the economic woes of The Great Depression were replaced by post war prosperity. Americans found hope. They viewed themselves as the preeminent citizens in the greatest country.They now had hope for the future. Hope that their lives would get better. Hope that their children would lead better lives than them. Unlike their parents, the Baby Boomers only knew this transcendent America.“They grew up with a sense of entitlement, a feeling that the world existed for their benefit, that was more pronounced than the generations before them” (70). The Baby Boomers were trailblazers for the American spirit. They symbolize a change in our countries thinking. In the twenty years after WWII, Americans’ perception of the “American Dream” has evolved from something that is earned, to something that is deserved. “... the postwar generations took material well-being for granted and demanded more” (preface)
“We didn’t all dream the same dream, or at the same time, for the American dream included the right of the individual dreamer to design their own” (preface) In the years prior to WWII, Americans were a bit disjointed and lacked a common purpose. The war years provided Americans unity and a common cause - defeat the enemy. Once the war was over, the economic woes of The Great Depression were replaced by post war prosperity. Americans found hope. They viewed themselves as the preeminent citizens in the greatest country.They now had hope for the future. Hope that their lives would get better. Hope that their children would lead better lives than them. Unlike their parents, the Baby Boomers only knew this transcendent America.“They grew up with a sense of entitlement, a feeling that the world existed for their benefit, that was more pronounced than the generations before them” (70). The Baby Boomers were trailblazers for the American spirit. They symbolize a change in our countries thinking. In the twenty years after WWII, Americans’ perception of the “American Dream” has evolved from something that is earned, to something that is deserved. “... the postwar generations took material well-being for granted and demanded more” (preface)
The “American Dream” is the idea that through hard laborious work that every citizen will be able to achieve success. Before the war, the United States was impoverished with the Great Depression leaving the “American Dream” to be tarnished. However, after the United States was dragged into the war with the attack on Pearl Harbor, the “American Dream” became a reality. After WWII, the US became a known as a world superpower; causing the American Dream to thrive: “Americans in 1945 stood united and confident at the apex of global power; before them lay more wealth and happiness than any large group had ever dared dream of in all human history”(ix). The “American Dream” transformed the US citizens making them believe that anything could be accomplished. After the war, more jobs became available and the middle class was thriving, “Rising postwar incomes enabled families to thrive with single breadwinners”(70). The economic success after the war is made clear to the citizens and their children or “Baby Boomers”. “But they grew up with a sense of entitlement, a feeling that the world existed for their benefit, that was more pronounced than the comparable sentiments of any generation before them”(70). Racial freedom began to occur with the thriving “American Dream”, with figures like Martin Luther King who truly had a great dream and made it possible. The “American Dream” after WWII evolved into something truly amazing.
Unlike post WWI America, which resulted in a surge of spending, patriotism, and confidence in the federal government, post WWII America took a more cautious approach to the future. In the eyes of many Americans at the time, WWII lasted so long because America had decided to isolate themselves from all of the aggressors in the war. The bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1945 proved that isolationism was not the answer to staying out of conflict, and with memories of the bombing still freshly cut in American minds post WWII America decided to take the role of maintaining world order. Being the only nation to benefit from the war, America's wartime successes led to increasing incomes, the rise of the middle class, and the "baby boom". As women took on more responsibility in the workforce, the push for gender equality started to change social norms in post WWII America. Martin Luther King Jr. started change racial equality, delivering fiery speeches, hoping that his four children “will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character” (114). In many ways, the "American dream" that came out of post WWII America resulted in how Americans and other nations perceive America today.
During the years following WWII, the American Dream evolved in many different aspects, but the most drastic changes could be seen in America’s new take on foreign policy. During WWI, President Wilson was naive in his idealism; he believed (and led Americans to believe) that during WWI, the US could prevent another world war, while also starting a “fundamental change in human attitudes” by spreading democracy across the globe (22). After WWII, this old dream evolved into a more realistic goal for Americans (22); the US could not end all conflict in the world with one war, but it could strive to use its newly realized power in order to battle the “evil [that] continue[d] to exist in the postwar world.” (22) This idea of actively foiling enemies before war broke out (known as anti-appeasement) marked a split in the American Dream; the people who painfully remembered Pearl Harbor and blamed the US for its “failure to confront aggression” supported anti-appeasement and an active US role in world affairs. The conservative isolationists, like Robert Taft and the Republican right, strongly urged the American government against poking its nose into the business of foreign nations, saying that such efforts could drag the US into bankruptcy, or even another war. The more popular idea of anti-appeasement paired with the new American confidence in its abilities are what led the US to develop its sense of being “responsible for world order.” (23)
The liberal strand of the American Dream quickly smothered the protests of the isolationists, and thus American foreign policy was completely changed, as can be seen by the actions taken in postwar Europe, and also worldwide during the Cold War. Directly after 1945, the US participated in creating many organizations like the UN and the World Bank in order to help Europe stabilize after the war, which led to the rise of multilateralism. Also, in the 1950s and 60s (and further), the US would work to prevent “the destruction of personal liberty, the imposition of one-party rule, [and] the prospective domination of the world” (which, in the American mind, came at the hands of communism) in nations like Vietnam and Russia (45). During the Cold War, the US inoculated many nations, with democracy, against communism. In the twenty years following the end of WWII, the American Dream split into the liberals who believed in anti-appeasement, and the conservatives who dreaded getting tangled in the economics and politics of foreign nations.
“The Great Depression had seriously challenged the received version of the American Dream that men (mostly) and women who worked hard and saved for rainy days could expect a measure of material comfort and security in their golden years, without resort to government” (16). Before World War II, The Great Depression greatly altered American’s perception of the American Dream. Unemployment and an economy crash drastically changed the way Americans’ viewed their life and their trust in the government. “Franklin Roosevelt failed to end the depression..” (16). Losing faith and trust in their political leaders, Americans’ had a hard time believing things would get better.
In the 20 years following WWII, American was at it’s height. Coming out of the war victorious, American’s spirits were high and faith in the government had been restored. With the economy improving, job opportunities increased, which allowed for higher incomes and happier people. Post WWII, women were able to play a role in society in which they could not do before. During the war, women were given the opportunity to perform jobs they normally would not have been able to do. After the war ended, women fought for their rights, the rights to obtain a job, just like men. This changed history forever, seeing that today, women are still fighting for equal rights. Along with equality, the middle class prospered and the “Baby Boom” occurred. The birth rate shot up and remained high for two decades (69). “All the babies and young children prompted a reorientation of American culture” (69). “…they grew up with a sense of entitlement, a feeling that the world existed for their benefit…” (70). With this perspective on life, the generation after WWII was able to prosper and succeed in fields that the generation before could not have done. The American Dream evolved in a way that was now focused on prosperity and gave Americans’ hope that they did not have before WWII.
The “American Dream” is a concept that has always been and will be evolving based on the financial, social and political conditions of the country. In the wake of the second World War, both the United States, and the perception of its “American Dream” rapidly evolved. The Country entered the war at a weak point economically, but exited as one of the strongest world powers on the globe. This displayed to Americans that through hard work they could achieve their goal, of the “American Dream”. Before the war the “American Dream” was seeing your family alive with a roof over your head and having a steady job, but after the war it all changed. American soldiers came home to a land untouched by the vicissitudes of war, and an economy invigorated by the efforts from all those who did not join the fighting overseas. Not only was the United States in a better financial state, but the people who could achieve the “American Dream” changed after the war as well. No longer was success limited to white males, but people of all gender and race would be able to make a name for themselves. In the twenty years following WWII the American people realized that not only could they survive in the new prosperous economy, but they could thrive. The “American Dream” was accessible to anyone willing enough to work for it.
The American Dream had always been that an American can achieve success by working for it. Within the 20 years following World War II, this dream had evolved. Prior to WWII, the Great Depression had weakened America’s faith in the government and in the country. Jobs were lost, prices were raised, and even after many government attempts, things were not getting better. However, during the war, jobs and wages increased to help wartime needs and the gap between the classes grew smaller. Another aspect of the social egalitarianism was the increase in the presence of women in the work force. By the end of WWII, America had shown its superior world power as the only country to come out of war better than they had gone in. Along with this new sense of American pride, the emerging middle class strengthened this state of unity. During this time of economic stability for the majority middle class, families grew and these children, called Baby Boomers, grew up in this environment of hope. These children didn't have to face the hardship their parents did and were able to live better lives based on the current strength of the American economy. The rise in consumers meant the rise in demand, “Much of the economic activity revolved around the physical needs and wants of the Baby Boomers and their families” (71). Without the hope of their parents and the will to strengthen the economy and social equality, this continued dream of success was carried on.
The “American Dream” evolved substantially in the twenty years post WWII. America came out of WWII both victorious and better off than when they went in. Being the only country to have WWII benefit their economy, America prospered which led to the after war evolution of the “American Dream.” Post WWII America ended up deciding to take the leading role in keeping world order and working with other countries to help prevent another worldwide war. Due to its wartime successes Americans experienced rising incomes, the “baby boom,” and the middle class growing both in strength and in number. Along with this, women earned greater responsibility in the workforce and began the push for gender equality. Martin Luther King Jr. initiated change in racial equality with his many speeches including his most famous, I have a dream speech. Overall the post WWII evolution of the "American Dream" set America on the path to becoming an economic powerhouse and resulted in how different nations perceive America today.
World War II evolved the "American Dream" changed into something entirely different than before. The Japanese bombing of Pear Harbor awoke the "Sleeping Giant" that would eventually rise to become a global powerhouse leading in international affairs. America transformed during WWII into a total war economy that brought its people together and came out better than when it went in. After the war there was a boost in American confidence which pushed them to go beyond their old boundaries bringing change to themselves and the world. Women and African Americans alike began to push for gender and racial equality after being such an important role in the war effort. The confidence in itself pushed America to take a leading roll in national affairs that would drastically change the course of society causing safe haven and conflicts. The "American Dream" no longer was about survival but to work towards newfound success
The ever changing utopia that is the American Dream has remained a constant factor in the American's view of themselves and others in the past century. Rising from the rubble of the Great Depression and 1929 U.S. stock market crash, America was able to slowly but surely emerge from a time of desperation in the economy. Following WWII, the rising income in the middle class resulted in the “Baby Boom”. This increased population, particularly in the middle class lead to new ideas and inventions, creating a more stable economy. As new ideas surfaced, a social change occurred in the lives of many. People became attuned to social injustice and the realization that the white male in America was not the only one capable of great work. Certain political leaders arose such as Martin Luther King Jr. and many others who advocated for equality. These people launched the Civil Rights movement that changed the fate of America forever.
In addition, the lives of women changed as they began to view themselves as humans that deserved the same fundamental human rights as men. Prior to the war, women were viewed by nearly everyone as those that “could desire no greater destiny than to glory in their own femininity”(176). However, women during war time were a leading factor in the workforce, as most men were away at war. This change in action lead women to the realization that they no longer wanted to be limited to the role of housewives, but to contribute to the welfare of the country. With this change, came the tweaking of the American Dream and what minorities want out of America, and out of themselves. Many differences took place throughout the twenty years that followed WWII including the perception of the American Dream. People began to realize that if they truly wanted something, they would have to advocate for the change themselves.
James Truslow Adams stated that the American Dream is: “. . . that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” (The Epic of America, 1931)
In the twenty years following World War II, the American Dream was finally within the grasp of the majority of the American people. Prior to World War II, the American Dream was mainly the province of white males. However, when World War II broke out, and the United States was ushered into the war, the majority of able bodied men entered the armed forces. The absence of male workers led to the integration of women in the workforce, where they stayed long after the war. The need for male soldiers in the war created access for women to begin to enjoy the American Dream. With the increase in manufacturing jobs due to the war, many blacks migrated to the industrial areas of the North in hopes of earning higher wages. Racial attitudes were also beginning to change, and in 1947, Branch Rickey “. . . signed Jacky Robinson to play second base . . .” (75) for the Brooklyn Dodgers. The American Dream was becoming a reality to the colored masses as well. On the national level, breakthroughs in home building and highway design allowed more of the populace to take part in the American Dream. Levittown made home ownership a reality for the general masses. It put millions of Americans “. . . on the road to full membership of the middle class” (79). President Eisenhower, impressed by the German autobahns, encouraged the construction of the interstate highway system, further facilitating “. . . the emergence of the mass culture of the middle class” (83). The widespread availability of a prosperous life through the American Dream was now becoming available to the majority of Americans regardless of race, gender or status.
Brands discusses how America had ambitious dreams that were collectively believed and supported during War time that have transitioned over time to become ambitious individual dreams with little regard to the collective. During WWI and WWII, the country was seized by patriotism – we simply had to come together and make sacrifice as our individual and collective future was at stake. After the War, the US (and other countries like Germany, France, UK, Japan, etc.) turned inwards to rebuild which prompted the whole “baby boom” generation. The creation of the middle class has arguably become the ideal for every emerging country around the globe and has become the foundation of the American Dream – that the next generation of children will achieve more and greater success than their parents. This desire to achieve is the cornerstone of American’s desire to compete and succeed and has resulted in America’s domination as the strongest militarily and wealthiest nation on earth.
Prior to WWII, the American Dream was largely held to be a fairy tale; coming out of the Great Depression, this was no surprise. A quarter of the population was out of work, out of home, and reliant on the welfare state. None could argue that hard work and saving would be able to ensure a prosperous life. As the war effort pulled millions into factories and military transport ships, the immediate discontent waned in favor of patriotic fervor. Dreaming was set aside for a time; there was a world to save. Most Americans, however, did not expect just how sharply the war would pull America from depression. Directly following WWII, Americans lived in a golden age of prosperity driven by an interior economy favorable to the working class, a global economy fully reliant on the U.S., and a distant evil empire to direct their efforts against. As a result, the American Dream seemed fully in the reach of any man willing to work for it; factory workers could expect to work at the same company for their entire lives and retire with pensions, all while living in their own suburban homes. This stable, successful system contrasted with the Soviet Union: seen as the opponent of democracy, and therefore the American way of life. This contributed to the idea that America was different than the rest of the world- a land of opportunity defending fledgling democracies from tyranny. This iteration of the American dream would be one of the most optimistic, and one of the most (contemporarily) valid. As time passed, the early civil rights movement would not have a great effect on the Dream; aside from those who took the events at Montgomery and Topeka to be an example of federal overreach, the civil issues of the time were separate from the economic context of the American Dream.
In effect, WWII leveled the playing field for America's populace. Prior to the war, "The American Dream" was solely in the hands of white males. Those same white males later joined, or were drafted into, the armed forces. This large migration of workers created a vacuum in the manufacturing industry, which was to be filled with those still on American soil. As a result, women & people of color became prevalent in the U.S. workforce. The American dream was no longer perceived as a goal met only by white men, but as something anyone, regardless of gender, ethnicity or even social status could achieve. This was all boosted by the U.S.'s new-found status as an economic world power, creating more jobs, and hence more opportunities for those previously stuck in their current situation.
The phrase “American Dream” generally connotes equality, opportunity, and prosperity, both on the personal and the societal level. In Brands’ book, the concept of the American Dream changed drastically in the two decades following the end of World War II, on both the individual and the collective level. At the end of World War II, America was at its peak, and the country basked in the glory of conquering both the Great Depression and the evils of fascism. Americans rejoiced at the return of their loved ones, who had served overseas in the war. The G.I. Bill gave returning veterans the opportunity to pursue a career and purchase a home, with benefits such as reduced-cost mortgages and government-paid university expenses. Happy, reunited young couples decided to start families, and this resulted in an unusually large number of children born in a relatively short amount of time, otherwise known as the Baby Boomer generation. This was the catalyst for the evolution of the individual American Dream, which was to have a secure job, a home, and a happy family. American society remodeled itself to fit the needs of the Baby Boomer generation, which led to the growth of the middle class, and subsequently, the manifestation of suburbia. Bedroom communities sprang up everywhere, containing nothing but homes, schools, and parks. Women stayed at home to take care of their children, while men worked 8 hour days. Even entertainment became family-oriented as Disney monopolized the market, offering everything from television shows and amusement parks to Disney-themed merchandise. Collectively speaking, the American Dream became a symbol of freedom and equality. Domestically, civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King emerged, and the country moved towards having equal rights for all races and genders. In terms of foreign affairs, Americans aspired to rid the world of communism, and fought to bring democracy to all corners of the globe.
The American Dream prior to WW2 was a figure of imagination that did not cross the minds of any American’s. I like to think of the Great Depression; a time before WW2, as the “American Nightmare” because of the amount of unemployment and drop in economy. Once WW2 knocked on the already crumbling door of the United States, it created an even greater sense of fear in the bodies of the American citizens. Unexpectedly, the United States actually came out of WW2 in a better position than they were in before they entered the war. America was now one of the most dominant and wealthy countries in the world. Its employment rates and stock market skyrocketed as a result of their authority during WW2. Countries in Europe and some other parts of the world had been demolished because of WW2 and America demanded to help because of our economic success after the war ended. Helping out and reconstructing other countries after the war dismissed a lot of tension between the United States and opposing countries. The alliances made with other countries after WW2 gave America the comfort and security it needed to stay on top as a world-leading powerhouse. Also, the happiness of the people and growth of financial income spurred the “Baby Boom” generation. The up rise in population caused for new and efficient inventions and ideas, making the United States a more resourceful and well run country. Once the war ended, the American Dream transformed into less of a dream because it was becoming a reality to some people. America was at peace and its people were happy, to me, that is what the American Dream is all about.
After World War II ended, the American Dream evolved for both individuals and America as a country. Post World War II showed the resilience of the American people to the world. The country had survived the Great Depression and was entering a golden age of economic growth. In 1945 Americans “stood united and confident at the apex of global power; before them lay more wealth and happiness” (ix). As a country, the people dreamed of equality. People dreamed of equal rights for women and all people of color. For example, when the world famous Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech to more than 200,000 people, a new voice for equality was heard. Individually, people dreamed for economic prosperity. During the years of the Baby Boom, the American economy improved immensely because the economy revolved around the Baby Boomers and their families. As more babies were born, the “demand for the houses, cars, washing machines, sofas, radios, sinks, and myriad other items large and small” (70) increased greatly. In addition, the unemployment was much lower than the years of the Great Depression. During the mid to late 1950s, economic equality was becoming a reality when “factory workers and office workers alike earned enough money to support a thoroughly respectable middle-class lifestyle” (80). While segregation was a big issue, people worked to improve the living conditions for the African Americans and to rid the country of segregation laws. The twenty years after World War II was a time of reassurance for the American population for a better future. They left the Great Depression in the past and focused on themselves economically, and also tried to improve the lives of others across the country. While the “American Dream” after World War II had been similar to their dreams in the past, they took advantage of their prosperity, and strived for even more improvements for the future.
The American perception of the “American Dream” changed drastically in the twenty years following WWII. Prior to the war, people’s hopes and dreams were diminished by the economic reality of the Great Depression. Preceding WWII, the only “American Dream” that crossed people’s minds was rebuilding their destroyed economy; however, after the war, the economic and social advancements led to a more revived “American Dream;” a dream of a successful future. During WWII, war efforts created thousands of jobs in factories and war-supplies transportation units. As a result, people all around the country received more similar wages, and the gap between upper and lower classes was decreased. In addition, people spent very little during the war; they were focused on more important things and there was little to spend on. However, when the war ended, Americans had higher income, from new occupations, and they were in the mood to spend… a lot. For this reason, couples were more willing to buy new houses, and start new families. The increase of new families led to the “baby boom,” during which the new “American Dream” was to care for and raise children and happy families. Along with all these aspects (more equal pay, urge to spend, and the “baby boom”), grew a sense of egalitarianism. Women’s and African Americans’ rights awareness was spread as people began to view one another as equal. In addition, the middle class began to grow as well, which increased the demands for, and production of, entertainment consumer goods. In the twenty years following WWII, Americans enjoyed higher pay, loving families, more equal rights, consumer goods, and the ability to focus on the new “American Dream;” building a country with a thriving culture and technological success.
After showing the might of the American industry in WWII, the American Dream evolved to reflect the life of the worker. If one came to America and worked hard, they could live at a certain level of comfort and be able to provide for a family. Regardless of your background, hard work could get you to a place of stability and comfort that could be passed down to your children. This was different from the pre wartime depression where many people didn't have jobs and those who did were still struggling to survive. With this new life style came a great sense of pride in the country too. After failing to stop the Nazis at Munich, Americans began to feel a sense of responsibility over the affairs of the world. This was radically different to the collective American Dream before Pearl Harbor when the public mostly trusted isolationist ideas. This new idea eventually leads to the Cold War era as America attempts to stop the spread of communism. Finally, because of the war, more people of different backgrounds were getting into the workforce. They used this momentum to try and expand the American Dream to more people of different gender and race. The years following WWII were shaped by America's new found strength in both internal and external affairs.
After World War II, the perception of the American Dream changed immensely for Americans. Slowly, a future emerged that seemed impossible years before. The American Dream became a successful middle-class life, propelled by the growth of the previously failing economy. Consequently, the baby boom occurred, which "prompted a reorientation of American culture" (69). This shift in culture that added more focus on material possessions gave the "Baby Boomers" a sense of entitlement that would last for years to come. This is a heavy component of the modern day American Dream--the idea of 'I get what I want because I deserve it.' As industries became more successful and the economy began to "revolve[d] around the needs of the Baby Boomers and their families," (71) the American Dream evolved to become more based around aquiring possessions through a steady job to support families.
A major world event such as WWII will alter the visions of any and all countries. The American Dream is no exception to this concept. As Brands says, “The dreams weren’t always sunny and hopeful; some were darkly forbidding. But they drew Americans consistently forward.” In the aftermath of WWII the American Dream shifted from a darkly forbidding to a sunny and hopeful dream. The Great Depression had brought a feeling of despair among many Americans, especially those in the 25% of people who were unemployed. However, with the economic boom brought by WWII, people’s hopes were rekindled and they started looking forward and up to the future. The American Dream therefore was shifted upward as well. James Truslow Adams defined the American Dream as a “dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” Therefore with the boost that the war brought for the economy, people were able to get much better jobs and live “richer and fuller” lives which is exactly what the American Dream promised. In this way, as awful as World War Two was, in the 20 years that followed, the American Dream flourished.
