Economic Changes in Post-War America

The Vietnam War

The United States of America engaged in the Vietnam War from 1954 to the early 1960s. Most Americans knew little about the country of North Vietnam and did not understand the reason why the United States was engaging into the war. By 1968, there were 535,000 US soldiers and support personnel in South Vietnam (Young 3). The United States considered South Vietnam a significant country and was willing to engage into the war. The US fought the Vietnam War to prevent the spread of communism which was being advocated for by the Soviet Union. Most countries in Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, China and Vietnam had fallen under communism rule and were willing to try it. The United States felt that they were losing the cold war and therefore entered in Vietnam to fight the ideology.

French Withdrawal and Increased Deployment

United States sent military in Vietnam to help the French maintain their colonial power after they were humiliated by World War 2. However, later in 1959, French pulled out of the war which made the United States to send more war materials in Vietnam with an objective of ending communism. By April 1969, over 543000 US troops had been deployed in Vietnam where more than 58000 of them died and 150000 were wounded (Young 9). As part of the Paris peace accord, the United States military left Vietnam in March 1973. Though many soldiers died and others injured, The United States defined a win as ending communism that was being spread by The Soviet Union which was their rival in the cold war. The United States won the war to some extent by being able to stop the spread of communism in the rest of South Asia such as Singapore and Thailand. However, The United States is considered to have lost the war to some extent by failing to protect South Vietnam from north communists. The loss of lives and economic burden associated with the war made the United States to leave Vietnam before the war came to an end.

The Post-war Period and Rise of Suburbs

Question 3

The post war period in America led to a rise of the suburbs and new consumer culture based on consumption. The massive movement of people into new suburbs was as a result of various historical forces such as, intensive government involvement in housing, dramatic change in demographics, mass demobilization after the second war and the intense marketing of the automobile industry. The Americans started to fight racism through a major cultural transformation which made it possible for people from all races to quickly settle in the various suburbs (Clapson 12). The construction of houses and highways further led to majority of Americans settling in major suburbs such as, Arizona and California.

Construction of Levitown and Migration to Suburbs

Construction of uniformed houses and major roads in New York’s Levitown led to majority of Americans settling in the suburb. After the end of World War 2, there was increased population in the city and few housing. For example, some people were forced to live in large ice boxes, chicken coops and boxcars which resulted to construction of houses in Levitowns, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Abraham who was a horticultural enthusiast was to a large extent involved in gardening and landscaping of Levitowns to create a more conducive environment for the inhabitants (Clapson 7). In addition, most people preferred settling in the suburbs to live beyond the overcrowding, noise, diseases and pollution of the city. The construction of military bases, schools and industries in the suburbs created employment thus forced majority of Americans to migrate in search of better jobs.

Economic Changes in Post-war America

Part 2

After the Second World War, The United States was a far different country from the one that limped during the decade of depression. Several changes in economic, political, cultural and social perspectives were experienced in The United States as a result of the war. The question focuses on the economic changes that happened and continue to manifest in post-war period and up to today.

Impact of World War 2 on the Economy

The involvement of United States of America in World War 2 resulted to a great impact on the economy and workforce of the country (Wagnleitner 15). The country was recovering from the effects of great depression that was characterized with a high rate of unemployment. After World War two, factories in the United States had expanded due to manufacture of products that were required in the war. As a result, unemployment in the country was reported to have decreased by 10% and women were allowed to do jobs that were predominantly done by men. The United States experienced a phenomenal economic growth after the end of World War 2 and resulted to return of prosperity and where the country was able to consolidate its position as the richest country in the world during the post war period. An end of Second World War led to a majority of Americans being classified into the middle class and the Gross Domestic Product shifting from 200,000 million dollars in 1940 to 500, 0000 million dollars in 1960 after an end of the war (Wagnleitner 45). Economic growth was characterized by increase in automobile industries that involved producing new cars, electronics and aviation companies. In addition, increased housing projects led to rise in economic growth of the country which was stimulated by availability of affordable mortgages that were offered to servicemen who were returning from the war. The rise in government spending due to escalation of the cold war further led to rise in economic growth. Moreover, at the end of World War 2, new highways were created which led to better access of suburbs and shops.

Population Boom and Suburban Growth

Building of highways led to expenditure of over 26000 million dollars and more than 64000 kilometers of federal roads were constructed. In 1956, most Americans held white collar jobs such as teachers, office employees, salespersons and corporate managers. The post war period led to growth in population in Southwest and west parts of the country with majority of Americans settling in Miami, New Mexico, California, Texas, Los Angeles and Arizona (Wagnleitner 3). Due to growth in suburbs, businesses were boosted with emergence of large shopping centers. The need to produce supplies for the war led to huge industrial complex in military. During the post war period, the United States restructured international monetary arrangements leading to the formation of international monetary policy fund and World Bank which were responsible of opening an international capitalist economy.

Works Cited

Clapson, Mark. Suburban century: Social change and urban growth in England and the USA. Berg, 2017

Wagnleitner, Reinhold. Coca-colonization and the Cold War: the cultural mission of the United States in Austria after the Second World War. Univ of North Carolina Press, 2016

Young, Marilyn Blatt. The Vietnam Wars, 1945-1990. New York: HarperPerennial, 2015.