 Sealed With a Kiss
(Eisenstaedt) |
Historical Context "Jobs were plentiful, wages were higher, and because of the lack of consumer goods during the war, Americans were eager to spend." ~American Experience History Series ("The Rise of American") |
The end of WWII in 1945 brought many changes to “the consumer credit market" (Braswell and Chernow). People were finally allowed to borrow money again, causing a "credit boom” (Macgregor 647). “Consumer goods played an important role in middle class life during the postwar era. Adults participated eagerly in the consumer economy, using new-fangled credit cards” to buy things they'd done without during the war (“Baby Boomers”). Many of these things were fun and entertaining rather than necessary. Consumer mobility, higher wages, and increased production of goods contributed to this ("Credit History: The Evolution" 8; "The Rise of American"). "Credit cards as we know them today didn't take off until the 1960's, when financial innovation, improved technology, and changing consumer attitudes all converged" ("Credit History: The Evolution" 5, 9).
During WWII |
"...many consumer items weren't available during the war because the factories that made things like washing machines and cars were used for war production instead." ~Susan Strasser, Historian/Professor (Strasser) |
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(Riddle, J)
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"Americans bought more home goods than ever after WWII." ~American Experience History Series ("The Rise of American") |
(Riddle, J)
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