Over the years the American dream has changed and adapted to correspond with the events occurring at that time. Before WWII, specifically during the roaring 20’s Americans were focused on themselves and their own personal success. During the 30’s America entered a time known as the Great Depression, and at this period Americans did not have the ability to concentrate on anything besides regaining their own economic stability. American’s practiced isolationism and were only concerned about the affluence of the country and fellow countrymen, however; after WWII it all changed. After American’s saw the destruction that Hitler and the fascist Nazi Party ensued upon the world, their perception on the American Dream, as they knew it changed. After seeing how putting up the “iron curtain” allowed international affairs to get drastically worse instead of better, Americans were forced to accept that they were a world power and they needed to assume their international role. This explains why President Truman enacted the Truman Doctrine, which implied that the job of America was to attempt to prevent devastations such as WWII from occurring again. Americans went from solely “dreaming” about their own country’s prosperity, to focusing lots of their attention and efforts on the wellbeing of countries around the globe.
The American Dream evolved from being something of independence and patriotism before the war to materialism in the years to follow. The Founding Fathers first believed that independence was the American Dream. However, like many things, the American Dream is ever-changing and it greatly evolved in the twenty years following the second world war. After the war, the American Dream came to be linked with home ownership and how the booming after war economy could produce goods that would fill a future home. The “Baby Boom” also took place for about twenty years after the war from 1946 to 1964. Many families held off from having children during the depression because of the financial stress but now that the economy was flourishing and both men and women were in the workplace, many couples decided to start families. According to H.W. Brands. “Much of the economic activity revolved around the physical needs and wants of the Baby Boomers and their families.” (71) That is still the case today as the Baby Boomers begin to retire and start to receive their pensions. The American Dream is an idea that this country has embraced since its independence in 1776, yet the same idea is always evolving to meet the needs of each new generation.
After showing the might of the American industry in WWII, the American Dream evolved to reflect the life of the worker. If one came to America and worked hard, they could live at a certain level of comfort and be able to provide for a family. Regardless of your background, hard work could get you to a place of stability and comfort that could be passed down to your children. This was different from the pre wartime depression where many people didn't have jobs and those who did were still struggling to survive. With this new life style came a great sense of pride in the country too. After failing to stop the Nazis at Munich, Americans began to feel a sense of responsibility over the affairs of the world. This was radically different to the collective American Dream before Pearl Harbor when the public mostly trusted isolationist ideas. This new idea eventually leads to the Cold War era as America attempts to stop the spread of communism. Finally, because of the war, more people of different backgrounds were getting into the workforce. They used this momentum to try and expand the American Dream to more people of different gender and race. The years following WWII were shaped by America's new found strength in both internal and external affairs.
During WWII the Dream of American's was to get out of a dark time of economic depression and world war while preserving democracy and peace. Twenty years later there was a rising middle class that was driving the new economy. People began to focus more on social equality evidenced by civil rights and women's rights movements. Martin Luther King Jr. became the face of this dream for many people. There was also a broader goal during WWII. It was to be a global power and enforcer. The dream was trying to spread democracy and American culture. Twenty years later the dream was more internal and people started focusing on problems within our own country. People started to raise unfair laws against certain people as a national issue. A majority of the public focused on individuals and of everyone having equal rights.These issues revolved around segregation and women's rights. The American Dream became the demand of true freedom.
Throughout American Dreams Brands explains how the American dream has been tweaked and modified around the economic and international success of the United States. No other period in US history has the American dream changed more than in the years following WWII. This change it due to the country’s successful “[economic shift] from war production to peace production without losing appreciable momentum” (70). With this shift, as others have touched on, America come out of the war on top allowing them to step ahead of other countries who were dealing with the effects of war.
Compared to the Great Depression and the 1930s, the 1960s greatly advanced the American dream. “The Great Depression had seriously challenged the received version of the American dream” (17) because it was a time when almost every aspect of process in US stopped. As people lost their jobs they no longer thought about a future with a spouse and children. The same was true when it came to the industrial market. As more people began to save their hard earned money less people were purchasing manufactures market goods. After WWII it was quite the opposite, “the war years left most Americans with money burning holes in their pockets” (69). Due to income increases and spending opportunity decreases during the war more people gained the flexibility to spend money after it. This allowed people to pursue their individual American dream and start their own businesses and companies. Along with the positive economic effects of the Baby Boom, companies like Disney, and restaurants like McDonalds exploded with success.
As the Second World War concluded in 1945, the American Dream was starting to look brighter. Prior to the war, America was struggling through the Great Depression, and there seemed to be no hope for a better life. However, when the “United States emerged from the war stronger than it entered,” (10), the American Dream sparked a return. With their new confidence and a recovering economy, foreign policy changed as the American decided they “must look to other markets, and those markets [were] abroad.” (13) They moved away from they policy of isolationism that began in the 1920s toward the policy of containment, or preventing the spread and influence of communism. Harry S. Truman issued the Truman Doctrine and stated “it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside forces.” (34) The policy was utilized when America fought against communist regimes in Korea, Vietnam, and Guatemala. Additionally, the United States vowed to never use the policy of appeasement, which was arguably the reason why Hitler was able to ignite his plan for world domination. When president Johnson was being pressured to withdraw from Vietnam he stated that since “appeasement has failed in the past; it would fail now.” (142) Americans felt confident that their presence was what those countries needed for them to achieve the same success as America.
As they emerged victorious from the war, Americans became aware of the fact that “the United States could accomplish almost anything it set its mind to, within the limits of human nature,” (22) Within their own country, the “Baby Boom,” along with an abundance of resources and time, allowed for the economy to recover after the Depression. House construction, clothing stores, furniture stores, restaurants, etc. were all needed to satisfy the demands of the new generation. Suburban life also picked up, as the new families needed somewhere to settle. This lead to the rise of a middle class and Americans were “much more equal than they had been in their recent history.” (80) Woman began to acquire different types of jobs, previously only for males, in order to strive toward gender equality and proving their strength. The rise in equalitarianism allowed Americans to dream of equality and better treatment for women and African Americans, thus influencing equality movements to come.
James Truslow Adams wrote in his book The Epic of America that the “American Dream” is "that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” With the conclusion of World War II, the idea of the “American Dream” as a whole changed. As opposed to the reaction generated by the end of World War I, people were less optimistic about their outcome. WWI had promised to be the “war to end all wars” (22) which ended in extreme devastation when the onset of the great depression hit.Unlike WWI, WWII was treated “matter-of-factly” and “businesslike” (22) with the understanding of no real immediate fix. However unlike the Great Depression that followed WWI, the incoming generation referred to as “Baby Boomers” ushered in a new age of the middle class. There was a new comfortable standard between the extreme wealth and poverty. Another belief that shifted during and after WWII was the idea of isolationism. Before, American believed that it could fulfill a dream of prosperity solely by itself. After WWII, American understood that they could no longer ignore the rest of the world, for economic and international reasons. By the time the U.S. had sent both atomic bombs towards Japan they realized that they could no longer exclude themselves from dealing with issues that they had a hand in creating. Along with dealing with global changes, America also experienced social changes at home. Not only were women joining the work force but the Civil Rights Movement was gaining momentum. The idea that everyone should have equal opportunity according to ability and achievement was widely used when discussing the Civil Rights Movement. Segregation and racism as well as the Jim Crow Laws became major topics of discussion during any election. With advances in many parts of life, the “American Dream” became a reality for some, as well as a more achievable goal for others. However, America was no longer living in their bubble and relations with other countries began to be strained.
After WWII America was at the top of the world with the production power that surpassed every other nation. As the soldiers who had been fighting to keep the country and the world safe from evil returned there was a massive new work force. That was dreaming of making their own mark on the world.These men that were coming back were ready to be put into the workforce by all of the wartime factories that transitioned to peace time products. With all of these new products being sold there was an influx of cash. All of this new cash let people fulfill their new dreams of owning houses, cars and having families. As the nation gained this new wealth it was able to put it back into the country with projects such as Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society. America also put some of its wealth back into the world with The Marshall Plan, that gave Europe 13 Billion in aid for post-war reconstruction. Also part of this new American dream was the protection of the American Way.
Part of the evolved American dream was securing that capitalism was spread world-wide so that other nations could be part the American dream. Part of this was also combating the spread of other ideologies. America stopped this by fighting the spread of governments that were trying spread their communistic ideals onto other democratic nations. An example of this is when north Vietnam started to pressure and then attack South Vietnam. The American dream is always changing and evolving but after WWII there was a distinctive change in what that dream was.
As demonstrated throughout American Dreams, the “American dream” is constantly changing in response to the ever-changing economic and social conditions of the United States. The “American dream” has and always will consist of the same basic principles; however, the emphasis of the dream shifts in accord with the state the country is in at any given time. In the twenty years following the end of World War II, Americans’ perception of the “American Dream” shifted as a result of the social and economic changes that occurred in the United States following World War II. The end of World War II eventually resulted in economic prosperity throughout the States. Prior to the war, many people were concerned about the stability of their jobs and struggled to provide for their families, as “the Great Depression had seriously challenged the received version of the American dream” (17). Following the war, “national income rose by more than a third” (70) as thousands of men returned from the war and reintegrated into the workforce. Families had more money to spend and industry was able to shift from “wartime production to peace production without losing appreciable momentum” (70), because of the high demand for goods such as homes, cars, and household appliances. With the growth of the middle class, the American Dream shifted to emphasize individual prosperity and success. With the growth of “Levittowns”, the “American dream” became closely associated with home ownership. It now became ideal to be a member of the middle class, which entailed owning a home and a car, being able to provide for a large family, and being able to indulge in occasional luxuries. While white men dreamed of this new American ideal, African Americans were still struggling with the Jim Crown system in the South, and were victims of racial discrimination throughout the country. The “American dream” for African-Americans varied drastically from the dream of their white counterparts. As black rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. began lobbying for more rights and equal opportunities for blacks, the “American dream” came to emphasize the principles of equality, freedom, and equal opportunities for all.
The victory of WWII had a positive effect on the American people, the “American dream” evolved and was very positive and offered hope to many Americans. America post -WWII became a “child-based culture”. “Rising postwar incomes enabled families to thrive with single breadwinners”(70) allowing one parent to focus on the children. Typically the mothers would stay home to care for the children, as one working parent helped enable husbands and wives to start families. Thus began the “baby boom”. The people of the United States valued family life. It was around 1957 when the american dream we know today began to really take shape. “Much of the economic activity revolved around the physical needs and wants of the Baby Boomers and their families” ( 71). This included the construction of new homes, manufacturing, electronics, food production, and pharmaceuticals. The new American dream of the classic white picket fence, good sized house, house pet, and 2.5 children, evolved after the victory of WWII and today remains a great motivator for Americans.
The American Dream shifted significantly in the twenty years following World War II. At the time of the war, the American dream had been altered by the Great Depression. Americans’ goals were to simply survive and do the best they possibly could to provide for their families, not necessarily prosper and live comfortably. During and after the war (and inevitably the Great Depression), these same Americans had many more job opportunities in industries such as the war industry and the automobile industry. Therefore more people were able to achieve the pre-war American dream: they were able to provide for themselves and their families enough to get by. But in true American fashion, Americans did not stop dreaming there. They wanted to live comfortable lives, not just do enough to get by, and they wanted to do amazing things within their lives. The United States left WWII as one of the dominant powers in the world, which left Americans feeling like they could accomplish anything and that they were capable of achieving great accomplishments. This idea of self-worth lead to achievements such as the elimination of the Jim Crow System, putting a man on the moon, and social equality for women. Americans began to see opportunity to improve their lives each and every day. The difference between the American dream in the early 1940s and the 1960s was that in the former, Americans wished only to survive, but in the latter, these Americans wanted to survive and thrive.
As Drew has stated, in the years following WWII the American Dream evolved significantly. Economic prosperity became a reality in the years after WWII. Before the commencement of one of the most poignant wars in our history, America was suffering through the worst economic downfall of our nations existence; The Great Depression. Through the Great Depression many Americans dreams morphed into desperation. Their dream was to merely try to find the means to feed their families, or to find a paying job. As WWII began, economic prosperity started making a come back in the U.S. The war industry (manufacturing weapons etc.) prospered, as well as the automobile industry. There was a high demand for jobs (for both men and women.) The dream was now changing from a desperate state to a prosperous one, where Americans dreamt to live comfortably and have material wealth, not just merely survive.
As Drew said, during the Great Depression (prior to WWII), the most an American could hope for was to get by and survive the tough times they were faced with. In American Dreams, Brands makes it very clear that WWII brought jobs to the United States in the form of wartime factory work. The demand for labor was so high that America "outproduced all it's enemies combined", as well as it's allies. This allowed America to "emerge from the war from the war stronger than it entered." On the backside of WWII, ideas about labor were changing. With a high demand for labor during the war, women and African Americans took jobs in Northern war factories. This was significant for women because prior to this time, they did not have the same labor privileges as men, and their job options were limited. Now a women could contribute to her family just like her husband. For African Americans, this resulted in a mass migration from the South to the North. The overall effect was that Americans started dreaming of gender equality as well as racial equality.
Following WWII, the American Dream evolved from the basic dream of owning a house, having a job, and raising a family. With the economic boost that came from the war, many people had achieved the current American Dream, so they developed new dreams and ways they could improve their lives. People thought of ways that would create social equality, because women had the same jobs that once only men had. This led to the Civil Rights Movement, and other movements that created social equality between people of both genders and all colors. Since everybody was able to have equal jobs, a middle class was created, which in turn created more social equality. Over the 20 years following WWII the American Dream evolved from owning a house, having a job, and raising a family, to people becoming equal and having equal opportunity to others around America.
Following WWII, the American Dream evolved from the basic dream of owning a house, having a job, and raising a family. With the economic boost that came from the war, many people had achieved the current American Dream, so they developed new dreams and ways they could improve their lives. People thought of ways that would create social equality, because women had the same jobs that once only men had. This led to the Civil Rights Movement, and other movements that created social equality between people of both genders and all colors. Since everybody was able to have equal jobs, a middle class was created, which in turn created more social equality. Over the 20 years following WWII the American Dream evolved from owning a house, having a job, and raising a family, to people becoming equal and having equal opportunity to others around America.
In the times of the Great Depression, World War II, and twenty years after the end of the War, the Americans’ perception of the American Dream changed drastically. As the end of the late 1920’s approached and all through the 1930’s, into the 1940’s, the Great Depression and World War II struck America. During this time of darkness, the “massive layoffs and ubiquitous bank failures, demonstrated how exposed Americans could be to the caprice of a capitalist economy” (16). People became unemployed and the poverty rate skyrocketed. This greatly damaged the American Dream of someday being free and living a comfortable and enjoyable life. The decades following World War II is often described as one of the most prosperous economic times in American history. With victory under their belts and money in their pockets, Americans in the 1960s could optimistically pursue the American dream. The dream was peace, freedom and equality. Many right movements and protests occurred during this time in order to achieve equality. Buying a home, followed by raising a family and living a successful life became the ideal life in America. The Great Depression and World War II had a tremendous impact on the American Dream but as twenty years passed by, America was able to rebound and fulfill that dream for many families.
As H.W. Brands states in the summary of American Dreams on it’s back cover, “For a brief moment in 1945, America stood at its apex , looking back on victory not only against the Axis powers but also against the Great Depression, and looking ahead to a seemingly limitless future”. Before WWII the American dream of prospering in freedom and peace was becoming lessoned. The Great Depression put a damper on things. Most Americans were struggling to get by and dreams seemed anything but reality. Dreaming wasn't as relevant as hoping and praying for a better America. It wasn't until the end of WWII that Americans found themselves capable of dreaming of things such as equality, women’s rights, and blacks rights. It was the overwhelming joy caused by the end of the war that propelled the Americans into the next age of dreams. Dreams became bigger and more domestically oriented. America still wanted to maintain world peace but know they had confidence in America and dreamt not of world peace but prosperity in America. The economy was better than most had seen it in their lifetime and there was a surplus of jobs created by the end of the war. People finally had time to pursue their dreams. Instead of just focusing on getting by with the little money they had people were now able to focus on other things especially the middle class who could now own cars something once a novelty only the wealthy Americans could afford. The middle class also created higher demands on goods and services, because they had more money to spend. It wasn't until after the war that Martin Luther King Jr. was able to take a stand because people could now focus on things other than war like, black rights and other human rights in America. Taking America’s focus off of war changed America’s dream drastically.
Americans’ perception of the “American Dream” is constantly changing as America changes culturally, economically, and politically. In various scenarios, singular events can cause a drastic change in the American Dream, such as World War II. After WWII, Americans no longer dreamed of living isolated from the rest of the world and would be very weary if the idea of appeasement was considered again. America’s appeasement is what ultimately led to the bombing of Pearl Harbor which dragged America into WWII. Because of its late entry to the war and its economic stability during the war effort, America came out of the war as a world power. America’s superior position led Americans to “deem themselves responsible for world order” (23), whether it be by supplying aid to rebuild countries after the war or by helping other countries in their efforts against communism. Americans now dreamed of helping other countries by providing aid and instilling democracy rather than remaining isolated. Internally, America underwent many changes that twisted the American dream. The war “disrupted old notions regarding the proper role of government in the lives of individuals” (16). Before the Great Depression, a period of economic downfall during the years leading up to WWII, people felt that they had to support the government, but, as the country fell into a depressive state, the role reversed. The people were now looking for the government to support them. The government then came up with the policy of welfare, built houses and apartments, and passed the GI bill, making it easier for all Americans to afford the basic necessities of life encouraging the growth of the middle class. In 1946, just one year after the end of WWII, a generation known as the Baby Boomers were created. These Baby Boomers are not just significant because of their numbers, they also changed the way most Americans lived their lives. American society began to revolve around these children. These Baby Boomers further encouraged the growth of the suburban middle class as these neither rich nor poor families moved together. The rise of the middle class prompted Americans to dream of working to both care for their family and to be able to spend money on luxury items such as televisions and nice cars. Businesses such as restaurant chains, travel agencies, and house construction began to thrive as they attempted to satisfy the needs of this extraordinary generation and looked to take advantage of their willingness to spend for their family. After WWII, Americans dreamed of equality more than ever. The war “jostled genders, races, and ethnic groups” (16) giving groups other than white men a chance to work and a taste of equality. The American Dream which used to only apply to a small number of people was now closer than ever to be applied to everyone including those of minorities.
In the years following World War II, the American Dream evolved significantly. While many men went to war, minorities stepped up and took on more important jobs. Women and blacks took on the same jobs that white men had previously worked, and proved that they could do them just as well. This catalyzed the civil rights movements, led by figures such as Martin Luther King; people began to dream of a world in which there was no discrimination . Americans also learned their lesson from World War Two and realized that if America and Europe had not followed a policy of appeasement, and isolationism World War II could have been prevented. Most Americans decided that they would never again institute a policy of isolationism. Americans also chose to play a more assertive role in international politics. After the war, America emerged as a leading super power, as did the Soviet Union, so naturally communism and democracy began to bump heads. Americans began to dream of a world in which they are the most powerful nation. The Cold War brought out the competitive spirit in many Americans, and they resolved to become the most powerful, and advanced country. This led to America pushing their space program to new heights, continuing to improve nuclear technology, and instituting a policy of containment to promote democracy. In an effort to help Western European countries rebuild, the Marshall plan was created, in which America donated millions of dollars to Europe in an effort to stimulate its economy. In the aftermath of World War II America stepped up, and took on the responsibilities of leading the world in civil rights, and helping other countries develop democracy and prosper.
The American Dream, a goal composed of liberty, equality, happiness, and more, is always changing to match the new economic, political, and social aspects of the evolving world. It is the idea that anyone and everyone can achieve stability and prosperity for oneself and their family by working hard. WWII had a large impact on and is a great example of how the American Dream has altered over time. Preceding the war, the Great Depression was hitting America with full force. Unemployment rates soared and the general atmosphere of America was corrupted by stress and hardship. During this time, Americans perceived the American Dream as holding their jobs and keeping their families fed, and even then it was hard to fantasize and strive toward a goal while being bogged down by the weight of suffering. During and after WWII, the population started to realize America’s potential and capabilities. Everyone began working together; doing everything they could to help win the war. After America left the war more successful than it had been prior to, the American Dream also became a better version of itself. Instead of seeking out the American Dream just by working hard and receiving, the previous concept during WWII became the average middle class. Given this, the population did not stop here but instead altered the American Dream and sought for greater things they never would have previously thought possible. Specific advances America made after WWII included increasing population. “All babies and young children prompted a reorientation of American culture…They started work—on the family farms, in their fathers’ shops, by their mothers sides—at whatever time they became physically able” (60). These children “grew up with a sense of entitlement” (70) that would eventually result in a new generation of middle class. It seems as though the whole country and all of its composition, even entertainment, was shifting into the future America, as we know it, all within the years of the Baby Boomers. Influential individuals popped up, America finally realized its power in the world, and women gained entrance into the workforce. The American Dream is always changing, but we do know for certain that it “[draws] America consistently forward, enticing us toward the horizon of the future” (x).
During the war America had an isolationist attitude, believing that they could be successful if they only focused on bettering themselves. In the post war years, Americans realized that they needed to help other countries. Following the war Americans became “aware of their own power,... [and] deemed themselves responsible for world order-not completely, but to a degree inconceivable less than half-decade earlier.” (23) Americans realized that their own well being depended on the well being of all other countries, it gave the Americans an elevated sense of pride and justice to be helping other countries to fix the global economy instead of just the American economy. Their economy depended partially on the trading and selling of goods to other countries, it also depended on their own people buying goods. The attitude of how to fix the economy also changed many times throughout the twenty years. The American dream became a lot more accessible in the years following the war. With the growth of the economy and the growth of the middle class, the dream of working became a lot more available to people of color and women, to whom it was previously much more scarcely available.
The "American Dream" is a concept most, if not, all Americans are familiar with. Albeit every individual has their own unique definition of the American Dream, for everyone, it is a notion that consistently draws Americans forward, towards a hopefully brighter future. As Brand states in the preface, "we didn't all dream the same dream, or at the same time, for the American Dream included the right of the individual to design their own" (1). After World War I, The United States entered an age of uncertainty, which was reflected in all aspects of life (particularly art and literature, with art movements such as Dadaism and Cubism, and renowned literary works such as The Great Gatsby). World War II, on the other hand, did not engender a feeling of uncertainty as much as it brought forth a sense of confidence and assurance among American people. Because the war was not fought on American soil, The United States had an advantage over the many of other countries involved, both during and after the war. There was somewhat of a "rebirth" of the American Dream; a modified interpretation of an idea that is constantly changing throughout our nation's history. The first twenty years posterior to the war, America achieved great prosperity, to say the least. More jobs were made available as soldiers returned from the war, America saw a great boost in its economic status, and people began to seek more individual and civil rights. Women were primarily responsible for taking of the country whilst the men were off fighting, and so they felt now more than ever it was time to seek change in how women were perceived and treated in comparison to men. African Americans also fought hard to secure their rights as citizens, and with Martin Luther King as a spokesperson, advocate, and leader of the Civil Rights Movement during the fifties and sixties, they too were able to make significant progress in transforming their dreams into a reality. America's success in WWII ultimately ushered in a sense of confidence among Americans, and thus, people felt inspired to work together to pursue their dreams.
In the twenty years following World War Two Americans experienced a golden age, which was reflected in the American dream. Just after World War II America experienced a “baby boom”. To be able to support all these new babies, infrastructure had to be improved upon, leading to the creation of more planes, cars, railroads, and the birth of massive industries such as MacDonald’s and Walmart. These industries provided more people with jobs, which added to the middle class, which added to the consumers of these industries, helping them grow. This cycle allowed people to dream of living a higher-class lifestyle, since if they work hard in these new industries they can earn more money. America was not the only country to come out of World War II with a great deal of power, the USSR also grew into a super power. This led to the two superpower countries competing to see who can become the most scientifically advanced, and have the most powerful military. Americans began to dream of a world where democracy is the most popular form of government, and communism has no power.
The end of WWII left the United States a world superpower. Emerging with increased confidence, as well as newly freed up time and resources, it was time for Americans to dream bigger and broader than ever before. During the war, women had stepped up to the plate and taken on the jobs of the men recruited to serve in military. These employment opportunities helped to prove that women were just as capable in the work force as men, and served as “an important advance towards gender equality,”(13). Additionally, during the war, many black people migrated to cities outside of the south. This heightened racial tensions but also inspired certain people to fight for racial equality, post war. Aside from social justice, the United States realized that it needed to financially help its allies and promote democracy in other countries to keep itself stronger than the USSR, its main competitor. Furthermore, after WWII, the United States felt the need to prove itself more advanced and extravagant than other countries by expanding its own infrastructure and by beginning the space race with the USSR. With the success of the Second World War, the American dream became more outwardly focused on the strength of the nation as a whole, rather than purely the success of the individuals. American’s were proud and wanted to bask in their perceived glory of being American by making the United States the best it could be and more powerful than any other country. At the same time, many Americans decided that in order to advance the United States and promote it to be its best, social equality required improvement. The American Dream shifted a bit to include the equality of every human regardless of gender or race. Although there are still lengths to go, during this time period, a large amount of light was shed on issues of inequality and some steps were made, such as an end to racial segregation.
The common American dream before world war II was "that men (mostly) and women who worked hard and saved for rainy days could expect a measure of material comfort and security in their golden years, without resort to government." (16) Before the war the average person did not care much about foreign policy, if anything he or she was perfectly happy with letting the world fend for itself, most people did not want the U.S. to intervene. Also, before 1945, women, blacks, and other social minorities could not even begin to imagine that one day with hard work and effort they could achieve social equality in the world order. However, after world war II ended people finally realized the necessity for change and began to initialize it. At the end of the war, world leaders and average citizens began to comprehend their colossal mistake that ignoring the world's problems in a form of appeasement and isolationism would not keep the U.S. from being dragged into its mess. After the loss of several troops in a war that could have been prevented, had the U.S. acted earlier, the United States had to put its foot down, by bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Once the war ended most the world was in pieces, leaving the U.S. and the Soviet Union as the two leading superpowers. Before the war, the U.S. would have let the Soviets spread communism to the vulnerable nations however the war taught them how this kind of neglect could have disastrous consequences. As a result the cold war was born where the U.S. held themselves responsible for protecting the democracy and freedom throughout the world. Therefore, after WWII, the men and women in the U.S. were no longer satisfied with letting the world fend for itself. The new dream was to protect the peace and democracy throughout the globe, in order to prevent another world war. World War II gave minorities a taste of what it was like to be thought of as more than just a housewife or an uneducated black man, and these people were not prepared to lose this feeling of importance when the war ended. During the war women took over the office place while the men were away, and black men risked their lives fighting for their country; both groups felt they deserved more respect and equality for their hard work. Hence the civil rights era was born. Minorities began to dream of a world where all were treated equal, not just white men. One of the most prominent examples of this dream was voiced by Martin Luther King; “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” (114) Many other African Americans shared King’s dream, so they followed his footsteps and fought for it through peaceful protests. Overall, during the twenty years following World War II, the average person either dreamed of a world where the communist threat was put to rest or where all people, no matter what gender or color, were treated equally.
The two decades after the War against Fascism were quite clearly the full manifestation of an evolved concept of the American Dream. To me, it seems that rather than embracing a more individualistic concept of the American Dream, the years after WW2 forced people to view and embrace the American Dream as something more unified and broad. After WW2, and during the struggle against communism, people saw that it was more about America versus the world, rather than individuals in America versus society. The population of the US, during the years after WW2, developed considerably; the size and wealth of the Middle Class exploded, with relatively low unemployment, a consumer based economy, a strong military, big unions, massive and powerful corporations; this was the American Dream in full form. People attained a more powerful patriotic zeal; after having fought two world wars and then currently fighting the corrupting and anti-American ideology of communism. Americans embraced the American Dream as being a part of something bigger; rather than embracing it for themselves. What it meant to be American, now, was to be the leader of the "Free World", to soak in the vast of the "bottom-up" consumer economy, and to maintain a strong community based set of morals. No longer did people come to America to be able to proclaim "I am an Individual", but now they came to this country to proclaim "I am an American".
n the years after World War II there was a great change in American society and government. During the war much of the dream was to achieve peace and win the war, but after the war a lot changed. The "baby boomers" were born and thus began the growth of the middle class. Children were growing up happy and the suburbs were booming. There was more innovation and culture as people could focus more on these type of things. The growth of the middle class helped stabilize the economy and it was easier for people to live an ideal life without worrying about war. In the 20 years after WWII people could focus on building a family and making money through stable jobs. However, many people were concerned about the threat of nuclear warfare in the Cold War. They wanted to defeat the Soviet Union in everything including the arms race and the space race. This unified idea of America versus the world was a major part of the American dream. A unified America was arguably better than an individual outlook on life as the American dream focused on a strong unifies country where everyone could thrive. These are just some of the ways that the perception of the “American dream” evolved in the twenty years after World War II.
The “American Dream” became the notion of individual liberty and economic prosperity. The massive surge of wealth after WWII gave rise to the middle class where Americans could live out a well provided life with basic luxuries. After helping purge Europe of fascism, which was oppressive and discriminatory, and obtaining a new status in the world, the U.S. felt a new sense of duty to cleanse the world from evil doings and bring liberal democracy to all. Despite romanticized simplifications, the U.S. was able to express its self-interests with its new awesome wealth and influence. With the rise of communism, as a threat to America, it sought to reduce communist influence because of its oppressive nature. The Korean War, offspring of the latter idea, is a prime example: the U.S. fending off communism to liberate the Korean people. Following the Korean War, the struggle against communism became a relative constant. Included in the ‘Cold War package’, civil rights became popular. Americans became divided as to what was socially ‘right’. The persistent cause for black equality, e.g. Martin Luther King Jr., created the image that regardless of what you are, one can strive for the “American Dream”, which still had the core beliefs that an American can pursue individual liberty, economic prosperity, and actively participate in democracy. In short, the “American Dream” went from economic prosperity and defeating world dangers, hence WWII, to social justice and ‘policing’ the world, with economic prosperity as a constant.
The textbook “American Dream” is encapsulated within the first few sentences of Brands’ American Dreams. Brands describes that “We dreamed of liberty, equality, and happiness. We dreamed of prosperity for ourselves and our children. We dreamed we would save our souls and save the world (p. x).” As American society and foreign policy evolved, these dreams would evolve as well. Following WWII, the rise of liberalism contributed to a major shift in American sense of responsibility, and the blind nationalism that had sent young Americans to war for their country was corroded as the focus turned towards glaring social problems. Shifting gender roles, the civil rights movement, and the Cold War all had enormous influence on the American psyche. As a result, the common American trusted their traditionalist society less.
ReplyDeleteAs powerful leaders like Martin Luther King (and later, Malcolm X) rose to prominence, Americans were forced to see where their government had failed them in terms of social equality. The older American dream, which sub-textually promoted an unquestioning faith to the country, was picked apart. Black, Latinx and female Americans became increasingly motivated to create a new America, where men and women of all races worked as equals. Thusly the Civil Rights Movement (including Suffrage) itself became a footnote of the “American dream,” denoting socioeconomic equality across the board.
I agree with many of the points that Rin has made. I feel that many Americans idea of the "American Dream" in the 20s was perceived as something completely different compared to what was happening to America financially and economically. When the Great Depression occurred I believe that it was the beginning of the end of peoples oblivion to what was actually happening around them. As Rin said, the emerging of many leaders made Americans realize how flawed the country was in terms of social equality. This idea also applies to what happened when Franklin D Roosevelt came into office. The New Deal woke up the population and they were motivated by the goals Roosevelt set for the nation. This occurrence continued throughout WWII when America was inspired by international leader Winston Churchill and the horrors of the war gave them new perspectives and allowed the general public to open up and voice their opinions, considering that it was arguably the top topic during that era. For the post-war era, Rin words it perfectly; Americans were forced to come to the realization that their dominantly white culture had been closed off to having an open perspective and leaders such as Marthin Luther King Jr. helped them understand their flaws and motivated change.
DeleteThe end of WWII was the beginning of a new era for the United States, in both the domestic and international spheres. Unlike the period after WWI, characterized by a surge in patriotism, following WWII many Americans took a more realistic approach to the future, recognizing that there were limits to how much the U.S. could reasonably accomplish for itself and humanity. However, the success of the perpetrators of the war seemed to many Americans a result of America’s failure to respond quickly to the initial threats, which in turn led many to oppose the previous policy of appeasement. Instead, Americans claimed for themselves the responsibility of maintaining world order, especially after the attack on Pearl Harbor made it clear to many Americans that involvement in the war was unavoidable. This shift in attitude ultimately prompted the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (Japan) during the summer of 1945. In the 20 years following the war, America took increasingly harsh measures against communism and disorder in the world, all of which demonstrated the people’s desire to solve the world’s problems themselves. In addition, the technological competition of the Cold War roused the competitive side of many Americans, who wanted to be foremost in the world in science and technology in order to help mankind and dreamed enough to put a man on the moon.
ReplyDeleteOn the home front, the post-war economic success had a lasting social impact also. Increasing incomes, a “Baby Boom”, and a lingering desire to compensate for the scarcity of the Great Depression all contributed to the rise of a middle class, which aided the image of “social egalitarianism” that the U.S. hoped to give itself. The introduction of a middle class allowed for innovation and mass culture, and also proved a staging ground for emerging ideas about racial and gender equality. Ultimately, the years after World War II were a time of great change in American society and global interaction, leaving Americans dreaming of a future in which their nation kept the world peaceful and safe, while they themselves enjoyed prosperity and the change to improve their own lot in life.
As the WWII was ending, the concept of American Dream was evolving. Before the war, American Dream that consisted of success, prosperity, and a chance to make the world better for the future generations of the Americans. It was a common ideal for the majority of people. But since 1945, this ideal transformed and evolved. It started to alter because everything started to change. With the victory in the WWII, Americans were coming home to begin a new episode in their country’s history. The world was changing as well. Some countries were stepping onto the democratic path towards freedom. Other countries went along with communism hoping for stability and success under a strong totalitarian government. In the US, African-Americans started to fight and protest for more freedom and civil rights. Also, with the possession of a nuclear weapon and putting itself as a world military leader, the US started to evolve technologically in any sphere of life in the Earth and in space.Competing with the USSR, the USA tried to spread its influence to other countries of the world.Consequently, the American Dream became more connected to the world. No longer Americans worked for just the local or individual prosperity and freedom. They started to spread it around the world. That created a lot of room toward patriotism and national pride. When the American government supported pro-Western government in South Korea, American society supported the government. They felt like they could help people of Korea live in the way like the one they lived in. Also, Americans wanted those regions to be at peace and not be influenced by the communist way of life. Communism was a big threat for the United States at the time. In retrospect, American Dream evolved from more secluded ideas to more global ideas like peace in the world, freedom from totalitarian governments, and same rights for everyone.
ReplyDeleteBefore WWII, Americans were faced with the impossible task of trying to reconstruct after the stock market crashed in the late 1920s, and the national issue of poverty and unemployment. During WWII, Americans continued to support the policy of appeasement, the idea to remain away from conflict, but the bombings at Pearl Harbor was an eye-opening event for the U.S to end their policy of appeasement and get involved in world issues sooner and quicker. As a result of WWII, the United States became one of the most wealthy and strong nations in the world, and because of their wealth and strength, European countries sought their aid with the reconstruction after the war left many countries destroyed. After taking the lead in reconstructing after WWII, America soon took the role as a world leader and soon used this power to begin harsh measures to end communism and other problems in an attempt to prevent a war similar to World War II.
ReplyDeleteInternally, things had changed economically as a result of World War II that had caused a drastic change in American lives. For example, increased incomes caused the “Baby Boom,” and caused the expansion of the middle class. The creation and growth of the middle class caused new inventions, new cultural aspects, and new ideas to emerge. For instance, the idea of liberalism, the belief of freedom and equality, caused influential leaders, such as Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, to push for equality among all Americans despite different races. Ideas of gender equality for women emerged, after women were introduced into the workforce and wanted the same rights as men have in society and government. In conclusion, the period after World War II was a time for the United States to progress internally and grow to become a top world leader.
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ReplyDeleteThe Great depression largely impacted the existing perception of the American dream. Americans had formerly believed “that men (mostly) and women who worked hard and saved for rainy days could expect a measure of material comfort and security in their golden years, without resort to government”(16). Post depression, they understood how too much exposure to the unaccountable changes of capitalism left their incomes damaged, suffering from “massive layoffs and ubiquitous bank failures”(16). Before WWII, Women were told in traditional voices “they could desire no greater destiny than to glory in their own femininity”(176).
ReplyDeleteOftentimes, women were told motherhood mattered more than careers--women were looking at a dull future ahead with limited opportunity. Minorities also suffered from discrimination and now long desired change.
After WWII, women’s rights were expanding because of their wartime activity in factories or businesses, taking the place of their husbands at war. Advocates for women’s rights began expanding their roles in society through strikes, violent, or verbal protests. The National Organization for Women (NOW) caught the attention of the entire country, including Congress. Shortly after in 1971, the amendment declaring, “equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex”(178) was approved and referred to the states. However, the minorities still suffered. There were nearly 17 million African-Americans, in the United States, making up about 10 percent of the population. Negro movements based on the philosophy of Martin Luther King Jr. grew in numbers daily, expanding their power immensely. After reassessing the Fourteenth Amendment, promising equality to all freed men, Kennedy decided it was time to fulfill its promise as neither he nor the government could further ignore the pleas for equality. The United States also expanded their influence overseas and was a role model for other countries to follow, being one of the strongest nations to emerge out of WWII. They began worrying about Mao Zedong in China and Fidel Castro in Cuba, both of which posed threats to American power and influence on foreign countries. Internally, suburb growth and the expansion of the middle class resulted from the “ baby boom” and large-scale immigration. The GI Bill was also created to provide wartime veterans with education costs, low interest loans/low-cost mortgages for starting a business, and one year of unemployment compensation. The future began looking bright for Americans all across the nation.
A selfless and collective America is the America we choose to remember when characterizing our country. That was a fair assessment of the immediate post WW2 era. At that point in history, America was a super power, having defeated fascism. The courageous men and women who defended our “right to dream” actually embodied it and were welcomed home with great fan fair. In the following 20 years, the American Dream was centered around a strong and united America. Democracy was of the utmost importance and the primary goal of the U.S. was to stop the spread of communism. The twenty year period following WW2 in America was one of great prosperity including an economic turn around. The Great Depression ended largely because of the economic stimulus of the war and the government’s New Deal, which expanded its role of caring for its citizens. The common unity and nationalistic sentiment seemed everlasting as Truman argued to defend Americas vision, “one way of life which is based upon the will of the majority”. The ideal of democracy defeating communism defined America’s resolve and focus until the rise of the Baby Boomer’s in the late 50’s. At that point the shift in America's economy was invigorated by product demand instead of war supplies, and a middle class grew while U.S companies and capitalism flourished. Subtly a cultural shift occurred in the American Dream towards individual prosperity and away form Nationalism. More individual rights came to the forefront as was evidenced by the civil rights movement and Martin Luther Kings “I have a dream” speech. MLK argued to include African Americans in the American Dream. Racial and gender equality came to the center of social issues and the American Dream was re-imagined. Citizens began to focus on how they could make the best life for themselves and focus less on the betterment of the county. This focus on self sentiment was soon to become tragically obvious in the Vietnam era.
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ReplyDeletePost WWII era, the American Dream blossomed. American’s before WWII began questioning the availability of the American Dream. After WWII, American’s prospered from the baby boom, availability of jobs, and the growing middle class. The baby boom caused middle class family’s to move into suburbs. Many people among the middle class were now provided with luxuries such as owning a house and a car. President Roosevelt signed the GI Bill, in which, provides veterans with low-cost mortgages, low-interest to start a business, and help to pay for education. As veterans returned home, the economy was improving because of the increased incomes and the expansion of jobs. The middle class provided the United States with a cultural change such as individual growth. More individual rights for women and African Americans developed, by beginning to advocate for equal rights within society because of their work taken place during the war. For example, many women replaced men in factories during the war and wished to be granted the same rights as men within the government. Martin Luther King began preaching about spreading the American Dream to African American citizens and equality for all.
After WWII, America became one of the strongest and wealthiest nations in the world. Also, America became involved with other nations in the fight to stop communism to promote democracy and help prevent another world war. The United States technology evolved with space and nuclear weapons. Overall, the American Dream began to spread to all citizens within the United States and began touching lives of different nations. The American Dream had evolved into making a better life for oneself and for people around the world.
The concept of the “American Dream” evolved significantly following the events both before and during WWII. Before WWII, Americans were faced with the challenge of rebuilding their shattered economy following the Great Depression starting in 1929. As Olivia quoted, “the Great Depression had seriously challenged the received version of the American dream that men (mostly) and women who worked hard and saved for rainy days could expect a measure of material comfort and security in their golden years, without resort to government” (16). After the Great Depression, Americans lost faith in the security of their capital and the capability of their leaders to deal with financial crises like the Great Depression. However, after WWII “the country had vanquished the despair and poverty of the Great Depression” (ix) and started moving forward.
ReplyDeleteIn the 20 years following WWII, accomplishment became a focal point of the American dream. With the economy improving rapidly, America became a consumerist society and people became much more interested in indulging themselves in material goods. In addition, Congress passed the GI Bill, “which would provide funding for the soldiers’ return” (16). This funding helped provide housing and education to the returning soldiers. Over time, incomes increased, more jobs became available, the middle class expanded, and the “Baby Boom” took place. The Baby Boom meant that more and more people were moving to the suburbs, and were able to own houses and cars, a luxury that many could not appreciate before WWII. Eventually women and African Americans began to earn more rights as emerging figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and women’s rights activists began to voice their opinions on the issue of gender and race equality. Overall, in the 20 years following WWII, Americans proved that they could make their home country a more prosperous and powerful nation after experiencing hardships during the war.
The origination of The American Dream began as the aspiration for religious freedom and then evolved into the desire for home ownership. For a while this was all that the American Dream consisted of. In 1929 when the U.S. stock market crashed, launching America into the Great Depression the American Dream was threatened. Banks began to fail and stopped giving out loans to businesses, which layed off workers because they had no money to pay them. People without incomes could not afford to buy the products from the businesses, causing them to fail. One out of every four Americans was unemployed, meaning 25% of the population was deprived of that aspect of the American Dream. They lost hope in their country and their government and their dreams suffered because of it. Their dreams stopped focusing on themselves and As Paris mentioned their dreams now were focused on rebuilding their shambled economy. This taught "Americans of that generation resilience and fortitude." (ix) WWII brought the country together "in a common purpose"(ix) and this unity solidified the American Dream. The generation born after WWII, titled "Baby Boomers" grew up with parents whose dreams had been tested in the Depression and then fortified in the war. Their parents, with the hardships of the Depression still fresh in their minds wanted their children to have what they didn't. As a result of this the Baby Boomers grew up with a "sense of entitlement" and "a feeling that the world existed for their benefit"(70) In the 20 years after WWII the Baby Boomers went through school and into the workforce believing they could achieve anything. The American Dream evolved from
DeleteDuring the twenty years following World War II, the American Dream shifted to suit the American advancements in technology and industry and the growth of the middle class. Throughout the war, the previously low incomes of Americans were raised and opportunities for spending were limited due to the focus on production of war time materials. By the end of the war, the eagerness to spend money had built up so that the American dream became one of buying a house with one’s spouse and having a large family. This “Baby Boom” that lasted into the sixties led to a change of the role of children in American culture. At this point, caring for one’s children became a central aspect of the American Dream; for the first time since before WWII, only one parent needed to work and make money to support a family while the other stayed home and looked after for the children. Furthermore, much of the economic activity and industrial progress now revolved around the growing number of nuclear families. Due to the hike in production, it was now within the average American family’s reaches to buy a car and house and furnish it with various household appliances, including the television. Moreover, the rise in suburbs (led by the creation of Levittown) led to a sameness amongst American families that aided in the social shift to an equal, and large middle class. At this point the American dream was to live as part of the middle class and maintain an egalitarian United States. This uniformity was additionally aided by the growth of franchises, such as McDonald’s, and the vamp in highway construction, which additionally led to easy access of travel from the American suburban home to an office in a city. Finally, the post-war era led to an increase in popularity of racial integration. Attitudes toward the Jim Crow laws shifted and efforts were made toward racial equality in the United States. Overall, the strength of the economy was what led to development of a more uniform and progressive American Dream.
ReplyDeleteThe “American Dream” began as the opportunity to achieve success and to have social mobility in a growing society. Before WWII, the Great Depression did not make this dream seem like it could be a reality any time soon. People had no money and they blamed the government for preventing their success. Americans had to focus on rebuilding their economy rather than achieving their own personal success. After World War II, this far away dream did not seem so distant anymore. Since almost everyone was involved in the war effort, the manufacturing industry became much more efficient and this boosted the American economy greatly. When more people are in factories, that means that more people have jobs which means there is a lower unemployment rate. A crucial part of the “American Dream” is working to get money and with new industries that emerged from the war, this became possible. In the 20 years after WWII, the American people became more interested in purchasing products and becoming better consumers. Now women also had the “American Dream” within reach and sometimes men even had to compete with women for jobs since the girls were the ones who held many of the jobs in America while the men were fighting overseas during the war. Ultimately, the times after the war proved that the American people were able to prosper even after the horrors experienced during the war.
ReplyDeleteAs Americans faced an economic boom, baby boom, increase in liberal beliefs, desire for gender and race equality, the perception of the “American Dream” was changed drastically during this golden age of the middle class. As the wealth of the U.S. increased dramatically, Americans were now able to buy items unpurchasable during the depression and war. This momentum of continuous wealth allowed many types of needs to be satisfied for Americans. These desires were filled in the purchases of cars, home construction, electronics, and other items. The baby boom also contributed to this peace production wealth, as things were being produced specifically for that generation due to raised incomes and the ability to afford babies that they couldn’t previously (in the depression and war). Americans then learned that their prior conservative society could not be relied on, as their desire for more freedom could not be attained if they did. For example, when John F. Kennedy put aside civil rights as a non-priority (due to pleasing southerners for their vote for him), Americans such as members of the Congress of Racial Equality and Martin Luther King took a stand for African American’s racial equality in order to make long awaited progress towards equality among races. Gender roles also took a remarkable turn for the better, as women were welcomed into the workforce. Clearly, after World War II American’s idea of the “American Dream” changed into a major push for progress.
ReplyDeleteA major part of the American Dream is to be successful in life. Prior to WWII, the Great Depression did not allow much of the American population to be successful, in fact, most people were struggling to survive. After WWII, Americans started to believe that they could finally be successful. This is majorly due to the American industry. During the war, American industry was used to manufacture weapons and equipment for the war effort, boosting the American economy. After the war, the industry was used to make mass produced products, such as the car. Because good were being mass produced they became more available to the public and were at a price that most Americans could afford. Americans were being very good producers and consumers, boosting the economy. Another part of the American Dream is equality. In the years following the war, women started to gain more influence and respect from men. Also, because of Martin Luther King Jr., the civil rights movement began and the idea of non-segregation started to surface. Ultimately, the years following the war proved the point that America could succeed, even after a disastrous war.
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ReplyDeleteAmerica's involvement in WWII ushered in a new age of the American Dream. Prior to WWII Americans struggled to get by during the Great Depression in the years following the stock market crash in 1929. Before the war Americans struggled to find jobs in order to support themselves as well as their families. Unemployment rates in the U.S. rose to around 25% meaning one in every four Americans lived without a consistent income. As a result of the delicate state of the economy, the U.S. supported Isolationism and Appeasement. These foreign policies allowed America to elude the war along with the expense that came with it.
ReplyDeleteThe bombing of Pearl Harbor would drastically alter to future of America. As a result of the attack many Americans began to abandon the policies of Appeasement and Isolationism. This then led to the U.S. joining the war effort in December of 1941. The involvement in WWII brought the economy out of the Depression because as men went away to fight more jobs opened for unemployed citizens. Also, the huge need for goods such as guns and ammunition created more jobs and helped the U.S. rise from the Depression and become one of the worlds largest manufacturing countries. This sudden rise in job opportunities also sparked the beginning of gender equality. Women began to integrate into the work place to support their families when their husbands went to war. Later the rise in gender equality would make way for the civil rights movement. Leaders such as Martin Luther King fought for racial equality and civil rights. In addition to the rise in equality after WWII, there was a growing hatred towards communism as well as a reluctance to ignore the fight against communism. The Cold War showed the fight that every American had to be the best in the world as they competed with the USSR. The "American Dream" seemed to become attainable in the years following WWII thanks to the large amounts of manufacturing for the war effort and the morale boost of the defeat of Axis powers.
In the 20 years following World War II, the American Dream changed drastically. Since the birth of America, Americans always had the right to dream, even if they knew they did not have the capability to move up in society. Americans never “dreamed the same dream,... for the American dream included the right of the individual dreamers to design their own” (1). Before the war, Americans dreamed of being successful in their society, and usually marrying and having children. Although this is similar to an American dream after the war, Post War Americans’ dreams were more related to acquiring technology and spending. Americans would soon dream of living the middle class lifestyle, having more of a say in their government, and living in a peaceful society. During the Great Depression, Americans suffered because of the limited availability of jobs, and the difficulty of feeding their families. During this time, it was hard to imagine a better lifestyle ahead. After the Great Depression, the babies born during the “baby boom” from 1946-1964 would soon live one of the highest economic levels of life Americans had ever experienced. Post World War II, the United States government recognized the end of America’s isolationism (no country could have succeeded without the help of others during the war), and they must look to foreign markets for a successful economy. The economy changed from war to peace production, employing millions of homecoming troops, and eventually supporting the middle class who would truly live the “American Dream.” Most importantly, Americans learned they could accomplish almost anything, confront aggression earlier, and “deem themselves responsible for world order” (23).
ReplyDeleteThe next 20 years helped shape the American dream into having at least one person in the family work (usually the husband), owning a vehicle (first introduced by “Detroit’s Big Three”: General Motors, Chrysler, and Ford) , and profusely spending. These spending opportunities were expanded with the creation of companies such as McDonald’s, and the construction of interstate highways which allowed families to travel more efficiently. Houses were constructed quickly which attracted people who wanted to start a family as soon as possible. In addition, “General Electric lit the darkness and lightened the workloads of Americans at home, office and factory” (71). In future years, many Americans would lose confidence that they could fulfill their dreams due to other countries catching up to America in economic terms: “Americans in 2010 were collectively less confident than their grandparents in 1945 that reality would favor their dreams” (2). However, in the 20 years after World War II, Americans were confident and willing to trust their country’s economy by investing money and consuming goods. Without technological advancements and new companies, the “American Dream” would never have changed into an ideal that all Americans hoped to achieve or live one day.
In the twenty years following World War Two, the Americans’ perceptions of the American Dream evolved on a personal level and a collective level. Before World War Two, The Great Depression kept most people’s individual dreams modest. With unemployment and poverty levels at record highs, most Americans only dreamed of a stable life with a job, a house, and a family. The economy’s recovery during and after World War Two gave more people jobs, money, and the ability to improve their lives. This improvement allowed Americans to become more ambitious with their dreams. Rather than simply dreaming of stability and survival, people began dreaming of prosperity. Civil rights movements also allowed African Americans to dream more ambitiously. Promises of equality brought success and prosperity for African Americans into the realm of possibility. The recovery of the American economy and the civil rights movements promoting equal rights for African Americans caused Americans to dream bigger and allowed a wider range of Americans to realize the American Dream.
ReplyDeleteAmericans’ dreams for the country and the world also evolved significantly in the twenty years following World War Two. The U.S. came out of the war as an international superpower and Americans quickly realized that the old policy of isolation was no longer the best option. People began to dream of using America’s newfound wealth and power to not only improve the country but also to spread the American dream across the world. With the onset of the Cold War and, consequently, the Korean and Vietnam wars Americans began to dream of peace after such a long period of near constant war. On the home front, many Americans began to dream of greater equality in the country. Civil rights movements and cutbacks on segregation laws began to give African Americans more rights and allowed other segregated groups to dream of equality. The United States’ increasing influence over world affairs along with the growing promise of equality caused many Americans to dream of an equal, peaceful, and powerful country.
Over the twenty years following WWII, Americans’ perception of the American Dream evolved based on the intense pressure of international affairs and the continuous advancements in production and technology in their own country. The end of WWI led Americans to believe that it was “the war to end all wars and to make the world safe for democracy” (22), but by the end of WWII, Americans knew that this was not the case. They dealt with WWII in a more pragmatic fashion, finally realizing that although the war was over, “evil would continue to exist in the postwar world, and the forces of good needed to be prepared to confront it” (22), assigning themselves the role of a “good” force. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the idea of isolationism that was previously displayed no longer seemed ideal and America would have to involve themselves in world affairs if they expected to keep themselves and the world safe and in control. This idea of necessary participation in world affairs can be seen in the degree to which America struggled to prevent thoughts of communism in other countries, like Russia and Vietnam, from becoming a reality. Although the strong feelings of patriotism and nationalism following WWI were adapted from a more naive sense of the terms, it is clear that these dreams of success and prosperity among other nations were built around the feelings that America was indeed superior to other countries, seen in the Cold War through the race against Russia to succeed them in science and technology.
ReplyDeleteAfter WWII, the economic success America experienced impacted citizens socially. With the increase in income and production of affordable goods, a middle class was able to grow, producing larger families in what is known as the “baby boom”. The rise of the middle class inspired a breakthrough in new ideas for consumerism like the residential construction projects of William Levitt, along with revolutionary cultural achievements like the films of Walt Disney and music from Elvis Presley. As this feeling of “social egalitarianism” (79) existed, growing thoughts of both racial and gender equality were inspired. In the twenty years following the second world war, a drastic change occurred in the way Americans viewed themselves and the outside world to create a dream of global order and success for their own future.
In the wake of WWII, Americans celebrated victory and witnessed fascism collapse but with victory in WWI having been met with a happy optimism of the eternal banishment of evil and of permanent democracy and peace, Americans coming out of the second round knew not to dream so foolishly. Instead of trying to create a world in which war was outdated as Wilson preached post-WWI, Roosevelt believed that, “evil would continue to exist in the postwar world, and the forces of good needed to be prepared to confront it” (22). As it happened, the next major establishment of authoritarianism was the Soviet Union and while it was considered an ally during WWII, postwar views on the Soviets turned quickly.
ReplyDeleteHaving heard their calling to be the world police, America jumped into action against the Soviets, not allowing appeasement a second chance after the havoc it wreaked just a few years before. America’s unwavering anti-appeasement standpoint led their country into the Cold War and subsequently dragged the whole world into a vicious yet strangely peaceful battle of democracy against communism. As much as another world-engulfing war seemed to be the wrong thing to jump into right after WWII, it turned out that the Cold War would shape American policy, economy, and even ideology. The Cold War gave Americans something to fight for and something to believe in for the coming years and it shaped and unified American dreams throughout its course.
“Americans have been dreaming since our national birth” (1). Ever since the beginning of America, individuals developed their dreams they “...didn’t all dream the same dream…” (1) as Mariah has stated, and the dreams certainly didn’t stay the same. During WWII everyone’s dreams were enticed around the war effort to triumph the adversary. All hands were devoted towards anyone and anything that needed assistance in the war. As WWII came to an end however, “...the dreams began to waver and lose focus almost at once. The unity of the war years diminished…” (1). In the years succeeding WWII is when the evolution of the American Dream clearly takes hold. The American Dream shifts from concentrating on unity, victory, and international affairs, to focusing on national competition, oneself, and one’s assets. With new corporations, competition establishes itself within the nation, as people begin to focus on bettering themselves or their own companies. Enterprises soared, for “The 1950s were the heyday of the modern corporation” (71), and success captured the minds of every individual.
ReplyDeleteThe American Dream of personal and work-related success wasn’t the only new evolution of the time, but also the aspiration to indulge in the new cultural developments. As a free American, citizens wanted to enjoy themselves in the food and entertainment departments. As a result, “Americans ate more meals in restaurants than ever…” (72). Not only with food did Americans hope to pamper themselves, but also with movies, music, and sports. The dreams of freedom to pursue oneself and their potential, led to the dreams of liberty and equality for others. In the 1960s the blacks and the women of the time had big ambitions. They strived for equality for themselves, a day where they would earn equal pay, and have the same voting rights as whites or males. As Martin Luther King praised, “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal’” (113). The dream for civil rights and complete elimination of discrimination matured. The twenty years after WWII greatly altered the previous American Dream of conquest over Germany and other opponents in the war. The American Dream grew and emerged with an entirely new impression, fixated on the conceivable prosperity within the nation.
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ReplyDeleteAs the World War II came to a definite end, the world, led by the least damaged United States, turned this page of the history book and plunged forward, trying to clean the mess that was left from the war. The victory over the fascist regime meant quite different things to America as a nation and to the people who made up its population. To some the American Dream stood for their personal success and glory; to some it was the achievements of the country and the democracy as a whole. This struggle between what the Americans wanted for themselves or for each other was the catalyst for a search for a new interpretation of the American Dream.
ReplyDeleteThe interpretation came from, as many people thought, an unlikely source. It's not a secret that the American Dream was more or less economy-based; for it to be something concerning society and the treatment of different people was a shock to the older generation who were used to the traditional system. As the presidents spoke for the containment of Communism and the expansion of democracy and human rights, the African Americans followed Martin Luther King, Jr, in the nonviolent actions against racism, segregation, and discrimination. They met a rather violent reaction, but the movement continued for longer than the opposition expected it to go. King's "I Have a Dream" speech became the point of hope and passion for change, but it wasn't the end of it. His "dream" integrated itself into the traditional definition of the American Dream, and from then on to dream was to hope for a change for the better. Fifteen years later, Andrew Young, the American ambassador to the United Nations and a former assistant to Martin Luther King, summarized the point in his speech to the General Assembly about the foreign policies: "We need not fear change if we build into it more equity and more participation. Indeed, of social change is the thing we need to fear the most. If we are afraid of it and try to preserve that which is eroding beneath our feet, we will fail." (Brands, p. 201) Other civil rights movements by various groups challenged the idea that the preservation of the old tradition is the better choice for all, and they will continue fighting until there is no dreams left to fight for.
The perception of the “American Dream” evolved after World War II as people adapted to the aftermath of war and modernized in the process. H.W. Brands describes how the modernization developed in his novel American Dreams. He explains how immediately following World War II, the United States appeared to be the only great power that gained more strength than it lost. This strength helped Americans learn that the United States “could accomplish almost anything” (22), which offered people invincibility, and Americans became “aware of their own power” (23), which presented the feeling of responsibility. With the mood of an entire country centered on feeling invincible and responsible, the determined individual American had the ability and energy to modernize. This occurred as “the economy shifted from war production to peace production without losing appreciable momentum” (70). The shift to peace production was successful ultimately due to the Baby Boom, a time that began at the conclusion of World War II when “the national birth rate jumped and stayed high for nearly two decades” (69). With more children, economic activity in the United States naturally improved in areas such as manufacturing and entertainment, and as a result, the “American Dream” adapted. Americans began revolving their lives around family and comfort. They developed suburbs where they could focus on domesticity and naturally, a middle class emerged. With less of a distinction between rich and poor, Americans found themselves “more equal than they had been in their recent history” (80), and therefore, a focus developed for egalitarianism. Around this time, racial segregation came to the attention of some Americans. Politicians like Lyndon Johnson took action to end segregation by fighting for rights such as the Voting Rights Act. Ultimately, natural modernization of the United States after World War II altered the perception of the “American Dream” as Americans’ culture advanced.
ReplyDeleteThe perception of the American dream evolved from the beginning of people colonizing in America. The goal to achieve the American dream was to create a world that would succeed for many generations. Along with a world bound for great leaders and inventions that could improve daily life. Later in history the dream evolved to not only create a country that would succeed for generations to come, but give all people living in the country a happy lifestyle. This became the evolution of the American dream in the twenty years following World War II. The idealistic American dream was no longer focused on an individual society, but rather world peace and cooperation. Americans dreamed of religious, race, and gender equality. Martin Luther King was a strong advocate for equality among Americans and his American dream led to a huge change for the future of American society. He inspired others not only around him, but around those in the world. Creating a path for world peace along the lines of equality. After WWII, America had come out as one of the top leading countries in the world, giving Americans a hope that they too could be successful in their own lives. This created the dream to provide for their children, those born in the time of the Baby Boomers. Men and women alike were going out into the work force trying to provide a good home and life for the next generation of Americans. With such a large increase in the population, it created a huge increase in a desire for products. Creating a great consumer need and a stronger economy from new businesses and jobs created. This goes back to the previous American dream of creating a world that would succeed for many generations. By raising the Baby Boomers in a well developed country with many resources, it would provide them with knowledge to protect America in the future.
ReplyDeleteOnce the United States came out a prosperous and powerful country from WWII, the American Dream adjusted to their newfound success. Prior to WWII, the people of the United States still dreamt, though their dreams felt restrained by the adversity they all faced in the Great Depression. For the first time in a long time, Americans had the chance to indulge in the new technologies made available by the war and to take advantage of benefits from serving in the war, such as the G.I. Bill, which provided aid and gains to veterans. The American Dream adjusted to this new middle-class lifestyle, with the picture of the dream being at least one employed adult in a nuclear family that lived in the suburbs in a white-picket-fence house filled with all the latest products that helped improve life at home. For the first time, parents could fill their plates and not let their children leave the dinner table until their plates were empty—a habit still carried on today in modern-day families. The flourishing of the middle-class directly resulted in a baby boom that lasted until the 1960s, which brought up an entire generation on the new post-WWII American Dream of big spending on new products and wanting to create the perfect, middle-class family that felt so unattainable for Americans for so many years prior.
ReplyDeleteAlong with this newfound consumerism came movements toward a nation more egalitarian than ever before. After women had successfully taken control of nearly all of the jobs formerly run by men during WWII, they appeared to prove themselves as more capable than previously regarded and gained a new respect that they deserved. As gender equality gained maturity and seriousness, as did the civil rights movement. Discrimination and racism existed, but it lost popularity, along with the arrival of civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. who made a big difference in the egalitarian society dreamt of by some Americans—“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal’” (113).
The final change to the American Dream and the way America regarded the rest of the world was its change in foreign policy. Separating from isolationism and living in their glory from the results of WWII, America used its new strength in promoting its own policies against other countries’ opposing policies. In Russia, Korea, and Vietnam, America pushed capitalism down on the communist regimes and Americans feared communism with paranoia and irrationality, believing secret communists hid in every corner of the White House. These feelings born in the government rippled through the rest of the nation and planted the seeds of a fear of communism throughout the entire country.
After WWII the United States had learned that it “could accomplish almost anything it set its mind to, within the limits of human nature” (22). Prior to the war, many Americans faced disparity due to The Great Depression. A large gap separated the upper and lower classes. However, during the war this gap was drastically diminished when wartime taxes lowered the rich’s income and industries boosted the wage worker’s incomes. This created a sense of equality among American’s for their wages were much more equal than they had been in the past. This egalitarianism paved the way for a strong and united America. Women began to see more respect from men, and a strong middle class began to emerge. Now many middle class families owned their own houses, hired domestic help, took vacations, and had a car. The growing middle class led to a high demand for new consumer goods, like books, magazines, movies, and television shows. With thousands of millions of readers, and popular fashions and music spreading from coast to coast, the creation of a distinctive singular culture was on the rise. A society was growing in which everyone was more alike. Sparked by the end of WWII, the American Dream for unity and nationality was on the rise.
ReplyDeleteIt is true, in the wake of WWII the gap between the rich and the poor diminished that led to a social egalitarianism. However, this did not just occur between classes; by forming an upper middle class and a lower middle class this sense of egalitarianism also spread. Despite the difference between blue and white-collar jobs, Americans found a way to refer to each other as equals. “Most Americans came to consider themselves middle class” (79) and as a result there was less resentment towards the wealthy. Another reason this resentment lessened was as you said before, middle class families began to partake in upper class activities. Going on a vacation, having a luxury experience on an airplane, or replacing a car contributed to this sense of egalitarianism within a class and between classes because everyone had the ability to do this. WWII sparked two decades of dreams of egalitarianism where nobody resented the rich but emulated them because they now had the ability to. This dream led to a growing social contentment for where they stood in the class system, and led to a system of strong workers as the backbone to America.
DeleteIt is true, in the wake of WWII the gap between the rich and the poor diminished that led to a social egalitarianism. However, this did not just occur between classes; by forming an upper middle class and a lower middle class this sense of egalitarianism also spread. Despite the difference between blue and white-collar jobs, Americans found a way to refer to each other as equals. “Most Americans came to consider themselves middle class” (79) and as a result there was less resentment towards the wealthy. Another reason this resentment lessened was as you said before, middle class families began to partake in upper class activities. Going on a vacation, having a luxury experience on an airplane, or replacing a car contributed to this sense of egalitarianism within a class and between classes because everyone had the ability to do this. WWII sparked two decades of dreams of egalitarianism where nobody resented the rich but emulated them because they now had the ability to. This dream led to a growing social contentment for where they stood in the class system, and led to a system of strong workers as the backbone to America.
DeleteUpon the victorious conclusion of World War II, Americans adopted a mentality that provoked dreaming beyond the bounds of serving for the benefit of the nation as a unit. As American citizens were alleviated of the responsibility to provide for a nation at war, the prospective young men and women of the country could now work towards achieving their own dreams, instead of the collective dream of Americans to win the war against the Axis powers. This newfound freedom of thought, as well as the competitive spirit of the Cold War, enabled the creation of advanced technology, which in turn granted Americans the ability to lead luxurious lives for themselves and their families. Such advancements included the construction of highways, as well as the rapid development of suburbs throughout the nation, which was commenced by the creation of Levittown. As availability to such luxuries increased, the population of young and eager American families soared. The psyche of the Baby Boomers, as compared to their predecessors, perfectly depicts the evolution of the American Dream from being modest to being extraordinarily ambitious. Brands states that this generation "grew up with a sense of entitlement, a feeling that the world existed for their benefit"(70). While selfish, the Boomers encapsulated the modern American Dream, which promoted individual prosperity.
ReplyDeleteThe surge in domesticity marked Levittown as being the focal point of the dreamers. Young citizens yearned to have a family, buy a house, and to ultimately live just like their neighbors. People who did not lead this lifestyle "strove to emulate"(79) those who did. Despite the "blandness"(81) of the middle class, many outsiders yearned to be "The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit"(81), as perceived by Sloan Wilson.
During the twenty years following the war, Americans planted the seeds for the integration of minorities. Incompletely and imperfectly, the population began to counter the task at hand: to put other races on the same playing field as the caucasians. For these minorities, the dream was, as Martin Luther King Jr. put, "to see right exist"(88). Although the collective American Dream did not include achieving a bright future for African Americans, the minority was more able than it had ever been to dream the same dream as its white counterparts.
ReplyDeleteIn the twenty years following WWII, America’s perception of the “American Dream” evolved significantly. Unemployment and poverty during the Great Depression caused many Americans to feel their life would always be a struggle. This made their dream of having a job, housing, and food to support their family difficult to achieve. “The Great Depression had seriously challenged the received version of the American Dream: that men (mostly) and women who worked hard and saved for rainy days could expect a measure of material comfort and security in their golden years without resort to the government” (16). During the depression, “massive layoffs and ubiquitous bank failures demonstrated how painfully exposed Americans could be to the caprice of capitalism” (16). Following the stock market crash, America’s banks failed, causing anyone who entrusted the bank with their savings to lose their money. The Great Depression forced Americans to lose faith in the success of their nation and their leaders due to their ongoing hardships to survive.
Following America’s success in WWII, Americans began setting higher goals for themselves and dreamed of ways to make their life and nation better. As the economy improved, more jobs with higher incomes became available, allowing a growing middle class and the “Baby Boom” to take place. The Baby Boomers “grew up with a sense of entitlement, a feeling that the world existed for their benefit, that was more pronounced than the comparable sentiments of any generation before them” (70). As a whole, the generation post WWII had the ability to focus on issues such as equality instead of the struggles of survival during the war. During WWII, women were offered opportunities outside their home including working jobs men typically held. “Well-educated women chronically yearned for more than their domestic lives afforded them” (176). As a result of their dream for gender equality, women would often leave their homes and stay on the streets until “they achieved equal pay, equal respect, and equal rights” (177). Like the women of American, people of different color and race struggled for equality. Martin Luther King Jr. led millions striving for racial equality. During King’s “I Have a Dream” speech he explains: “We allow freedom to ring… when all God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing… ‘Free at last!’” (114). Through his passionate speech, King moved millions to seek the dream of racial equality. Even today as a nation, we strive to obtain the American Dream of gender and racial equality.
The “American Dream” prior to WWII was more solipsistic, in that Americans did not view themselves in context of a larger world and their dreams only extended as far as their country. After WWII, “Americans deemed themselves responsible for world order—not completely, but to a degree inconceivable less than a half-decade earlier” (Brands 23). A dream of heroism, of nationally banding together to protect the rest of the world, became a part of the American dream. Prior to the war, America wanted to protect its own people and had an isolationist stance toward the rest of the planet, but after the war, the American Dream expanded to include international horizons as Americans realized that cooperating and competing with the rest of the world was essential to the nation’s prosperity.
ReplyDeleteDuring World War II, the American lifestyle and economy were geared towards the war effort. The rations, war-time industries and the resulting jobs, and surge in patriotism left little time and money for Americans to realistically dream of a better life. With the surrender of Japan in September 1945, everything changed. War-time industries like weapons or tank manufacturing became manufacturers of market goods. This spread of industry led to more jobs, creating higher wages for more people across the country, who could then spend that money on the goods. This allowed for a great expansion and development of the American Dream. While before the war people dreamed of prosperity, after the war people wanted more. They dreamed of getting married, settling down, and having a big family. This dream was easier to accomplish as the age of large-scale manufacturing made its way into society. Middle-class houses were made more affordable with the introduction of Levittown-modeled neighborhoods. The government funded the expansion of highways so people could commute to work more easily. With so many people living the “dream” Americans started dreaming of more. In the 1960s, the Civil Rights movement kicked into high-gear, with Martin Luther King leading the battle. King introduced a new dream; one not just for the white man. With Blacks (technically) able to live the “American Dream” too, the dream began to change. The American Dream was no longer the same for everyone, but the dream became the idea that one could work to have and do whatever they wanted. The American Dream became a symbol for prosperity, happiness, and freedom.
ReplyDeleteLook no further than the cover of H. W. Brands' book for the stereotypical "American Dream": a young, healthy, All-American (meaning white) boy, waving an American flag; an image taken right out of a 1950s advertisement. This symbol of American idealism was born out the success of World War II, and the incredible economic boom that followed it. The baby boomers of this period experienced firsthand the classic American dream that had cultivated so long in the minds of the American people through decades of instability. And this dream, once realized, was crushed.
ReplyDeleteAs the baby boomers grew up and entered their teenage years, they began questioning the system they had grown up in, as adolescents do. And the sought-after image of freedom and prosperity didn't hold up to scrutiny. Instead, it revealed years of oppression, of misogyny and systematic racism. This is how the seemingly picturesque 50's gave way to the experimental 60's, how leaders like Betty Friedan and Martin Luther King were able to gain notoriety and influence. How the American dream, like most dreams, proved to be ephemeral and limiting - and so the "dream" was broadened and the people's expectations increased.
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ReplyDeleteIn the twenty years following World War II, the perception of the “American Dream” changed significantly. After World War II, the United States stood alone as the world super-power. The war crippled Europe, while other places like Asia and Africa were suddenly free to choose their own path. Although the totalitarian society of the Soviet Union was still considered a super power, the democratic and industrial nation of the United States appeared to be on the top of the heap. The post war created an economic explosion evolving from major war time developments and productions to mass producing consumer goods. This enabled Americans to dream of a better life while the rest of the world took notice of our increased prosperity. Americans perception of themselves also changed dramatically. The advent of women in the workforce, and the massive increase of consumer goods caused the ever growing advertising industry to promote these products, leading to a more materialistic society. This resulted in more competition among companies and more brand awareness, causing Americans to be more consumer driven than ever before. This new focus on materialism created an economy run on credit. Prior to World War II, families went to banks to borrow money in order to buy their homes. Post war Americans became much more consumer oriented, using credit cards to purchase goods and services. The post war gave rise to big business and a return to prosperity, similar to the roaring twenties. Americas vision for the future was for a better life at home and for future generations. The “American Dream” was alive and well in this country after World War II which allowed us to escape the depression crisis. Moreover, the post war enabled Americans to dream on a grander scale which forever changed the course of this nation.
ReplyDeleteThroughout history, the Americans perception of the “American dream” has evolved countless times. During WWII all efforts and materials were geared towards the war. Therefore leaving little to no time to dream for oneself. During the Great Depression most of peoples dreams were shut down due to the fact they were downright unrealistic. Most of what people dreamed of was simply national stability and a steady job. As the war came to an end and Japan surrendered in 1945 things began to change. The United States had come out of the war on top, as a world super power. The economy boomed, there were a surplus of jobs and people finally had the time and resources to live out their lives the way they dreamed of; “Never were America’s dreams more potent and beguiling than at the end of World War II” (1). The economy gave people hope; the immense circulation of money gave people the opportunity to dream of prosperity. Middle class people began to buy houses and visualize having families. Optimism was the driving force in people’s choices. They saw a bright future of permanent democracy and peace. Women began to be noticed in the work force and fought for their individual rights. Martin Luther King Jr. was fighting so that “blacks” could be able to live the American dream as well. Americans hopes and dreams were at an all-time high. The success of America in WWII allowed Americans to dream on a larger scale that they never imagined possible.
ReplyDeleteThe American Dream evolved from sacrificing everything for peace during WWII, to sacrificing peace for liberty in the years that followed. When WWII ended in Germany, it continued on against Japan in the Pacific. It was predicted that the “invasion of Japan...would require many months and claim many thousands of...lives before the Japanese emperor and his generals surrendered” (Brands 8). The creation of the atomic bomb offered America a way to end the war quickly, but at a great cost. Ultimately, America decided peace needed to be reached sooner than predicted, and dropped the atomic bombs on Japan to end the war. America sacrificed thousands of lives for the cost of peace.
ReplyDeleteAs the Cold War struck fear into many Americans hearts, the fear of losing their freedom as a nation became a bigger priority to most Americans than keeping world peace. America involved itself in two wars, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, as well as backing countless foreign governments in order to defend the world against the evils of Communism. To one of America’s communist-fighting intelligence agencies “at one time or another almost every important antiwar leader was considered a legitimate target for investigation and harassment” (Brands 190). America had done a complete turnaround to the point where someone who opposed war would be investigated as a communist and a threat to the country’s safety and freedom.
The end of World War II signified a time of both social and economic prosperity. American morale was very high, due to the economic rebound and America’s new position as a leading World power. The end of the second world war confirmed America as an undisputed world leader, as it “emerged from the war stronger than it entered” (10). The shift from wartime production to consumer goods had the American economy thriving and left Americans with a sense of prosperity. Victory in World War II changed Americans’ mindset, making them believe they “could accomplish almost anything [they] set [their] mind to” (22). Americans had more money and now that the war was over, “they were more than eager to get together and start those families” (69). The “Baby Boom” dramatically changed the life of all Americans. Parents were focused, more than ever, in creating a stable environment for their children to grow up in. The Great Depression was still fresh and people’s minds, and parents “wanted their children to have what they had been compelled to do without” (70). This mindset drastically increased both housing and consumerism because of more abundant resources, needs and wants of new families. The American middle class surged and as “the disparity between the wealthy and the rest of America diminished drastically” (79), people became more aware of social inequalities.
ReplyDeleteAs many American lives were improving, the focus on equality emerged as a political force. During the war, many women took over jobs men previously held. For some women, their new jobs “signaled an advance towards gender equality” (13). When the war ended, many women stayed at their new jobs, despite the precedent of women staying at home. Women’s rights groups, like NOW, began influencing politicians and “rekindled interest in an equal rights amendment for women” (177), starting the path towards gender equality. Racial equality started gaining more momentum following the war. During WWII, “some million black men and women moved out of the south” (14), to take jobs in the north, and they stayed there after the war. “The Jim Crow system of racial segression” (84) was still enforced in the south, restricting the freedom of African Americans and limiting the education of their children. Public disputes and protesting began as people gained more courage to fight against social inequality. New public figures, like Martin Luther King Jr., influenced the public to take bigger steps towards equality for everyone in America. Progression to equality moved slowly, but it became a bigger part of people’s lives. The prosperity occurring directly after the war caused people to realize the inequality minorities faced and focus on achieving equality for everyone.
The end of WWII ushered in a new era for the United States, and with that came a new perception of the "American Dream". Before the war, the US was more focused on national issues, exercising appeasement. After Pearl Harbor, the US had no other option than to enter WWII, which they dominated and eventually won the war. Because of the impact that the US had on the war, along with the destruction of Europe as a whole, the United States emerged as a global superpower. This title changed the culture of the country. Worldwide, it was known that "the United States could accomplish almost anything it set its mind to, within the limits of human nature" (22).
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ReplyDeleteTo add on to Courtney's argument, the boom in economic success and economic equality brought about the most defining attribute to the American way of life: the middle class. The post-war era brought rapid change and the American middle class grew profoundly. As the new largest economic class in the country, Americans all enjoyed equal opportunities as one another, while still competing for top-quality brands of their favorite luxury goods. For example, while "Men tipped their hats to women... regardless of the disparity in wealth", "Chevy owners could aspire to move up the ladder: to Pontiacs, Oldsmobiles, Buicks, and finally to Cadillacs." (81). This example represents the new American Dream, where American citizens could celebrate equal opportunity and new standards of living while still aspiring to achieve more and more economically.
DeleteIn the twenty years following World War II, Americans became more confident in their government and in their individual lives and careers. In July, 1945 the atomic bomb was tested “and the knowledge that it had exceeded expectations added to [Truman’s] impression of American power” (7). Along with these increases in strength, the pressure of the Cold War led to Americans feeling a strong sense of pride in and loyalty to their government. Despite the horrors of the war, it had taught Americans “that the United States could accomplish almost anything it set its mind to, within the limits of human nature” (22). This overarching sense of power and entitlement affected the way that individual Americans lived their lives. One large group affected by the war was women, for whom “new opportunities signaled an important advance toward gender equality” (13). The war created many jobs that men serving in the army overseas could not fill, so women finally had the opportunity to get their collective foot in the door of industrial work. Aside from the jobs in manufacturing that had existed since the turn of the century, “a growing segment of the workforce provided services” (72) such as food delivery, advertising, and teaching the Baby Boomers. These changes to the work force and the available jobs significantly expanded the parameters of what Americans could realistically dream in the twenty years following World War II.
ReplyDeleteThe American dream has always molded to the times it's dreamers are in. Prior to WWII during the great depression the primary goal of Americans was to support themselves and survive. With unemployment skyrocketing and the constant fear of where their next meal would come from the average American didn't have too much to dream about. The U.S government wasnt very successful in supporting its people either, as Sam said the government was so preoccupied with avoiding war that its practices of Isolation created one at home. The only solution was to engage in the fight. This allowed America to become “a force of good” protecting themselves and the rest of the world during the postwar. By being an active participant in World affairs after the bombing of Pearl Harbor America's economy started to grow again. Due to the taxes placed during the war the gap between the rich and poor had significantly shrunk. With the economy rapidly recovering jobs became readily available and the Americans had developed a new dream. The majority of the population being in the middle class created a sense of equality and many people found themselves socially the same. With the rapid creation of new affordable products Americans were rushing to spend money that they could afford too. Due to cheap prices and a steady economy families also started to rapidly grow. During the “baby boom” the sizes of the American families increased and the middle class only continued to grow. All this growth created plenty of consumerism that the average American could enjoy. Places like Walt Disney World and Mcdonald's are only so successful because of the times that they were created and the needs of the average American to attend them. With all the speculation of the American peoples to see what would come next for them to enjoy a sense of “social egalitarianism” was brought to light and the idea that all people regardless of race or gender were the same. The idea of equality was brought up quickly but is still one of the biggest dreams to achieve today.
ReplyDeleteThe American dream has always molded to the times it's dreamers are in. Prior to WWII during the great depression the primary goal of Americans was to support themselves and survive. With unemployment skyrocketing and the constant fear of where their next meal would come from the average American didn't have too much to dream about. The U.S government wasnt very successful in supporting its people either, as Sam said the government was so preoccupied with avoiding war that its practices of Isolation created one at home. The only solution was to engage in the fight. This allowed America to become “a force of good” protecting themselves and the rest of the world during the postwar. By being an active participant in World affairs after the bombing of Pearl Harbor America's economy started to grow again. Due to the taxes placed during the war the gap between the rich and poor had significantly shrunk. With the economy rapidly recovering jobs became readily available and the Americans had developed a new dream. The majority of the population being in the middle class created a sense of equality and many people found themselves socially the same. With the rapid creation of new affordable products Americans were rushing to spend money that they could afford too. Due to cheap prices and a steady economy families also started to rapidly grow. During the “baby boom” the sizes of the American families increased and the middle class only continued to grow. All this growth created plenty of consumerism that the average American could enjoy. Places like Walt Disney World and Mcdonald's are only so successful because of the times that they were created and the needs of the average American to attend them. With all the speculation of the American peoples to see what would come next for them to enjoy a sense of “social egalitarianism” was brought to light and the idea that all people regardless of race or gender were the same. The idea of equality was brought up quickly but is still one of the biggest dreams to achieve today.
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ReplyDeleteThe quintessential “American dream” is an ever-changing idea of success depending on the circumstances of the current society. American’s dreams “modified themselves to suit the circumstances of the individuals who did the dreaming…” (384). The meaning of the “American Dream” changed drastically in the twenty years following WWII. Before the war, as explained in H.W. Brands American Dreams, Americans were suffering from the Great Depression. During the Great Depression the “American dream” meant holding on to a job and surviving. Americans had no other choice but to join WWII after Pearl Harbor; during this time Americans put all their resources and energy into the war. In the end all that work paid off because The United States came out of the war victorious and the most powerful country in the world. As a result of this win Americans grew more confident and in turn recovered from the Great Depression. The recovery from such a dark time led to an increased meaning of the success that filled the “American dream”. With the war job opportunities increased and as a result the unemployment rate lowered and women began to integrate into the job circuit. The end of the war also brought a growing middle class and the baby boom. Americans began to make progress in every which way and to most the “American dream” began to seem attainable. In the twenty wears following WWII America recovered from what was the worst of times and the quintessential “American dream” returned to its true meaning of prosperity, power, and equality.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Bridget’s conclusion, I too believe that the needs and desires of Americans depend on the current circumstances and status of society. The end of WWII signaled a new understanding and embracing of the “American Dream.” These dreams have encouraged and propelled the citizens of America to move “consistently forward, enticing us toward the horizon of the future” (ix). With so many innovative and enticing advancements in society, Americans strive for bigger and better things, never ceasing the opportunity to improve. With all of this drive and determination, the American Dream is constantly evolving in tune to the progression and advancements being made, “We didn’t all dream the same dream, or at the same time, for the American dream included the right of the individual dreamers to design their own” (ix). Before the war began, the main focus of Americans was to find a steady employment so that there was enough of an income to support a family. As we entered into the war, and put all of our combined strength into the war effort, we came out victorious and a better, more successful nation. Not only did the unemployment rate lower and jobs become more readily available, but women had the ability to enter the workforce, something that seemed improbable before the war. Additionally, freedom movements for people of different races and gender became prevalent, making the American dream not only a symbol of ambition for monetary success, but also a symbol of equality. These past events have greatly shaped the perception of the American dream, for as time continues, the aspirations of Americans develop. Reflecting on the morphing interpretations of, and living of, the American dream gives one boundless hope for future changes and successes. Hope lives on that dreams will come true, with hard work and dogged determination - no matter the circumstances. The aftermath of surviving the horrors of WWII provided new determination to embrace all of the bounty that the newly re-energized country as a whole was experiencing. New avenues to follow the path to living the American Dream were beginning to be open to each and every citizen. The future looked bright, shiny, and prosperous to continue dreaming the dream. Philbrook illustrates this by stating, “Americans had dreamed since our national birth, and in the twenty-first century we were dreaming still” (385).
DeleteFollowing WWII, Americans’ perception of the “American Dream” evolved dramatically in society as well as in international relations. After suffering the consequences of isolationism, Roosevelt decided it was in the country’s best interest to begin a policy of internationalism. Convinced that “...internationalism held the key to American economic recovery,” (16) the American dream shifted to expand the county’s relations on a global scale. No longer did Americans believe the U.S. should keep to itself, but rather develop dependable relationships and trade agreements; such as the GATT (General Agreements on Tariffs and Trade). The Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan encouraged American foreign policy through the years following the war. Additionally, many Americans realized the policy of appeasement failed to prove effective. When facing the country’s new enemy, the Soviet Union, Truman opted to take a more aggressive approach for more efficient results. Instead of negotiating with the Soviet Union to cancel their blockade in Germany, the U.S. directly sent airlifts of supplies to take action which successfully resulted in the Soviet Union revoking the blockade. Losing the policy of appeasement, the American Dream took a more powerful perspective of control, as many citizens saw the country’s aggression as a symbol of American strength.
ReplyDeleteTwenty years after WWII, equality rose as a strong principle in the American dream. As the middle class took shape in the decades after WWII, a mass desire for equality in gender, race, and the workforce grew. The American Dream evolved to fit Americans’ aspiration for equal opportunity for all, and expanded on the county’s global relations and involvement.
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ReplyDeleteAmericans’ perception of the American dream changed drastically following WWII. The United States emerged from the war as the strongest and wealthiest nation in the world, while the other nations were struggling to revive their economies and rebuild destroyed cities. The prosperous American society and economy surpassed the other nations coming out of the war by far, making the United States look like a stellar ambition. Coming from a dark place prior to WWII, the European nations were able to use America’s surfacing success as an inspiration for future unity and prosperity. During the Great Depression, the dream of many Americans was to live a healthy life and stay alive for as long as they could. Many Americans needed a perception better than the conditions they were living in to raise their confidence in gaining employment back and even more importantly, survival. Simply put, an imagination of a better life allowed Americans to be hopeful of flourishing times instead of giving up on themselves completely. In the twenty years following WWII, when America’s economy began to thrive, the ideal American Dream shifted from issues of unemployment and survival, to equality, civil rights and peace. In the civil rights movement, Martin Luther King Jr became a famous spokesperson against inequality and racism that affected numerous people for his powerful yet aspiring speeches. This is just one of the many examples of American citizens living the American Dream of a free nation in a state of mind to improve society for the better.
ReplyDeleteThe advancement of the American Dream in the twenty years following WWII was two fold. The Dream advanced politically, as US citizens wished to use their country's newfound power to support growing nations around the world. Following the Allied victory in the war and the detonation of the two atomic bombs on Japan, the US gained unprecedented military and political power. Pre-war, the US policy of isolationism had always been carried out relatively successfully by most presidents, besides Woodrow Wilsons and his decision to get the U.S. involved in World War One. However, after the war, President Harry Truman decided with the Truman doctrine that it was the obligation of the United States to use its power to protect the free peoples of the world. This doctrine was mainly to protect third world nations from communist takeover by the Soviet Union, and this new policy was demonstrated in events like the Korean War and the Vietnam War, in an effort to protect developing nations from the advancement of Communism. This policy continues to be carried out today, as shown by U.S. involvement in Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
ReplyDeleteThe American Dream also advanced socially. Youth subcultures started to appear in major cities around the country, and their lifestyle revealed something about post-war American culture: since most US citizens were able to live comfortably, social issues came to the forefront, rather than economic issues. The hippies showed the world that they were trying to search for deeper meaning in life, and the old American Dream of working hard enough to ensure some form of financial security was replaced by one that promoted expressing ones self and exploring ones personal freedom to find meaning and purpose in life.Similar things can be said about people like Martin Luther King Jr. and the black rights movement that he spearheaded, as issues like equality and personal freedom were high up on his agenda. In conclusion, the American Dream that once emphasized domestic progress and working long and hard to ensure financial security was replaced by one that promoted the protection of developing nations around the world, equality betweens people, self expression, and the exploration of ones personal freedom in the twenty years following WWII.
The advancement of the American Dream in the twenty years following WWII was two fold. The Dream advanced politically, as US citizens wished to use their country's newfound power to support growing nations around the world. Following the Allied victory in the war and the detonation of the two atomic bombs on Japan, the US gained unprecedented military and political power. Pre-war, the US policy of isolationism had always been carried out relatively successfully by most presidents, besides Woodrow Wilsons and his decision to get the U.S. involved in World War One. However, after the war, President Harry Truman decided with the Truman doctrine that it was the obligation of the United States to use its power to protect the free peoples of the world. This doctrine was mainly to protect third world nations from communist takeover by the Soviet Union, and this new policy was demonstrated in events like the Korean War and the Vietnam War, in an effort to protect developing nations from the advancement of Communism. This policy continues to be carried out today, as shown by U.S. involvement in Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
ReplyDeleteThe American Dream also advanced socially. Youth subcultures started to appear in major cities around the country, and their lifestyle revealed something about post-war American culture: since most US citizens were able to live comfortably, social issues came to the forefront, rather than economic issues. The hippies showed the world that they were trying to search for deeper meaning in life, and the old American Dream of working hard enough to ensure some form of financial security was replaced by one that promoted expressing ones self and exploring ones personal freedom to find meaning and purpose in life.Similar things can be said about people like Martin Luther King Jr. and the black rights movement that he spearheaded, as issues like equality and personal freedom were high up on his agenda. In conclusion, the American Dream that once emphasized domestic progress and working long and hard to ensure financial security was replaced by one that promoted the protection of developing nations around the world, equality betweens people, self expression, and the exploration of ones personal freedom in the twenty years following WWII.
The American dream changed after WWII. People were no longer looking to Washington for answers as they did during the Great Depression and the Second World War. Once these “emergencies passed” (214) they looked back to private sectors. Americans began to focus on equality, no longer having to worry if they could buy dinner for their family. Their dreams involved striving to have equal rights for blacks, gays and all people. Martin Luther King shared his dreams with the American people hoping that his four children “will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character” (114). AIDS research was soon supplied with more money in order to find a cure because the American people now dreamed that gay people should also be supported and celebrated. Americans realized they could no longer avoid world affairs and issues when they were attacked December 7, 1941 by the Japanese. The Americans now believed they needed to fight for democracy to spread throughout the world instead of communism. They became involved in many other conflicts to inhibit the growth of communism in the world including the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Americans now dreamed about fighting against horrible acts of terrorism in their country and exemplifying their immense pride in their country to the world. The citizens of the United States no longer were in isolation from the rest of the world, they evolved, accepted equality of race, and contributed to the spread of democracy and a hope to end terrorism throughout the world.
ReplyDeletePrior to the United State's involvement in World War II, our country wanted to remain a neutralized nation. Coming out of the war we, “deemed [ourselves] responsible for world order” (23), and we, “dreamed we would save our souls and the world” (1). One large difference in the perception of the American dream after World War II is its export -- we were going to export the American dream to everyone worldwide. But the American dream was also changing at home. America, “[has] [not] all [dreamed] the same dream, or at the same time” (1). Another aspect of the American Dream was also that hard work was all you needed to get ahead. And, certainly, in the 20 years after WWII that was truer for more people than it had ever been in American history. We had a booming economy, we had the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. More people had access to the American dream than ever before.
ReplyDeleteThe American dream will always be changing, no matter what world events might be taking place. After World War II the American dream changed drastically, politically and socially. Before World War II people were convinced they saved themselves from war because of the precautions they took setting up new rules after World War I. Due to the Great Depression and remembrance of high casualties of World War I, isolationism was a huge accepted political theme of our country. People wanted to focus on the issues at home before going overseas and gaining power. They did not want to go and fight another war. Before going into World War II they did everything they could using isolationism to stay out of it. After World War II power became the driving force of America. The government was not focused on at home issues they wanted to step in and help third world countries, which is where the Truman doctrine originated from. His policy was directed to make sure countries would not be taken over by Communism. It helped in wars like the Korean War and Vietnam.
ReplyDeleteSocially Americans were starting to open their minds up to new possibilities. During World War II "women took jobs in shipyards and drydocks, on truck and airplane assembly lines, on road and bridge construction crews, among the girders and scaffolding of building sites" (13). Women started to work alongside men and proved that they were more than capable of doing the jobs that were considered masculine. Equality for race became a dream as well after World War II. People were no longer worried about the materialistic side of life, now they wanted equality. "The Jim Crow system of racial segregation” (84) was being ridiculed and people began speaking their minds regarding race and equality. The most influential person during the fight for race was Martin Luther Jr. He started to get a following and tings really took off from there. After World War II was a time of finding your inner self and expressing new ideas.
“We dream of liberty, equality, and happiness. We dreamed of prosperity for ourselves and our children. We dreamed we would save our souls and save the world.” (p. x) This has been the American Dream since our national birth and after WWII, this dream was more compelling to the american people than ever before. Together as a whole rather than individually, they rebuilt the american economy after the great depression and defeated the “organized evil of militant fascism.” Together, they looked forward at the the wealth and happiness they had in store for them. Never before had a large group had the potential for such success and prosperity than the american people after WWII. During WWII and before, people had questioned the American dream and had seen it as something that could never reach it’s full potential. The jobs created during the war provided hundreds of thousands of people with a steady income but they were limited to spending money on themselves to focus on providing for wartime materials. As soon as the war ended, people were eager to start their lives with their families and they were equally as ambitious to start spending their money. This resulted in the “baby boom” which was a period of time directly after the war where the birth rate shot up. These new families moved into suburbs where they owned cars and raised their children. The income for each parent shot up so only one parent needed to work while the other could stay home and provide for their children. They wanted to focus on themselves rather than everyone America as a whole. This gave birth to the new middle class. During WWII, america had fought as one and rebuild itself as one, but as soon as the war ended, people began to work and dream for themselves rather than as a united force. Therefore, some people got left behind. As these people were being left behind, they began to dream of equality and fraternity rather than wealth which eventually became a dream of the majority. For example, Martin Luther King Jr. dreamed of an equal world rather than a world of money which began the civil rights movement. He gained millions of followers and spread his dream to each and every one of them. The same goes for Betty Friedan and Lyndon B. Johnson, all of which had a new dream to introduce to the post war generation and all of which gained support and spread their dreams to their supporters. The new American Dream had laid down it’s groundworks in the years after WWII and set the pace for prosperity in years to come.
ReplyDeleteDuring the twenty years following World War II, America’s lifestyle, culture, and international affairs evolved, which in turn affected the US perception of the “American Dream.” As far as lifestyle, the outcome of WWII was very different than what the people of America had been dealing with during the prior years. The Great Depression and the Stock Market Crash deeply damaged the American economy and even spread throughout the rest of the world. But thankfully America emerged from WWII relatively wealthy and stable. The reason for this was the shift from weapons and war supplies to commonly needed goods in manufacturing. Jobs were created for everyone who needed income to survive. This allowed workers to then go and purchase goods from these companies with their new income. This cycle allowed Americans to remain prosperous and strengthened their idea that it was possible to become wealthy and live the “American Dream.” Culture evolved significantly after the war due to a rising middle class who sought self-expansion. The quality of American life improved and the new culture became one idolizing equality and the right to live freely and safely in their own skin. A key example of when the change in culture showed was when Earl Warren, the Supreme Court Chief of Justice, ruled in favor of Oliver Brown’s case declaring that “separate but equal has no place.” (Brands 86) Although that only referred to education systems, the true effect was much deeper when it came to daily life. The need for equality opened up the “American Dream” to a new crowd of people who had been treated as inferior. As far as international affairs, Americans began to feel obligated to stabilize the relationships between countries. This widened the “American Dream” to involved peace all over and equality everywhere. Overall, during the twenty years following WWII, the perception of the “American Dream” evolved to include ideas of prosperity, equality, and self-expansion.
ReplyDeleteLike many national ethos and ideals, the "American Dream" is susceptible to change, especially after major events such as World War II. The war did not only bring confidence to the Americans, but changed their collective dream both socially and politically. Americans entered the war after suffering in the Great Depression, their ultimate goal being the ability to support themselves and simply survive in the grim world. The nation then emerged as the greatest world power, not only boosting the economy but also the confidence of the people. The war showed the American's their ability to be powerful and successful, changing their mindset to one of entitlement. The economy boomed and the surplus of opportunities for a variety of people allowed them to have a plethora of new and grander dreams.
ReplyDeleteAs Amanda said, the “American Dream” will never be constant. It will always be changing depending on the events that are occurring in the world. Prior to the war, the main goal was to succeed and prosper. However, when the Great Depression occurred in 1929, everything changed; the main goal was to survive. In this period, unemployment skyrocketed, as well as poverty. The people that were laid off would do their best to get by, there were no more talks of luxurious items. When Pearl Harbor occurred, the U.S. had no other option but to join the fight. This decision would soon lead to the rise of jobs, as well as new opportunities. “But the moral foundation of America’s dreams had always been the right to dream, and Americans weren’t about to surrender that.” (Preface). Through all the hardships, and adversity Americans had to face, they had never given up their dream. After the war, Americans rose to the top with a sudden feeling of hope, and power. With Europe destroyed, it gave them an advantage as well as a feeling of being the best. Their mindset did change, and their economic boom opened many doors for Americans. New dreams were being formed, opportunities were taken, and dreams were being expanded. After the war, Americans not only wanted to prosper, they wanted to strive for greatness and equality, with their newfound feeling of confidence, and power
DeleteThe “American Dream” is the idea that every U.S. citizen should, through hard work, have the opportunity to achieve success. What defines “success” reflects the current economic and social status of the country; therefore, as the country endeavours change, the “American Dream” must evolve with it. One major example, as addressed by Brands’ in American Dreams, is WWII. Before the war, Americans were in the midst of the Great Depression, where the term “success”, for most, would have been merely holding a job. After the war, instead of being in economic ruin, the United States emerged to be the greatest world power with immense opportunities for success: “Never were America’s dreams more potent and beguiling than at the end of World War II…. Americans in 1945 stood united and confident at the apex of global power; before them lay more wealth and happiness than any large group had ever dared dream of in all human history.” (ix). During WWII, “incomes increased… but the opportunities for spending had decreased. Americans were flush with funds for buying houses and otherwise establishing families.” (69). With the war over, people were financially stable and broken families were brought back together, resulting in what is referred to today as the Baby Boom: where “seventy-six million babies were born between 1946 and 1964” (69). Before WWII, most people could barely afford food for themselves, let alone take care of a family. With the Baby Boom following World War II, having a family became a realistic “success” people could achieve through hard work. The Baby Boom led to the first major change in child labor, a generation of children with a new culture, and the middle class. The emergence of the middle class enabled social mobility, another opportunity to achieve success.
ReplyDeleteAn Additional change to the “American Dream” as a result of WWII became a matter of who should have the opportunity to achieve success in the United States? Who should be able to achieve the “American Dream”? Racial and gender equality became a major focal point in the post war period, as the Jim Crow system began to be challenged, and middle-class women emerged in the work force. As discussed in American Dreams, progress was made in both civil rights movements through figureheads like Martin Luther King Jr., and Betty Friedan, along with organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the National Organization for Women. The 20 years following World War II not only raised the standards that define “success” within the “American Dream”, they also broke down the racial and gender barriers as to who the “American Dream” was limited to.
“We didn’t all dream the same dream, or at the same time, for the American dream included the right of the individual dreamer to design their own” (preface) In the years prior to WWII, Americans were a bit disjointed and lacked a common purpose. The war years provided Americans unity and a common cause - defeat the enemy. Once the war was over, the economic woes of The Great Depression were replaced by post war prosperity. Americans found hope. They viewed themselves as the preeminent citizens in the greatest country.They now had hope for the future. Hope that their lives would get better. Hope that their children would lead better lives than them. Unlike their parents, the Baby Boomers only knew this transcendent America.“They grew up with a sense of entitlement, a feeling that the world existed for their benefit, that was more pronounced than the generations before them” (70). The Baby Boomers were trailblazers for the American spirit. They symbolize a change in our countries thinking. In the twenty years after WWII, Americans’ perception of the “American Dream” has evolved from something that is earned, to something that is deserved. “... the postwar generations took material well-being for granted and demanded more” (preface)
ReplyDelete“We didn’t all dream the same dream, or at the same time, for the American dream included the right of the individual dreamer to design their own” (preface) In the years prior to WWII, Americans were a bit disjointed and lacked a common purpose. The war years provided Americans unity and a common cause - defeat the enemy. Once the war was over, the economic woes of The Great Depression were replaced by post war prosperity. Americans found hope. They viewed themselves as the preeminent citizens in the greatest country.They now had hope for the future. Hope that their lives would get better. Hope that their children would lead better lives than them. Unlike their parents, the Baby Boomers only knew this transcendent America.“They grew up with a sense of entitlement, a feeling that the world existed for their benefit, that was more pronounced than the generations before them” (70). The Baby Boomers were trailblazers for the American spirit. They symbolize a change in our countries thinking. In the twenty years after WWII, Americans’ perception of the “American Dream” has evolved from something that is earned, to something that is deserved. “... the postwar generations took material well-being for granted and demanded more” (preface)
ReplyDeleteThe “American Dream” is the idea that through hard laborious work that every citizen will be able to achieve success. Before the war, the United States was impoverished with the Great Depression leaving the “American Dream” to be tarnished. However, after the United States was dragged into the war with the attack on Pearl Harbor, the “American Dream” became a reality. After WWII, the US became a known as a world superpower; causing the American Dream to thrive: “Americans in 1945 stood united and confident at the apex of global power; before them lay more wealth and happiness than any large group had ever dared dream of in all human history”(ix). The “American Dream” transformed the US citizens making them believe that anything could be accomplished. After the war, more jobs became available and the middle class was thriving, “Rising postwar incomes enabled families to thrive with single breadwinners”(70). The economic success after the war is made clear to the citizens and their children or “Baby Boomers”. “But they grew up with a sense of entitlement, a feeling that the world existed for their benefit, that was more pronounced than the comparable sentiments of any generation before them”(70). Racial freedom began to occur with the thriving “American Dream”, with figures like Martin Luther King who truly had a great dream and made it possible. The “American Dream” after WWII evolved into something truly amazing.
ReplyDeleteUnlike post WWI America, which resulted in a surge of spending, patriotism, and confidence in the federal government, post WWII America took a more cautious approach to the future. In the eyes of many Americans at the time, WWII lasted so long because America had decided to isolate themselves from all of the aggressors in the war. The bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1945 proved that isolationism was not the answer to staying out of conflict, and with memories of the bombing still freshly cut in American minds post WWII America decided to take the role of maintaining world order. Being the only nation to benefit from the war, America's wartime successes led to increasing incomes, the rise of the middle class, and the "baby boom". As women took on more responsibility in the workforce, the push for gender equality started to change social norms in post WWII America. Martin Luther King Jr. started change racial equality, delivering fiery speeches, hoping that his four children “will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character” (114). In many ways, the "American dream" that came out of post WWII America resulted in how Americans and other nations perceive America today.
ReplyDeleteDuring the years following WWII, the American Dream evolved in many different aspects, but the most drastic changes could be seen in America’s new take on foreign policy. During WWI, President Wilson was naive in his idealism; he believed (and led Americans to believe) that during WWI, the US could prevent another world war, while also starting a “fundamental change in human attitudes” by spreading democracy across the globe (22). After WWII, this old dream evolved into a more realistic goal for Americans (22); the US could not end all conflict in the world with one war, but it could strive to use its newly realized power in order to battle the “evil [that] continue[d] to exist in the postwar world.” (22) This idea of actively foiling enemies before war broke out (known as anti-appeasement) marked a split in the American Dream; the people who painfully remembered Pearl Harbor and blamed the US for its “failure to confront aggression” supported anti-appeasement and an active US role in world affairs. The conservative isolationists, like Robert Taft and the Republican right, strongly urged the American government against poking its nose into the business of foreign nations, saying that such efforts could drag the US into bankruptcy, or even another war. The more popular idea of anti-appeasement paired with the new American confidence in its abilities are what led the US to develop its sense of being “responsible for world order.” (23)
ReplyDeleteThe liberal strand of the American Dream quickly smothered the protests of the isolationists, and thus American foreign policy was completely changed, as can be seen by the actions taken in postwar Europe, and also worldwide during the Cold War. Directly after 1945, the US participated in creating many organizations like the UN and the World Bank in order to help Europe stabilize after the war, which led to the rise of multilateralism. Also, in the 1950s and 60s (and further), the US would work to prevent “the destruction of personal liberty, the imposition of one-party rule, [and] the prospective domination of the world” (which, in the American mind, came at the hands of communism) in nations like Vietnam and Russia (45). During the Cold War, the US inoculated many nations, with democracy, against communism. In the twenty years following the end of WWII, the American Dream split into the liberals who believed in anti-appeasement, and the conservatives who dreaded getting tangled in the economics and politics of foreign nations.
“The Great Depression had seriously challenged the received version of the American Dream that men (mostly) and women who worked hard and saved for rainy days could expect a measure of material comfort and security in their golden years, without resort to government” (16). Before World War II, The Great Depression greatly altered American’s perception of the American Dream. Unemployment and an economy crash drastically changed the way Americans’ viewed their life and their trust in the government. “Franklin Roosevelt failed to end the depression..” (16). Losing faith and trust in their political leaders, Americans’ had a hard time believing things would get better.
ReplyDeleteIn the 20 years following WWII, American was at it’s height. Coming out of the war victorious, American’s spirits were high and faith in the government had been restored. With the economy improving, job opportunities increased, which allowed for higher incomes and happier people. Post WWII, women were able to play a role in society in which they could not do before. During the war, women were given the opportunity to perform jobs they normally would not have been able to do. After the war ended, women fought for their rights, the rights to obtain a job, just like men. This changed history forever, seeing that today, women are still fighting for equal rights. Along with equality, the middle class prospered and the “Baby Boom” occurred. The birth rate shot up and remained high for two decades (69). “All the babies and young children prompted a reorientation of American culture” (69). “…they grew up with a sense of entitlement, a feeling that the world existed for their benefit…” (70). With this perspective on life, the generation after WWII was able to prosper and succeed in fields that the generation before could not have done. The American Dream evolved in a way that was now focused on prosperity and gave Americans’ hope that they did not have before WWII.
The “American Dream” is a concept that has always been and will be evolving based on the financial, social and political conditions of the country. In the wake of the second World War, both the United States, and the perception of its “American Dream” rapidly evolved. The Country entered the war at a weak point economically, but exited as one of the strongest world powers on the globe. This displayed to Americans that through hard work they could achieve their goal, of the “American Dream”. Before the war the “American Dream” was seeing your family alive with a roof over your head and having a steady job, but after the war it all changed. American soldiers came home to a land untouched by the vicissitudes of war, and an economy invigorated by the efforts from all those who did not join the fighting overseas. Not only was the United States in a better financial state, but the people who could achieve the “American Dream” changed after the war as well. No longer was success limited to white males, but people of all gender and race would be able to make a name for themselves. In the twenty years following WWII the American people realized that not only could they survive in the new prosperous economy, but they could thrive. The “American Dream” was accessible to anyone willing enough to work for it.
ReplyDeleteThe American Dream had always been that an American can achieve success by working for it. Within the 20 years following World War II, this dream had evolved. Prior to WWII, the Great Depression had weakened America’s faith in the government and in the country. Jobs were lost, prices were raised, and even after many government attempts, things were not getting better. However, during the war, jobs and wages increased to help wartime needs and the gap between the classes grew smaller. Another aspect of the social egalitarianism was the increase in the presence of women in the work force. By the end of WWII, America had shown its superior world power as the only country to come out of war better than they had gone in. Along with this new sense of American pride, the emerging middle class strengthened this state of unity. During this time of economic stability for the majority middle class, families grew and these children, called Baby Boomers, grew up in this environment of hope. These children didn't have to face the hardship their parents did and were able to live better lives based on the current strength of the American economy. The rise in consumers meant the rise in demand, “Much of the economic activity revolved around the physical needs and wants of the Baby Boomers and their families” (71). Without the hope of their parents and the will to strengthen the economy and social equality, this continued dream of success was carried on.
ReplyDeleteThe “American Dream” evolved substantially in the twenty years post WWII. America came out of WWII both victorious and better off than when they went in. Being the only country to have WWII benefit their economy, America prospered which led to the after war evolution of the “American Dream.” Post WWII America ended up deciding to take the leading role in keeping world order and working with other countries to help prevent another worldwide war. Due to its wartime successes Americans experienced rising incomes, the “baby boom,” and the middle class growing both in strength and in number. Along with this, women earned greater responsibility in the workforce and began the push for gender equality. Martin Luther King Jr. initiated change in racial equality with his many speeches including his most famous, I have a dream speech. Overall the post WWII evolution of the "American Dream" set America on the path to becoming an economic powerhouse and resulted in how different nations perceive America today.
ReplyDeleteWorld War II evolved the "American Dream" changed into something entirely different than before. The Japanese bombing of Pear Harbor awoke the "Sleeping Giant" that would eventually rise to become a global powerhouse leading in international affairs. America transformed during WWII into a total war economy that brought its people together and came out better than when it went in. After the war there was a boost in American confidence which pushed them to go beyond their old boundaries bringing change to themselves and the world. Women and African Americans alike began to push for gender and racial equality after being such an important role in the war effort. The confidence in itself pushed America to take a leading roll in national affairs that would drastically change the course of society causing safe haven and conflicts. The "American Dream" no longer was about survival but to work towards newfound success
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ReplyDeleteThe ever changing utopia that is the American Dream has remained a constant factor in the American's view of themselves and others in the past century. Rising from the rubble of the Great Depression and 1929 U.S. stock market crash, America was able to slowly but surely emerge from a time of desperation in the economy. Following WWII, the rising income in the middle class resulted in the “Baby Boom”. This increased population, particularly in the middle class lead to new ideas and inventions, creating a more stable economy. As new ideas surfaced, a social change occurred in the lives of many. People became attuned to social injustice and the realization that the white male in America was not the only one capable of great work. Certain political leaders arose such as Martin Luther King Jr. and many others who advocated for equality. These people launched the Civil Rights movement that changed the fate of America forever.
In addition, the lives of women changed as they began to view themselves as humans that deserved the same fundamental human rights as men. Prior to the war, women were viewed by nearly everyone as those that “could desire no greater destiny than to glory in their own femininity”(176). However, women during war time were a leading factor in the workforce, as most men were away at war. This change in action lead women to the realization that they no longer wanted to be limited to the role of housewives, but to contribute to the welfare of the country. With this change, came the tweaking of the American Dream and what minorities want out of America, and out of themselves. Many differences took place throughout the twenty years that followed WWII including the perception of the American Dream. People began to realize that if they truly wanted something, they would have to advocate for the change themselves.
James Truslow Adams stated that the American Dream is: “. . . that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” (The Epic of America, 1931)
ReplyDeleteIn the twenty years following World War II, the American Dream was finally within the grasp of the majority of the American people. Prior to World War II, the American Dream was mainly the province of white males. However, when World War II broke out, and the United States was ushered into the war, the majority of able bodied men entered the armed forces. The absence of male workers led to the integration of women in the workforce, where they stayed long after the war. The need for male soldiers in the war created access for women to begin to enjoy the American Dream. With the increase in manufacturing jobs due to the war, many blacks migrated to the industrial areas of the North in hopes of earning higher wages. Racial attitudes were also beginning to change, and in 1947, Branch Rickey “. . . signed Jacky Robinson to play second base . . .” (75) for the Brooklyn Dodgers. The American Dream was becoming a reality to the colored masses as well.
On the national level, breakthroughs in home building and highway design allowed more of the populace to take part in the American Dream. Levittown made home ownership a reality for the general masses. It put millions of Americans “. . . on the road to full membership of the middle class” (79). President Eisenhower, impressed by the German autobahns, encouraged the construction of the interstate highway system, further facilitating “. . . the emergence of the mass culture of the middle class” (83). The widespread availability of a prosperous life through the American Dream was now becoming available to the majority of Americans regardless of race, gender or status.
Brands discusses how America had ambitious dreams that were collectively believed and supported during War time that have transitioned over time to become ambitious individual dreams with little regard to the collective. During WWI and WWII, the country was seized by patriotism – we simply had to come together and make sacrifice as our individual and collective future was at stake. After the War, the US (and other countries like Germany, France, UK, Japan, etc.) turned inwards to rebuild which prompted the whole “baby boom” generation. The creation of the middle class has arguably become the ideal for every emerging country around the globe and has become the foundation of the American Dream – that the next generation of children will achieve more and greater success than their parents. This desire to achieve is the cornerstone of American’s desire to compete and succeed and has resulted in America’s domination as the strongest militarily and wealthiest nation on earth.
ReplyDeletePrior to WWII, the American Dream was largely held to be a fairy tale; coming out of the Great Depression, this was no surprise. A quarter of the population was out of work, out of home, and reliant on the welfare state. None could argue that hard work and saving would be able to ensure a prosperous life. As the war effort pulled millions into factories and military transport ships, the immediate discontent waned in favor of patriotic fervor. Dreaming was set aside for a time; there was a world to save. Most Americans, however, did not expect just how sharply the war would pull America from depression.
ReplyDeleteDirectly following WWII, Americans lived in a golden age of prosperity driven by an interior economy favorable to the working class, a global economy fully reliant on the U.S., and a distant evil empire to direct their efforts against. As a result, the American Dream seemed fully in the reach of any man willing to work for it; factory workers could expect to work at the same company for their entire lives and retire with pensions, all while living in their own suburban homes. This stable, successful system contrasted with the Soviet Union: seen as the opponent of democracy, and therefore the American way of life. This contributed to the idea that America was different than the rest of the world- a land of opportunity defending fledgling democracies from tyranny. This iteration of the American dream would be one of the most optimistic, and one of the most (contemporarily) valid. As time passed, the early civil rights movement would not have a great effect on the Dream; aside from those who took the events at Montgomery and Topeka to be an example of federal overreach, the civil issues of the time were separate from the economic context of the American Dream.
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ReplyDeleteIn effect, WWII leveled the playing field for America's populace. Prior to the war, "The American Dream" was solely in the hands of white males. Those same white males later joined, or were drafted into, the armed forces. This large migration of workers created a vacuum in the manufacturing industry, which was to be filled with those still on American soil. As a result, women & people of color became prevalent in the U.S. workforce. The American dream was no longer perceived as a goal met only by white men, but as something anyone, regardless of gender, ethnicity or even social status could achieve. This was all boosted by the U.S.'s new-found status as an economic world power, creating more jobs, and hence more opportunities for those previously stuck in their current situation.
ReplyDeleteThe phrase “American Dream” generally connotes equality, opportunity, and prosperity, both on the personal and the societal level. In Brands’ book, the concept of the American Dream changed drastically in the two decades following the end of World War II, on both the individual and the collective level. At the end of World War II, America was at its peak, and the country basked in the glory of conquering both the Great Depression and the evils of fascism. Americans rejoiced at the return of their loved ones, who had served overseas in the war. The G.I. Bill gave returning veterans the opportunity to pursue a career and purchase a home, with benefits such as reduced-cost mortgages and government-paid university expenses. Happy, reunited young couples decided to start families, and this resulted in an unusually large number of children born in a relatively short amount of time, otherwise known as the Baby Boomer generation. This was the catalyst for the evolution of the individual American Dream, which was to have a secure job, a home, and a happy family. American society remodeled itself to fit the needs of the Baby Boomer generation, which led to the growth of the middle class, and subsequently, the manifestation of suburbia. Bedroom communities sprang up everywhere, containing nothing but homes, schools, and parks. Women stayed at home to take care of their children, while men worked 8 hour days. Even entertainment became family-oriented as Disney monopolized the market, offering everything from television shows and amusement parks to Disney-themed merchandise. Collectively speaking, the American Dream became a symbol of freedom and equality. Domestically, civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King emerged, and the country moved towards having equal rights for all races and genders. In terms of foreign affairs, Americans aspired to rid the world of communism, and fought to bring democracy to all corners of the globe.
ReplyDeleteThe American Dream prior to WW2 was a figure of imagination that did not cross the minds of any American’s. I like to think of the Great Depression; a time before WW2, as the “American Nightmare” because of the amount of unemployment and drop in economy. Once WW2 knocked on the already crumbling door of the United States, it created an even greater sense of fear in the bodies of the American citizens. Unexpectedly, the United States actually came out of WW2 in a better position than they were in before they entered the war. America was now one of the most dominant and wealthy countries in the world. Its employment rates and stock market skyrocketed as a result of their authority during WW2. Countries in Europe and some other parts of the world had been demolished because of WW2 and America demanded to help because of our economic success after the war ended. Helping out and reconstructing other countries after the war dismissed a lot of tension between the United States and opposing countries. The alliances made with other countries after WW2 gave America the comfort and security it needed to stay on top as a world-leading powerhouse. Also, the happiness of the people and growth of financial income spurred the “Baby Boom” generation. The up rise in population caused for new and efficient inventions and ideas, making the United States a more resourceful and well run country. Once the war ended, the American Dream transformed into less of a dream because it was becoming a reality to some people. America was at peace and its people were happy, to me, that is what the American Dream is all about.
ReplyDeleteAfter World War II ended, the American Dream evolved for both individuals and America as a country. Post World War II showed the resilience of the American people to the world. The country had survived the Great Depression and was entering a golden age of economic growth. In 1945 Americans “stood united and confident at the apex of global power; before them lay more wealth and happiness” (ix). As a country, the people dreamed of equality. People dreamed of equal rights for women and all people of color. For example, when the world famous Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech to more than 200,000 people, a new voice for equality was heard. Individually, people dreamed for economic prosperity. During the years of the Baby Boom, the American economy improved immensely because the economy revolved around the Baby Boomers and their families. As more babies were born, the “demand for the houses, cars, washing machines, sofas, radios, sinks, and myriad other items large and small” (70) increased greatly. In addition, the unemployment was much lower than the years of the Great Depression. During the mid to late 1950s, economic equality was becoming a reality when “factory workers and office workers alike earned enough money to support a thoroughly respectable middle-class lifestyle” (80). While segregation was a big issue, people worked to improve the living conditions for the African Americans and to rid the country of segregation laws. The twenty years after World War II was a time of reassurance for the American population for a better future. They left the Great Depression in the past and focused on themselves economically, and also tried to improve the lives of others across the country. While the “American Dream” after World War II had been similar to their dreams in the past, they took advantage of their prosperity, and strived for even more improvements for the future.
ReplyDeleteThe American perception of the “American Dream” changed drastically in the twenty years following WWII. Prior to the war, people’s hopes and dreams were diminished by the economic reality of the Great Depression. Preceding WWII, the only “American Dream” that crossed people’s minds was rebuilding their destroyed economy; however, after the war, the economic and social advancements led to a more revived “American Dream;” a dream of a successful future. During WWII, war efforts created thousands of jobs in factories and war-supplies transportation units. As a result, people all around the country received more similar wages, and the gap between upper and lower classes was decreased. In addition, people spent very little during the war; they were focused on more important things and there was little to spend on. However, when the war ended, Americans had higher income, from new occupations, and they were in the mood to spend… a lot. For this reason, couples were more willing to buy new houses, and start new families. The increase of new families led to the “baby boom,” during which the new “American Dream” was to care for and raise children and happy families. Along with all these aspects (more equal pay, urge to spend, and the “baby boom”), grew a sense of egalitarianism. Women’s and African Americans’ rights awareness was spread as people began to view one another as equal. In addition, the middle class began to grow as well, which increased the demands for, and production of, entertainment consumer goods. In the twenty years following WWII, Americans enjoyed higher pay, loving families, more equal rights, consumer goods, and the ability to focus on the new “American Dream;” building a country with a thriving culture and technological success.
ReplyDeleteAfter showing the might of the American industry in WWII, the American Dream evolved to reflect the life of the worker. If one came to America and worked hard, they could live at a certain level of comfort and be able to provide for a family. Regardless of your background, hard work could get you to a place of stability and comfort that could be passed down to your children. This was different from the pre wartime depression where many people didn't have jobs and those who did were still struggling to survive. With this new life style came a great sense of pride in the country too. After failing to stop the Nazis at Munich, Americans began to feel a sense of responsibility over the affairs of the world. This was radically different to the collective American Dream before Pearl Harbor when the public mostly trusted isolationist ideas. This new idea eventually leads to the Cold War era as America attempts to stop the spread of communism. Finally, because of the war, more people of different backgrounds were getting into the workforce. They used this momentum to try and expand the American Dream to more people of different gender and race. The years following WWII were shaped by America's new found strength in both internal and external affairs.
ReplyDeleteAfter World War II, the perception of the American Dream changed immensely for Americans. Slowly, a future emerged that seemed impossible years before. The American Dream became a successful middle-class life, propelled by the growth of the previously failing economy. Consequently, the baby boom occurred, which "prompted a reorientation of American culture" (69). This shift in culture that added more focus on material possessions gave the "Baby Boomers" a sense of entitlement that would last for years to come. This is a heavy component of the modern day American Dream--the idea of 'I get what I want because I deserve it.' As industries became more successful and the economy began to "revolve[d] around the needs of the Baby Boomers and their families," (71) the American Dream evolved to become more based around aquiring possessions through a steady job to support families.
ReplyDeleteA major world event such as WWII will alter the visions of any and all countries. The American Dream is no exception to this concept. As Brands says, “The dreams weren’t always sunny and hopeful; some were darkly forbidding. But they drew Americans consistently forward.” In the aftermath of WWII the American Dream shifted from a darkly forbidding to a sunny and hopeful dream. The Great Depression had brought a feeling of despair among many Americans, especially those in the 25% of people who were unemployed. However, with the economic boom brought by WWII, people’s hopes were rekindled and they started looking forward and up to the future. The American Dream therefore was shifted upward as well. James Truslow Adams defined the American Dream as a “dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” Therefore with the boost that the war brought for the economy, people were able to get much better jobs and live “richer and fuller” lives which is exactly what the American Dream promised. In this way, as awful as World War Two was, in the 20 years that followed, the American Dream flourished.
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ReplyDeleteOver the years the American dream has changed and adapted to correspond with the events occurring at that time. Before WWII, specifically during the roaring 20’s Americans were focused on themselves and their own personal success. During the 30’s America entered a time known as the Great Depression, and at this period Americans did not have the ability to concentrate on anything besides regaining their own economic stability. American’s practiced isolationism and were only concerned about the affluence of the country and fellow countrymen, however; after WWII it all changed. After American’s saw the destruction that Hitler and the fascist Nazi Party ensued upon the world, their perception on the American Dream, as they knew it changed. After seeing how putting up the “iron curtain” allowed international affairs to get drastically worse instead of better, Americans were forced to accept that they were a world power and they needed to assume their international role. This explains why President Truman enacted the Truman Doctrine, which implied that the job of America was to attempt to prevent devastations such as WWII from occurring again. Americans went from solely “dreaming” about their own country’s prosperity, to focusing lots of their attention and efforts on the wellbeing of countries around the globe.
ReplyDeleteThe American Dream evolved from being something of independence and patriotism before the war to materialism in the years to follow. The Founding Fathers first believed that independence was the American Dream. However, like many things, the American Dream is ever-changing and it greatly evolved in the twenty years following the second world war. After the war, the American Dream came to be linked with home ownership and how the booming after war economy could produce goods that would fill a future home. The “Baby Boom” also took place for about twenty years after the war from 1946 to 1964. Many families held off from having children during the depression because of the financial stress but now that the economy was flourishing and both men and women were in the workplace, many couples decided to start families. According to H.W. Brands. “Much of the economic activity revolved around the physical needs and wants of the Baby Boomers and their families.” (71) That is still the case today as the Baby Boomers begin to retire and start to receive their pensions. The American Dream is an idea that this country has embraced since its independence in 1776, yet the same idea is always evolving to meet the needs of each new generation.
ReplyDeleteAfter showing the might of the American industry in WWII, the American Dream evolved to reflect the life of the worker. If one came to America and worked hard, they could live at a certain level of comfort and be able to provide for a family. Regardless of your background, hard work could get you to a place of stability and comfort that could be passed down to your children. This was different from the pre wartime depression where many people didn't have jobs and those who did were still struggling to survive. With this new life style came a great sense of pride in the country too. After failing to stop the Nazis at Munich, Americans began to feel a sense of responsibility over the affairs of the world. This was radically different to the collective American Dream before Pearl Harbor when the public mostly trusted isolationist ideas. This new idea eventually leads to the Cold War era as America attempts to stop the spread of communism. Finally, because of the war, more people of different backgrounds were getting into the workforce. They used this momentum to try and expand the American Dream to more people of different gender and race. The years following WWII were shaped by America's new found strength in both internal and external affairs.
ReplyDeleteDuring WWII the Dream of American's was to get out of a dark time of economic depression and world war while preserving democracy and peace. Twenty years later there was a rising middle class that was driving the new economy. People began to focus more on social equality evidenced by civil rights and women's rights movements. Martin Luther King Jr. became the face of this dream for many people. There was also a broader goal during WWII. It was to be a global power and enforcer. The dream was trying to spread democracy and American culture. Twenty years later the dream was more internal and people started focusing on problems within our own country. People started to raise unfair laws against certain people as a national issue. A majority of the public focused on individuals and of everyone having equal rights.These issues revolved around segregation and women's rights. The American Dream became the demand of true freedom.
ReplyDeleteThroughout American Dreams Brands explains how the American dream has been tweaked and modified around the economic and international success of the United States. No other period in US history has the American dream changed more than in the years following WWII. This change it due to the country’s successful “[economic shift] from war production to peace production without losing appreciable momentum” (70). With this shift, as others have touched on, America come out of the war on top allowing them to step ahead of other countries who were dealing with the effects of war.
ReplyDeleteCompared to the Great Depression and the 1930s, the 1960s greatly advanced the American dream. “The Great Depression had seriously challenged the received version of the American dream” (17) because it was a time when almost every aspect of process in US stopped. As people lost their jobs they no longer thought about a future with a spouse and children. The same was true when it came to the industrial market. As more people began to save their hard earned money less people were purchasing manufactures market goods. After WWII it was quite the opposite, “the war years left most Americans with money burning holes in their pockets” (69). Due to income increases and spending opportunity decreases during the war more people gained the flexibility to spend money after it. This allowed people to pursue their individual American dream and start their own businesses and companies. Along with the positive economic effects of the Baby Boom, companies like Disney, and restaurants like McDonalds exploded with success.
As the Second World War concluded in 1945, the American Dream was starting to look brighter. Prior to the war, America was struggling through the Great Depression, and there seemed to be no hope for a better life. However, when the “United States emerged from the war stronger than it entered,” (10), the American Dream sparked a return. With their new confidence and a recovering economy, foreign policy changed as the American decided they “must look to other markets, and those markets [were] abroad.” (13) They moved away from they policy of isolationism that began in the 1920s toward the policy of containment, or preventing the spread and influence of communism. Harry S. Truman issued the Truman Doctrine and stated “it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside forces.” (34) The policy was utilized when America fought against communist regimes in Korea, Vietnam, and Guatemala. Additionally, the United States vowed to never use the policy of appeasement, which was arguably the reason why Hitler was able to ignite his plan for world domination. When president Johnson was being pressured to withdraw from Vietnam he stated that since “appeasement has failed in the past; it would fail now.” (142) Americans felt confident that their presence was what those countries needed for them to achieve the same success as America.
ReplyDeleteAs they emerged victorious from the war, Americans became aware of the fact that “the United States could accomplish almost anything it set its mind to, within the limits of human nature,” (22) Within their own country, the “Baby Boom,” along with an abundance of resources and time, allowed for the economy to recover after the Depression. House construction, clothing stores, furniture stores, restaurants, etc. were all needed to satisfy the demands of the new generation. Suburban life also picked up, as the new families needed somewhere to settle. This lead to the rise of a middle class and Americans were “much more equal than they had been in their recent history.” (80) Woman began to acquire different types of jobs, previously only for males, in order to strive toward gender equality and proving their strength. The rise in equalitarianism allowed Americans to dream of equality and better treatment for women and African Americans, thus influencing equality movements to come.
James Truslow Adams wrote in his book The Epic of America that the “American Dream” is "that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” With the conclusion of World War II, the idea of the “American Dream” as a whole changed. As opposed to the reaction generated by the end of World War I, people were less optimistic about their outcome. WWI had promised to be the “war to end all wars” (22) which ended in extreme devastation when the onset of the great depression hit.Unlike WWI, WWII was treated “matter-of-factly” and “businesslike” (22) with the understanding of no real immediate fix. However unlike the Great Depression that followed WWI, the incoming generation referred to as “Baby Boomers” ushered in a new age of the middle class. There was a new comfortable standard between the extreme wealth and poverty. Another belief that shifted during and after WWII was the idea of isolationism. Before, American believed that it could fulfill a dream of prosperity solely by itself. After WWII, American understood that they could no longer ignore the rest of the world, for economic and international reasons. By the time the U.S. had sent both atomic bombs towards Japan they realized that they could no longer exclude themselves from dealing with issues that they had a hand in creating. Along with dealing with global changes, America also experienced social changes at home. Not only were women joining the work force but the Civil Rights Movement was gaining momentum. The idea that everyone should have equal opportunity according to ability and achievement was widely used when discussing the Civil Rights Movement. Segregation and racism as well as the Jim Crow Laws became major topics of discussion during any election. With advances in many parts of life, the “American Dream” became a reality for some, as well as a more achievable goal for others. However, America was no longer living in their bubble and relations with other countries began to be strained.
ReplyDeleteAfter WWII America was at the top of the world with the production power that surpassed every other nation. As the soldiers who had been fighting to keep the country and the world safe from evil returned there was a massive new work force. That was dreaming of making their own mark on the world.These men that were coming back were ready to be put into the workforce by all of the wartime factories that transitioned to peace time products. With all of these new products being sold there was an influx of cash. All of this new cash let people fulfill their new dreams of owning houses, cars and having families. As the nation gained this new wealth it was able to put it back into the country with projects such as Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society. America also put some of its wealth back into the world with The Marshall Plan, that gave Europe 13 Billion in aid for post-war reconstruction. Also part of this new American dream was the protection of the American Way.
ReplyDeletePart of the evolved American dream was securing that capitalism was spread world-wide so that other nations could be part the American dream. Part of this was also combating the spread of other ideologies. America stopped this by fighting the spread of governments that were trying spread their communistic ideals onto other democratic nations. An example of this is when north Vietnam started to pressure and then attack South Vietnam. The American dream is always changing and evolving but after WWII there was a distinctive change in what that dream was.
As demonstrated throughout American Dreams, the “American dream” is constantly changing in response to the ever-changing economic and social conditions of the United States. The “American dream” has and always will consist of the same basic principles; however, the emphasis of the dream shifts in accord with the state the country is in at any given time. In the twenty years following the end of World War II, Americans’ perception of the “American Dream” shifted as a result of the social and economic changes that occurred in the United States following World War II. The end of World War II eventually resulted in economic prosperity throughout the States. Prior to the war, many people were concerned about the stability of their jobs and struggled to provide for their families, as “the Great Depression had seriously challenged the received version of the American dream” (17). Following the war, “national income rose by more than a third” (70) as thousands of men returned from the war and reintegrated into the workforce. Families had more money to spend and industry was able to shift from “wartime production to peace production without losing appreciable momentum” (70), because of the high demand for goods such as homes, cars, and household appliances. With the growth of the middle class, the American Dream shifted to emphasize individual prosperity and success. With the growth of “Levittowns”, the “American dream” became closely associated with home ownership. It now became ideal to be a member of the middle class, which entailed owning a home and a car, being able to provide for a large family, and being able to indulge in occasional luxuries. While white men dreamed of this new American ideal, African Americans were still struggling with the Jim Crown system in the South, and were victims of racial discrimination throughout the country. The “American dream” for African-Americans varied drastically from the dream of their white counterparts. As black rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. began lobbying for more rights and equal opportunities for blacks, the “American dream” came to emphasize the principles of equality, freedom, and equal opportunities for all.
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ReplyDeleteThe victory of WWII had a positive effect on the American people, the “American dream” evolved and was very positive and offered hope to many Americans. America post -WWII became a “child-based culture”. “Rising postwar incomes enabled families to thrive with single breadwinners”(70) allowing one parent to focus on the children. Typically the mothers would stay home to care for the children, as one working parent helped enable husbands and wives to start families. Thus began the “baby boom”. The people of the United States valued family life. It was around 1957 when the american dream we know today began to really take shape. “Much of the economic activity revolved around the physical needs and wants of the Baby Boomers and their families” ( 71). This included the construction of new homes, manufacturing, electronics, food production, and pharmaceuticals. The new American dream of the classic white picket fence, good sized house, house pet, and 2.5 children, evolved after the victory of WWII and today remains a great motivator for Americans.
ReplyDeleteThe American Dream shifted significantly in the twenty years following World War II. At the time of the war, the American dream had been altered by the Great Depression. Americans’ goals were to simply survive and do the best they possibly could to provide for their families, not necessarily prosper and live comfortably. During and after the war (and inevitably the Great Depression), these same Americans had many more job opportunities in industries such as the war industry and the automobile industry. Therefore more people were able to achieve the pre-war American dream: they were able to provide for themselves and their families enough to get by. But in true American fashion, Americans did not stop dreaming there. They wanted to live comfortable lives, not just do enough to get by, and they wanted to do amazing things within their lives. The United States left WWII as one of the dominant powers in the world, which left Americans feeling like they could accomplish anything and that they were capable of achieving great accomplishments. This idea of self-worth lead to achievements such as the elimination of the Jim Crow System, putting a man on the moon, and social equality for women. Americans began to see opportunity to improve their lives each and every day. The difference between the American dream in the early 1940s and the 1960s was that in the former, Americans wished only to survive, but in the latter, these Americans wanted to survive and thrive.
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DeleteAs Drew has stated, in the years following WWII the American Dream evolved significantly. Economic prosperity became a reality in the years after WWII. Before the commencement of one of the most poignant wars in our history, America was suffering through the worst economic downfall of our nations existence; The Great Depression. Through the Great Depression many Americans dreams morphed into desperation. Their dream was to merely try to find the means to feed their families, or to find a paying job. As WWII began, economic prosperity started making a come back in the U.S. The war industry (manufacturing weapons etc.) prospered, as well as the automobile industry. There was a high demand for jobs (for both men and women.) The dream was now changing from a desperate state to a prosperous one, where Americans dreamt to live comfortably and have material wealth, not just merely survive.
DeleteAs Drew said, during the Great Depression (prior to WWII), the most an American could hope for was to get by and survive the tough times they were faced with. In American Dreams, Brands makes it very clear that WWII brought jobs to the United States in the form of wartime factory work. The demand for labor was so high that America "outproduced all it's enemies combined", as well as it's allies. This allowed America to "emerge from the war from the war stronger than it entered." On the backside of WWII, ideas about labor were changing. With a high demand for labor during the war, women and African Americans took jobs in Northern war factories. This was significant for women because prior to this time, they did not have the same labor privileges as men, and their job options were limited. Now a women could contribute to her family just like her husband. For African Americans, this resulted in a mass migration from the South to the North. The overall effect was that Americans started dreaming of gender equality as well as racial equality.
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ReplyDeleteFollowing WWII, the American Dream evolved from the basic dream of owning a house, having a job, and raising a family. With the economic boost that came from the war, many people had achieved the current American Dream, so they developed new dreams and ways they could improve their lives. People thought of ways that would create social equality, because women had the same jobs that once only men had. This led to the Civil Rights Movement, and other movements that created social equality between people of both genders and all colors. Since everybody was able to have equal jobs, a middle class was created, which in turn created more social equality. Over the 20 years following WWII the American Dream evolved from owning a house, having a job, and raising a family, to people becoming equal and having equal opportunity to others around America.
ReplyDeleteFollowing WWII, the American Dream evolved from the basic dream of owning a house, having a job, and raising a family. With the economic boost that came from the war, many people had achieved the current American Dream, so they developed new dreams and ways they could improve their lives. People thought of ways that would create social equality, because women had the same jobs that once only men had. This led to the Civil Rights Movement, and other movements that created social equality between people of both genders and all colors. Since everybody was able to have equal jobs, a middle class was created, which in turn created more social equality. Over the 20 years following WWII the American Dream evolved from owning a house, having a job, and raising a family, to people becoming equal and having equal opportunity to others around America.
ReplyDeleteIn the times of the Great Depression, World War II, and twenty years after the end of the War, the Americans’ perception of the American Dream changed drastically. As the end of the late 1920’s approached and all through the 1930’s, into the 1940’s, the Great Depression and World War II struck America. During this time of darkness, the “massive layoffs and ubiquitous bank failures, demonstrated how exposed Americans could be to the caprice of a capitalist economy” (16). People became unemployed and the poverty rate skyrocketed. This greatly damaged the American Dream of someday being free and living a comfortable and enjoyable life.
ReplyDeleteThe decades following World War II is often described as one of the most prosperous economic times in American history. With victory under their belts and money in their pockets, Americans in the 1960s could optimistically pursue the American dream. The dream was peace, freedom and equality. Many right movements and protests occurred during this time in order to achieve equality. Buying a home, followed by raising a family and living a successful life became the ideal life in America. The Great Depression and World War II had a tremendous impact on the American Dream but as twenty years passed by, America was able to rebound and fulfill that dream for many families.
As H.W. Brands states in the summary of American Dreams on it’s back cover, “For a brief moment in 1945, America stood at its apex , looking back on victory not only against the Axis powers but also against the Great Depression, and looking ahead to a seemingly limitless future”. Before WWII the American dream of prospering in freedom and peace was becoming lessoned. The Great Depression put a damper on things. Most Americans were struggling to get by and dreams seemed anything but reality. Dreaming wasn't as relevant as hoping and praying for a better America. It wasn't until the end of WWII that Americans found themselves capable of dreaming of things such as equality, women’s rights, and blacks rights. It was the overwhelming joy caused by the end of the war that propelled the Americans into the next age of dreams. Dreams became bigger and more domestically oriented. America still wanted to maintain world peace but know they had confidence in America and dreamt not of world peace but prosperity in America. The economy was better than most had seen it in their lifetime and there was a surplus of jobs created by the end of the war. People finally had time to pursue their dreams. Instead of just focusing on getting by with the little money they had people were now able to focus on other things especially the middle class who could now own cars something once a novelty only the wealthy Americans could afford. The middle class also created higher demands on goods and services, because they had more money to spend. It wasn't until after the war that Martin Luther King Jr. was able to take a stand because people could now focus on things other than war like, black rights and other human rights in America. Taking America’s focus off of war changed America’s dream drastically.
ReplyDeleteAmericans’ perception of the “American Dream” is constantly changing as America changes culturally, economically, and politically. In various scenarios, singular events can cause a drastic change in the American Dream, such as World War II. After WWII, Americans no longer dreamed of living isolated from the rest of the world and would be very weary if the idea of appeasement was considered again. America’s appeasement is what ultimately led to the bombing of Pearl Harbor which dragged America into WWII. Because of its late entry to the war and its economic stability during the war effort, America came out of the war as a world power. America’s superior position led Americans to “deem themselves responsible for world order” (23), whether it be by supplying aid to rebuild countries after the war or by helping other countries in their efforts against communism. Americans now dreamed of helping other countries by providing aid and instilling democracy rather than remaining isolated. Internally, America underwent many changes that twisted the American dream. The war “disrupted old notions regarding the proper role of government in the lives of individuals” (16). Before the Great Depression, a period of economic downfall during the years leading up to WWII, people felt that they had to support the government, but, as the country fell into a depressive state, the role reversed. The people were now looking for the government to support them. The government then came up with the policy of welfare, built houses and apartments, and passed the GI bill, making it easier for all Americans to afford the basic necessities of life encouraging the growth of the middle class. In 1946, just one year after the end of WWII, a generation known as the Baby Boomers were created. These Baby Boomers are not just significant because of their numbers, they also changed the way most Americans lived their lives. American society began to revolve around these children. These Baby Boomers further encouraged the growth of the suburban middle class as these neither rich nor poor families moved together. The rise of the middle class prompted Americans to dream of working to both care for their family and to be able to spend money on luxury items such as televisions and nice cars. Businesses such as restaurant chains, travel agencies, and house construction began to thrive as they attempted to satisfy the needs of this extraordinary generation and looked to take advantage of their willingness to spend for their family. After WWII, Americans dreamed of equality more than ever. The war “jostled genders, races, and ethnic groups” (16) giving groups other than white men a chance to work and a taste of equality. The American Dream which used to only apply to a small number of people was now closer than ever to be applied to everyone including those of minorities.
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ReplyDeleteIn the years following World War II, the American Dream evolved significantly. While many men went to war, minorities stepped up and took on more important jobs. Women and blacks took on the same jobs that white men had previously worked, and proved that they could do them just as well. This catalyzed the civil rights movements, led by figures such as Martin Luther King; people began to dream of a world in which there was no discrimination . Americans also learned their lesson from World War Two and realized that if America and Europe had not followed a policy of appeasement, and isolationism World War II could have been prevented. Most Americans decided that they would never again institute a policy of isolationism. Americans also chose to play a more assertive role in international politics. After the war, America emerged as a leading super power, as did the Soviet Union, so naturally communism and democracy began to bump heads. Americans began to dream of a world in which they are the most powerful nation. The Cold War brought out the competitive spirit in many Americans, and they resolved to become the most powerful, and advanced country. This led to America pushing their space program to new heights, continuing to improve nuclear technology, and instituting a policy of containment to promote democracy. In an effort to help Western European countries rebuild, the Marshall plan was created, in which America donated millions of dollars to Europe in an effort to stimulate its economy. In the aftermath of World War II America stepped up, and took on the responsibilities of leading the world in civil rights, and helping other countries develop democracy and prosper.
ReplyDeleteThe American Dream, a goal composed of liberty, equality, happiness, and more, is always changing to match the new economic, political, and social aspects of the evolving world. It is the idea that anyone and everyone can achieve stability and prosperity for oneself and their family by working hard. WWII had a large impact on and is a great example of how the American Dream has altered over time. Preceding the war, the Great Depression was hitting America with full force. Unemployment rates soared and the general atmosphere of America was corrupted by stress and hardship. During this time, Americans perceived the American Dream as holding their jobs and keeping their families fed, and even then it was hard to fantasize and strive toward a goal while being bogged down by the weight of suffering. During and after WWII, the population started to realize America’s potential and capabilities. Everyone began working together; doing everything they could to help win the war. After America left the war more successful than it had been prior to, the American Dream also became a better version of itself. Instead of seeking out the American Dream just by working hard and receiving, the previous concept during WWII became the average middle class. Given this, the population did not stop here but instead altered the American Dream and sought for greater things they never would have previously thought possible. Specific advances America made after WWII included increasing population. “All babies and young children prompted a reorientation of American culture…They started work—on the family farms, in their fathers’ shops, by their mothers sides—at whatever time they became physically able” (60). These children “grew up with a sense of entitlement” (70) that would eventually result in a new generation of middle class. It seems as though the whole country and all of its composition, even entertainment, was shifting into the future America, as we know it, all within the years of the Baby Boomers. Influential individuals popped up, America finally realized its power in the world, and women gained entrance into the workforce. The American Dream is always changing, but we do know for certain that it “[draws] America consistently forward, enticing us toward the horizon of the future” (x).
ReplyDeleteDuring the war America had an isolationist attitude, believing that they could be successful if they only focused on bettering themselves. In the post war years, Americans realized that they needed to help other countries. Following the war Americans became “aware of their own power,... [and] deemed themselves responsible for world order-not completely, but to a degree inconceivable less than half-decade earlier.” (23) Americans realized that their own well being depended on the well being of all other countries, it gave the Americans an elevated sense of pride and justice to be helping other countries to fix the global economy instead of just the American economy. Their economy depended partially on the trading and selling of goods to other countries, it also depended on their own people buying goods. The attitude of how to fix the economy also changed many times throughout the twenty years.
ReplyDeleteThe American dream became a lot more accessible in the years following the war. With the growth of the economy and the growth of the middle class, the dream of working became a lot more available to people of color and women, to whom it was previously much more scarcely available.
The "American Dream" is a concept most, if not, all Americans are familiar with. Albeit every individual has their own unique definition of the American Dream, for everyone, it is a notion that consistently draws Americans forward, towards a hopefully brighter future. As Brand states in the preface, "we didn't all dream the same dream, or at the same time, for the American Dream included the right of the individual to design their own" (1).
ReplyDeleteAfter World War I, The United States entered an age of uncertainty, which was reflected in all aspects of life (particularly art and literature, with art movements such as Dadaism and Cubism, and renowned literary works such as The Great Gatsby). World War II, on the other hand, did not engender a feeling of uncertainty as much as it brought forth a sense of confidence and assurance among American people. Because the war was not fought on American soil, The United States had an advantage over the many of other countries involved, both during and after the war. There was somewhat of a "rebirth" of the American Dream; a modified interpretation of an idea that is constantly changing throughout our nation's history. The first twenty years posterior to the war, America achieved great prosperity, to say the least. More jobs were made available as soldiers returned from the war, America saw a great boost in its economic status, and people began to seek more individual and civil rights. Women were primarily responsible for taking of the country whilst the men were off fighting, and so they felt now more than ever it was time to seek change in how women were perceived and treated in comparison to men. African Americans also fought hard to secure their rights as citizens, and with Martin Luther King as a spokesperson, advocate, and leader of the Civil Rights Movement during the fifties and sixties, they too were able to make significant progress in transforming their dreams into a reality. America's success in WWII ultimately ushered in a sense of confidence among Americans, and thus, people felt inspired to work together to pursue their dreams.
In the twenty years following World War Two Americans experienced a golden age, which was reflected in the American dream. Just after World War II America experienced a “baby boom”. To be able to support all these new babies, infrastructure had to be improved upon, leading to the creation of more planes, cars, railroads, and the birth of massive industries such as MacDonald’s and Walmart. These industries provided more people with jobs, which added to the middle class, which added to the consumers of these industries, helping them grow. This cycle allowed people to dream of living a higher-class lifestyle, since if they work hard in these new industries they can earn more money. America was not the only country to come out of World War II with a great deal of power, the USSR also grew into a super power. This led to the two superpower countries competing to see who can become the most scientifically advanced, and have the most powerful military. Americans began to dream of a world where democracy is the most popular form of government, and communism has no power.
ReplyDeleteThe end of WWII left the United States a world superpower. Emerging with increased confidence, as well as newly freed up time and resources, it was time for Americans to dream bigger and broader than ever before. During the war, women had stepped up to the plate and taken on the jobs of the men recruited to serve in military. These employment opportunities helped to prove that women were just as capable in the work force as men, and served as “an important advance towards gender equality,”(13). Additionally, during the war, many black people migrated to cities outside of the south. This heightened racial tensions but also inspired certain people to fight for racial equality, post war. Aside from social justice, the United States realized that it needed to financially help its allies and promote democracy in other countries to keep itself stronger than the USSR, its main competitor. Furthermore, after WWII, the United States felt the need to prove itself more advanced and extravagant than other countries by expanding its own infrastructure and by beginning the space race with the USSR. With the success of the Second World War, the American dream became more outwardly focused on the strength of the nation as a whole, rather than purely the success of the individuals. American’s were proud and wanted to bask in their perceived glory of being American by making the United States the best it could be and more powerful than any other country. At the same time, many Americans decided that in order to advance the United States and promote it to be its best, social equality required improvement. The American Dream shifted a bit to include the equality of every human regardless of gender or race. Although there are still lengths to go, during this time period, a large amount of light was shed on issues of inequality and some steps were made, such as an end to racial segregation.
ReplyDeleteThe common American dream before world war II was "that men (mostly) and women who worked hard and saved for rainy days could expect a measure of material comfort and security in their golden years, without resort to government." (16) Before the war the average person did not care much about foreign policy, if anything he or she was perfectly happy with letting the world fend for itself, most people did not want the U.S. to intervene. Also, before 1945, women, blacks, and other social minorities could not even begin to imagine that one day with hard work and effort they could achieve social equality in the world order. However, after world war II ended people finally realized the necessity for change and began to initialize it.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the war, world leaders and average citizens began to comprehend their colossal mistake that ignoring the world's problems in a form of appeasement and isolationism would not keep the U.S. from being dragged into its mess. After the loss of several troops in a war that could have been prevented, had the U.S. acted earlier, the United States had to put its foot down, by bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Once the war ended most the world was in pieces, leaving the U.S. and the Soviet Union as the two leading superpowers. Before the war, the U.S. would have let the Soviets spread communism to the vulnerable nations however the war taught them how this kind of neglect could have disastrous consequences. As a result the cold war was born where the U.S. held themselves responsible for protecting the democracy and freedom throughout the world. Therefore, after WWII, the men and women in the U.S. were no longer satisfied with letting the world fend for itself. The new dream was to protect the peace and democracy throughout the globe, in order to prevent another world war.
World War II gave minorities a taste of what it was like to be thought of as more than just a housewife or an uneducated black man, and these people were not prepared to lose this feeling of importance when the war ended. During the war women took over the office place while the men were away, and black men risked their lives fighting for their country; both groups felt they deserved more respect and equality for their hard work. Hence the civil rights era was born. Minorities began to dream of a world where all were treated equal, not just white men. One of the most prominent examples of this dream was voiced by Martin Luther King; “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” (114) Many other African Americans shared King’s dream, so they followed his footsteps and fought for it through peaceful protests. Overall, during the twenty years following World War II, the average person either dreamed of a world where the communist threat was put to rest or where all people, no matter what gender or color, were treated equally.
The two decades after the War against Fascism were quite clearly the full manifestation of an evolved concept of the American Dream. To me, it seems that rather than embracing a more individualistic concept of the American Dream, the years after WW2 forced people to view and embrace the American Dream as something more unified and broad. After WW2, and during the struggle against communism, people saw that it was more about America versus the world, rather than individuals in America versus society. The population of the US, during the years after WW2, developed considerably; the size and wealth of the Middle Class exploded, with relatively low unemployment, a consumer based economy, a strong military, big unions, massive and powerful corporations; this was the American Dream in full form. People attained a more powerful patriotic zeal; after having fought two world wars and then currently fighting the corrupting and anti-American ideology of communism. Americans embraced the American Dream as being a part of something bigger; rather than embracing it for themselves. What it meant to be American, now, was to be the leader of the "Free World", to soak in the vast of the "bottom-up" consumer economy, and to maintain a strong community based set of morals. No longer did people come to America to be able to proclaim "I am an Individual", but now they came to this country to proclaim "I am an American".
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ReplyDeleten the years after World War II there was a great change in American society and government. During the war much of the dream was to achieve peace and win the war, but after the war a lot changed. The "baby boomers" were born and thus began the growth of the middle class. Children were growing up happy and the suburbs were booming. There was more innovation and culture as people could focus more on these type of things. The growth of the middle class helped stabilize the economy and it was easier for people to live an ideal life without worrying about war. In the 20 years after WWII people could focus on building a family and making money through stable jobs. However, many people were concerned about the threat of nuclear warfare in the Cold War. They wanted to defeat the Soviet Union in everything including the arms race and the space race. This unified idea of America versus the world was a major part of the American dream. A unified America was arguably better than an individual outlook on life as the American dream focused on a strong unifies country where everyone could thrive. These are just some of the ways that the perception of the “American dream” evolved in the twenty years after World War II.
ReplyDeleteThe “American Dream” became the notion of individual liberty and economic prosperity. The massive surge of wealth after WWII gave rise to the middle class where Americans could live out a well provided life with basic luxuries. After helping purge Europe of fascism, which was oppressive and discriminatory, and obtaining a new status in the world, the U.S. felt a new sense of duty to cleanse the world from evil doings and bring liberal democracy to all. Despite romanticized simplifications, the U.S. was able to express its self-interests with its new awesome wealth and influence. With the rise of communism, as a threat to America, it sought to reduce communist influence because of its oppressive nature. The Korean War, offspring of the latter idea, is a prime example: the U.S. fending off communism to liberate the Korean people. Following the Korean War, the struggle against communism became a relative constant. Included in the ‘Cold War package’, civil rights became popular. Americans became divided as to what was socially ‘right’. The persistent cause for black equality, e.g. Martin Luther King Jr., created the image that regardless of what you are, one can strive for the “American Dream”, which still had the core beliefs that an American can pursue individual liberty, economic prosperity, and actively participate in democracy. In short, the “American Dream” went from economic prosperity and defeating world dangers, hence WWII, to social justice and ‘policing’ the world, with economic prosperity as a constant.
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